Facebook

I use Facebook personally to connect with former classmates and to find out information about friends and co-workers' families.  I do not "friend" any of my current students and tell them that they have to wait until they graduate!  However, I do have many of their parents as friends.  I find that by doing this I can find out what is happening in my students' lives outside of school.  For example, I knew that my student had knocked her tooth out in her driveway during the weekend so I was prepared and didn't ask any questions.  I also can ask kids about outside events that they are involved in and it is great to create a rapport with them and build connections.