CARY, N.C. (WNCN) – Wake County teacher Kyle Hamstra introduces social media to Kindergarten students.

“We practice digital citizenship and talk about internet safety immediately.  Those are the first lessons learned by elementary school students,” Hamstra said.

Students are given iPads to use starting their first year of school.  In fifth grade, they are allowed to B.Y.O.D, or bring your own device.

“It absolutely amazes me how much the students know about technology,” science and technology specialist at Davis Drive Elementary in Cary said.

Hamstra stressed social media is more than using sites like Facebook and Instagram. He says apps like Seesaw lets students record what they are learning in different ways.

It files their notes, doodles and recordings in a folder. With an easy click of a button the teacher and parent can see how their student are learning.

“It almost tears down the wall between the classroom and the real world. Now parents are invited in to the classroom to see what students are learning,” Hamstra said.

He says even Twitter can be used to teach students, but it can be a better learning tool for parents.

“Many educators have their Twitter account public so they can capture student learning experiences and post them,” Hamstra said.

He says they do not encourage students to have their own Twitter or Facebook accounts but use sites like Fakebook to show kids how to develop a positive social and safe social media presence.