Fifth grade student Elizabeth Ricks uses a laptop computer to program a LEGO robot Friday, August 22, 2014, in Beau Scott's 4/5 high ability classroom at Dayton Elementary School. Scott has a "transparent classroom" where he keeps a blog to keep parents and students updated on what is happening in his class. Staff photo by John Terhune
Though parents can't actually watch their Dayton Elementary School students through a window, Beau Scott keeps what he calls a "totally transparent" classroom.

Through social media, a public cellphone number and a classroom blog, the fourth- and fifth-grade high-ability teacher makes himself and the classroom readily available to parents.

A website serves as a virtual timeline of what Scott's class does on a daily basis. Photos of the day's activities, reminders for parents and students, and links used during lessons are on the site, which serves as the classroom newsletter.

It is Scott's eighth year of teaching, but the first year he has kept a blog with the class.

"It's useful for students, and it's another form of communication with parents," he said.

Principal Courtney Wildoner is supportive of the program. She sees technology as a way for teachers and students to tell their stories, and the blog goes beyond that by allowing parents to virtually peer inside the classroom. While Scott is the only teacher at Dayton with a blog, Wildoner said she sees education moving forward with technology.

"Parents want to see pictures of their kids; they want to read that digital diary," she said.

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