Since creating my own blog, there are many ways I have been thinking about how to use a blog with my students in the classroom. Teaching third grade, I would love to start incorporating more novels rather than just the curriculum into my classroom. I thought about using a blog to record students’ responses, thoughts, or answers to a predetermined question regarding the novel we are currently reading in class. A blog would be a beneficial technology tool to be incorporated into Language Arts. It would be helpful to record students responses to literature as we read a variety of texts throughout the year.
I also thought about incorporating the blog into a homework activity. Every week students need to respond to a posting on a blog, similar to how we do in class, in order to teach them how to use a blog and the purpose of using one.
Finally, I thought about using a blog similarly as a website. Posting information to a blog for both my students and parents because I can post videos, pictures, current events, and classroom happenings to a blog that students and parents are using on a daily basis, rather than just my website which right now just holds information.
Hi Heather - Great Ideas, especially ELA! I've seen a librarian use blogs to correspond with students reactions towards novels they have read. How would you approach the homework situation with students who lack the technolgy at home? In my Title I school most of my students' computer time is done at school, because their parents do not have computers in the home.
ReplyDeleteNice post - thanks for sharing!
It would be hard to integrate a homework assignment such as the one I mentioned if students do not have computers. I thought about allowing those students to respond during determined class time so that they can still learn how to use technology effectively, even though they do not have a computer at home.
ReplyDeleteThese are all great ideas. I like how you are thinking about how to get the students involved in the blogging process. Are you familiar with how to set up and moderate blogs for students? I'd love to hear what you've learned. I would like to think of a way to use blogs as a way to integrate science and social studies with writing and reading. At my school we have little time to get to these subject areas (maybe once a week), but they are so important.
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas Heather! I was also thinking of using the blog like a website. The blog seems more manageable than a website. Everything is on one page and at the push of a button.
ReplyDeleteHow are you going to handle students who do not have access to a computer at home? I was going to try to implement some blogging homework too. I was thinking of allowing those students to come in before school or right when school started to post a comment. I am not sure how that will work out though. Do you have any ideas? I would love any suggestions you may have.
Karla,
ReplyDeleteI'm not as familiar with how to set up and monitor blogs for students, but am hoping that through this class I will learn the easiest and most productive way of managing it all. Are you familiar with how to manage them with students? I think that may be the most difficult part of maintaining a blog that students are using to answer weekly questions, or to post their ideas on a variety of topics. I can't wait to start integrating these ideas into my classroom, but the management of it is the area that I'm still not feeling very confident in.
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI would probably allow students time before school, or right when school starts, to post to the blog. For students without computers, they would need time in class, or right before school, to complete the assignments. These will probably also be the students who need a little more assistance with technology because they will be the ones who are not as confident with using the technology since they don't have it readily accessible in their lives.
My first thoughts were similar to what Ev said because I know that many of my students do not have a computer or internet at home which would be difficult to create homework. I also always worry about students on the internet without supervision, which you could not provide if students are at home and on the internet because of a school assignment. However, I think your ideas of integrating the blog into reading and writing curriculum is wonderful and could be very beneficial to your students.
ReplyDeleteI think that one challenge you may run into is if you are having video or pictures posted on your blog you need to make sure that you have the model release forms for all your students. Otherwise, you can run into trouble with parents who are uncomfortable with you posting pictures of their child or children online. But really your ideas are great and a good step towards opening the doors to new ways of communicating with parents and students in a meaningful way.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas.
Many authors have a blog so if the author of the book your class is reading keeps a blog this is another nice option for blogging and building community. If the author replies to their posting, this might be very exciting for them--and a way to promote engagement in the novel.
I like blogs as a way to diminish the walls of the classroom-letting students connect globally.
Susan