As a classroom teacher, much information has to be conveyed to the students' parents.  Unfortunately, being a 1st grade teacher can have its disadvantages.  You cannot count on the students to bring information home and if they do, it's often incorrect.

Parents are always calling, emailing, or writing notes to find out information.  The only way to answer their questions is through one of those means and often NOT in a very timely fashion. Another common complaint of parents is about needing information or having questions on the homework after school hours with no way to contact me or other parents.

In surveying the parents at Parent-Teacher Conferences, 100% of them said that they have access to a computer with Internet access.  100% also stated that they would use such a resource and 65% of the parents stated that they would use it on a regular basis.

At this current time there is nothing even close to this being done at my school.  This use of social software would provide a link to the parents that would not normally be there.  It would create an open and inviting classroom atmosphere in which  the parents could actively participate in their child's education and learning experience.  I feel that this would be a big asset not only to my class/parents, but it is something that other teachers might create in the future for their classes.