I'm both excited and anxious to research a variety of blogs that have the ability to incorporate cohesive classroom dialogue. I'm excited because there is so much possibility in my field of Language Arts, whether a blog is used for weekly journaling, Question of the Day, book chapter reactions, critical reviews, figurative language samples...it appears the potential is endless. For instance, students hate journaling, but blogging could present the opportunity to comment on each others entries, and develop compassion, kindness, and understanding towards those whose lives veer from the perceived norm. Benefits can be far-reaching. On the other side of the coin, students may retreat into themselves if they feel safety in isolation. This may be an avenue in which the instructor simply reads comments but doesn't allow indiscriminate publication.
This is when I switch to "anxious." Will my district also see the potential? Will our technology policies allow students to publish their opinions (even if I must approve those comments first)? Will parents (most of whom already allow their students free and easy access to Facebook and MySpace) prove a detriment or an attribute if a blog is introduced to the classroom? We already have a handful of students whose parents refuse to allow their child's pictures to appear on any district publications, including the website.
In an introduction to blogging next fall, I would prefer only individual class access, but I am intrigued by the idea of trying to make connections with authors of books we read in class (or that the students read on their own). What an awesome way to encourage reading. I also anticipate the revelations that could develop between schools who share similar curriculums. This would also open up diverse dialogue and improve teacher strategies.
I feel stagnant at times, yet I've only been teaching for seven years. Blogging presents itself as a field of intrigue, and since it is apparent that technology will only drive more technology, we might as well embrace the idea.
I too am exicited and anxious about bloggin in my classroom. I believe that my district would support this use of technology and I like the idea of being able to monitor what can be publish. I think it's a great way for students to discuss topics and share their knowledge and opinions. It may require more time on my part, which tends to be an issue at times. I could use it for weekly reflections, a means of getting to know my students and what is happening in their lives. I am always trying to come up with ways I can brigde the gap and conncet my curriculum to other courses my students are taking to make the information more meaningful and useful beyond my classroom walls.
While I enjoy reading other people's blogs, until I do the next step for this class, I don't have one set up. I can see potential for journaling and for posting information for students and parents. Difficulties will include the accessibility to computers if it is to be completed during the school day, and if it is assigned as homework it will be difficult, if not impossible for those students who do not have internet access at home. Most of the students do not plan ahead to use the school library computer before or after school, or the public library with somewhat limited hours.
I do believe that teachers need to be aware of and implement technology as often as possible. I am not sure that students blog on their own as much as they use other social networking sites.
I think blogging is great, the opportunities are endless. Most students prefer typing over handwriting an assignment, blogging allows this. I could see it being a disadvantage for students without a computer, so this would need to be worked out in everyone’s favor.
I agree with the one article in saying students are more comfortable communicating their feelings openly on a blog rather then handing a paper into a teacher who is waiting with a red pen. Students are curious and want to know what others are thinking. Overall this is a great communication tool that would hold your students accountable for participation.
The title of the first selected article called "Blogging? It's Elementary My Dear Watson" really says it all. The students that we have in our classrooms are ready to go to this next level in education. I really appreciate the fact that this is a true motivator in the instruction of reading and writing. It has been said that students go that extra mile to make sure what they write is concise and grammatically correct as well. This summer a couple of teachers that I know wanted to try holding a writing workshop for our middle school students to help develop their writing skills. They didn't have anyone sign up for the workshop. Perhaps blogging would have been a way to reach the kids and "hook" them into an innovative way of teaching these necessary skills.
Blogs promote the discussion of ideas that our students have as well as points of view and opinions. I like the idea of taking a topic of school or community importance and using the blog to push for change. This can give our students a forum to help them develop leadership as well as technical skills.
Some of the blogs that have teacher "control" features would be helpful at the middle school level. I think it would be helpful to model to our students what is considered to be appropriate for a blog. Most kids will not have a problem with it, but as teachers, we need to make sure that we are aware of what is going out there.
I enjoy the idea of blogging and feel that it could be a great way to keep in touch with parents each day. In my classroom, my students have a very hard time typing (1st grade), however, if I gave a brief overview of the day we had in the classrom, funny things that happend, updates or upcoming events, it could be the next best way to keep in touch.
Just in my first year, I can see the need for parents to feel involved and part of our first grade classroom commnity. I am going to set one blog up for my classroom this fall and possibly one that is a little more carefree, speaking to the idea of new teachers in the field, and maybe someone can connect to what I have to say!
I, too, continue with the theme of finding blogging exciting and challenging. I found the last article helpful in trying to condense information and find a starting point. I think the blogging "do's" and the step-by-step would be a good way to start and feel like I'm headed in the right direction.
As a Language Arts teacher for three 5th grade groups, what I appreciate the most is the concept that seems to be repeated in the information I read. "Research has long shown that students write more, write in greater detail, and take greater care with spelling, grammar, and punctuation, when they are writing to an authentic audience over the Internet." The importance of writing and grammar is hard to convey to 5th graders who can't connect. I'm always trying to give them examples of when and in what careers they would utilize these skills. I also see the great potential connecting to home, parents, and extended family. I think I'll just have to work around lack of computers, etc., and just do the best I can with what I have and adapt from there!
