Blogging Ideas
It is amazing what we can do using a blog. I have followed blogs and have always wanted to make my own but had no idea how. Besides not knowing I was not confident on entertaining or informing people. I was definitely that blogger that thought no one would be reading my posts. I have been to trainings where they have shown us how we can use blogs with our students, but many times I have felt like that does not pertain to the lower grades. I taught kindergarten for 3 years and this is my first year in second grade. I think using a blog to teach kindergarten is not such a good idea, taking into consideration they are still not able to write or read. It is extremely hard for them to sit down at a computer. Now that I'm in second grade I'm confident I can start using a blog. I would use it the following ways:
Distribution
I am old fashioned when it comes delivering any news to my parents. Every week I send my parents a weekly newsletter informing them of the curriculum that we are teaching the current week, spelling words, and any current events of that week. I type, print them out, and deliver them every Monday. Sometimes it is a hassle because students misplace them. If this does happen, they are not able to do their homework due to spelling words being there. I also print out the monthly homework, which again has become a hassle, since many times these sheets are misplaced. I would love to type and have all this in the blog! It would definitely save me time and my precious paper ( paper is a scarce resource at our campus). This would be a one time stop for all my parents and me! I will definitely take this into consideration.
Discussion
I would use the blog to have a discussion after reading our 2nd grade Texas Treasures stories. Every week we read a story, review its story elements, and test every Friday on comprehension of the story. I would like to use this media to have students make connections to the story ( text to text, text to self, text to world). Students would have an option of making an audio or video report. I also liked the idea of having students respond to each other's blogs and have discussions.
Demonstration
I have always liked my students writing monthly compositions and posting them on an "author's wall". As the year progresses, we are able to see student's growth in every aspect of writing. At the end of the year I would give all these writings to parents. Now instead of having them write the compositions and they can type them in their own blog. This can be served as a memory book and digital portfolio.
Hey Pattsy,
ReplyDeleteI think it is a great transition to make going from the paper newsletter to a digital blog newsletter each week. My fiancé also teaches 2nd grade and expresses that due to budget cuts every year, paper becomes more and more of a scare resource, so the blog newsletter can definitely save paper. Also, the "author's wall" is a good idea to be transformed into a digital portfolio because 2nd graders can be so rough with paper, so this would make the assignment last longer.
Hi Pattsy,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post...the fact that you have been using blogs and embraced the new innovations that come with technology to take it to your classroom in order to enhance the learning at the first years of school. I like how share that you would bridged the gap that is between our schools and parents, as well, by utilizing blogging to reach-out to them. Thank your for your post.
Hi Pattsy,
ReplyDeleteYou have given me a wonderful idea about posting the homework schedule on a blog for parents to see!!! I can change it up every week with the current events of the week/class and keep them informed. My only concern that I do see is that not every student/parent has internet connection or a computer at home. And of coarse these are the students who you would like to keep informed so that they do not fall behind. Like you I don't think I can be very entertaining to keep an audiences attention but in this case it might work to have a class blog. I will try it and hopefully continue with it.
Hello Patsy,
ReplyDeleteI'm reading your post! I do agree on how much we can do with blogs in the classroom. Sharing information with your parents through a blog is a lot easier for everyone especially if you know your parents have access to a computer and the internet. I think that your idea of the treasures stories will keep your students engaged as they look forward to Friday blogging. Thank and hope you have fun with it!