Jennifer Byrne I am sure everyone thinks that I am the Ebenezer Scrooge of technology. I can see no purpose to blogging when I can pick up the telephone and talk with someone personally. Skype I can see the puprose for. Google Docs I can see the purpose for. I'm sure I will use it greatly once I figure it out. Blogging and Twitter I'm coming up with nothing.
I think that blogs could be used in my classroom. It could be a fun way for students to do journals and have other students comment on what they did or if they had another story that was like that. Kids will take more time and thought into their writing if they know that others will read it.
It could be used as a newsletter home. I could tell about the weeks activities and projects that we our doing in class. The only way to make sure that I could use blogging instead of a new letter is if every parent had a computer. This would save on paper and making sure the parents got the information and it was not lost.
I am excited about having a classroom blog. I believe there are a lot of possibilities. I'd like to start a separate blog for my reading class and include a weekly post as a requirement for my students. I see possibilities for using a blog with science too. I teach three classes of science so, it would be interesting for the kids to see what they are all discovering in their investigations.
I anticipate excitement and a sense of seriousness from my students. I believe that blogging will help my students to take their writing to a different level. I hope that it will also motivate my students to write and think about the topics we are discussing and reading about in class.
Using a blog will open up some new topics to discuss. It will be interesting to hear the discussion among the kids. I'm interested in the new topics this will open up for learning in my classroom.
I am looking forward to using the blog in math as a math journal. I am concerned about how I will keep up with the entries and how I will provide time for students without internet access. I have been looking for a rubric to give students, so they know what is expected with their entries. I hope that it will be a great component to a few other technology enhancements I would like to include this coming school year. Tami Simkins
As I look at the blogs my classmates have created, I am excited for them. There are so many great blogs and ideas out there. I have created a personal blog and am VERY excited about it. I hope to start a blog for my classroom as well. I think there are endless possibilities for a classroom blog and something the kids would welcome. My only hang up right now is the middle school aged student. If I still taught high school I would not think twice about creating a classroom blog, but I just don't know yet. I feel like I need to get to know that age a little but more. I currently have a classroom website and have very few visitors to it so I kind of let it go, but would be willing to try something different if the kids and their parents utilized it more.
I'm both excited and anxious to research a variety of blogs that have the ability to incorporate cohesive classroom dialogue. I'm excited because there is so much possibility in my field of Language Arts, whether a blog is used for weekly journaling, Question of the Day, book chapter reactions, critical reviews, figurative language samples...it appears the potential is endless. For instance, students hate journaling, but blogging could present the opportunity to comment on each others entries, and develop compassion, kindness, and understanding towards those whose lives veer from the perceived norm. Benefits can be far-reaching. On the other side of the coin, students may retreat into themselves if they feel safety in isolation. This may be an avenue in which the instructor simply reads comments but doesn't allow indiscriminate publication.
ReplyDeleteThis is when I switch to "anxious." Will my district also see the potential? Will our technology policies allow students to publish their opinions (even if I must approve those comments first)? Will parents (most of whom already allow their students free and easy access to Facebook and MySpace) prove a detriment or an attribute if a blog is introduced to the classroom? We already have a handful of students whose parents refuse to allow their child's pictures to appear on any district publications, including the website.
In an introduction to blogging next fall, I would prefer only individual class access, but I am intrigued by the idea of trying to make connections with authors of books we read in class (or that the students read on their own). What an awesome way to encourage reading. I also anticipate the revelations that could develop between schools who share similar curriculums. This would also open up diverse dialogue and improve teacher strategies.
I feel stagnant at times, yet I've only been teaching for seven years. Blogging presents itself as a field of intrigue, and since it is apparent that technology will only drive more technology, we might as well embrace the idea.
I too am exicited and anxious about bloggin in my classroom. I believe that my district would support this use of technology and I like the idea of being able to monitor what can be publish. I think it's a great way for students to discuss topics and share their knowledge and opinions. It may require more time on my part, which tends to be an issue at times. I could use it for weekly reflections, a means of getting to know my students and what is happening in their lives. I am always trying to come up with ways I can brigde the gap and conncet my curriculum to other courses my students are taking to make the information more meaningful and useful beyond my classroom walls.
ReplyDeleteWhile I enjoy reading other people's blogs, until I do the next step for this class, I don't have one set up. I can see potential for journaling and for posting information for students and parents. Difficulties will include the accessibility to computers if it is to be completed during the school day, and if it is assigned as homework it will be difficult, if not impossible for those students who do not have internet access at home. Most of the students do not plan ahead to use the school library computer before or after school, or the public library with somewhat limited hours.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that teachers need to be aware of and implement technology as often as possible. I am not sure that students blog on their own as much as they use other social networking sites.
I think blogging is great, the opportunities are endless. Most students prefer typing over handwriting an assignment, blogging allows this. I could see it being a disadvantage for students without a computer, so this would need to be worked out in everyone’s favor.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the one article in saying students are more comfortable communicating their feelings openly on a blog rather then handing a paper into a teacher who is waiting with a red pen. Students are curious and want to know what others are thinking. Overall this is a great communication tool that would hold your students accountable for participation.
The title of the first selected article called "Blogging? It's Elementary My Dear Watson" really says it all. The students that we have in our classrooms are ready to go to this next level in education. I really appreciate the fact that this is a true motivator in the instruction of reading and writing. It has been said that students go that extra mile to make sure what they write is concise and grammatically correct as well. This summer a couple of teachers that I know wanted to try holding a writing workshop for our middle school students to help develop their writing skills. They didn't have anyone sign up for the workshop. Perhaps blogging would have been a way to reach the kids and "hook" them into an innovative way of teaching these necessary skills.
ReplyDeleteBlogs promote the discussion of ideas that our students have as well as points of view and opinions. I like the idea of taking a topic of school or community importance and using the blog to push for change. This can give our students a forum to help them develop leadership as well as technical skills.
Some of the blogs that have teacher "control" features would be helpful at the middle school level. I think it would be helpful to model to our students what is considered to be appropriate for a blog. Most kids will not have a problem with it, but as teachers, we need to make sure that we are aware of what is going out there.
I enjoy the idea of blogging and feel that it could be a great way to keep in touch with parents each day. In my classroom, my students have a very hard time typing (1st grade), however, if I gave a brief overview of the day we had in the classrom, funny things that happend, updates or upcoming events, it could be the next best way to keep in touch.
ReplyDeleteJust in my first year, I can see the need for parents to feel involved and part of our first grade classroom commnity. I am going to set one blog up for my classroom this fall and possibly one that is a little more carefree, speaking to the idea of new teachers in the field, and maybe someone can connect to what I have to say!
I, too, continue with the theme of finding blogging exciting and challenging. I found the last article helpful in trying to condense information and find a starting point. I think the blogging "do's" and the step-by-step would be a good way to start and feel like I'm headed in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteAs a Language Arts teacher for three 5th grade groups, what I appreciate the most is the concept that seems to be repeated in the information I read. "Research has long shown that students write more, write in greater detail, and take greater care with spelling, grammar, and punctuation, when they are writing to an authentic audience over the Internet." The importance of writing and grammar is hard to convey to 5th graders who can't connect. I'm always trying to give them examples of when and in what careers they would utilize these skills. I also see the great potential connecting to home, parents, and extended family. I think I'll just have to work around lack of computers, etc., and just do the best I can with what I have and adapt from there!
Jennifer Byrne
ReplyDeleteI am sure everyone thinks that I am the Ebenezer Scrooge of technology. I can see no purpose to blogging when I can pick up the telephone and talk with someone personally. Skype I can see the puprose for. Google Docs I can see the purpose for. I'm sure I will use it greatly once I figure it out. Blogging and Twitter I'm coming up with nothing.
I think that blogs could be used in my classroom. It could be a fun way for students to do journals and have other students comment on what they did or if they had another story that was like that. Kids will take more time and thought into their writing if they know that others will read it.
ReplyDeleteIt could be used as a newsletter home. I could tell about the weeks activities and projects that we our doing in class. The only way to make sure that I could use blogging instead of a new letter is if every parent had a computer. This would save on paper and making sure the parents got the information and it was not lost.
I am excited about having a classroom blog. I believe there are a lot of possibilities. I'd like to start a separate blog for my reading class and include a weekly post as a requirement for my students. I see possibilities for using a blog with science too. I teach three classes of science so, it would be interesting for the kids to see what they are all discovering in their investigations.
ReplyDeleteI anticipate excitement and a sense of seriousness from my students. I believe that blogging will help my students to take their writing to a different level. I hope that it will also motivate my students to write and think about the topics we are discussing and reading about in class.
Using a blog will open up some new topics to discuss. It will be interesting to hear the discussion among the kids. I'm interested in the new topics this will open up for learning in my classroom.
I am looking forward to using the blog in math as a math journal. I am concerned about how I will keep up with the entries and how I will provide time for students without internet access. I have been looking for a rubric to give students, so they know what is expected with their entries. I hope that it will be a great component to a few other technology enhancements I would like to include this coming school year.
ReplyDeleteTami Simkins
As I look at the blogs my classmates have created, I am excited for them. There are so many great blogs and ideas out there. I have created a personal blog and am VERY excited about it. I hope to start a blog for my classroom as well. I think there are endless possibilities for a classroom blog and something the kids would welcome. My only hang up right now is the middle school aged student. If I still taught high school I would not think twice about creating a classroom blog, but I just don't know yet. I feel like I need to get to know that age a little but more. I currently have a classroom website and have very few visitors to it so I kind of let it go, but would be willing to try something different if the kids and their parents utilized it more.
ReplyDelete