Using a blog in the classroom can be very beneficial for teachers and students. There are several ways that a teacher can incorporate using a blog and use it effectively.
1.) Use a blog instead of paper for responses- such as literature circle questions.
2.) Have students interact with other students around the world thru blogging- give them topics to dicuss as groups.
3.) Encourage students to research blogs to learn about different points of view of any give subject (social studies related)
Overall, I believe that possibilites with using a blog are endless. I believe that students truly enjoy blogging and it really saves teachers the hassle of pencil paper grading, and is environmentally friendly. I have found that since I started blogging with my students, we are collecting a lot less papers.
Currently, my students are using our classroom blog for literature circle questions. I post a question, and they respond, similar to what we do every week in our master class.
I believe using a blog truly enhances the overall lesson, it can be used as an extension, students are able to work at their own pace and recieve feedback immediatley, research shows that feedback is crucial.
I hope to using blogging as a tool in my classroom for years to come.
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7 comments:
How long have you had your class blogging? Also, how much time a day or a week do you spend on this? This is all new to me and I am very interested in using it. Do your students converse with each other or do they look for outside communication. Also, I would like to vist your class blog site to see how it is working if you could give me the site. Do you worry about keeping things safe for your students or do you have certain preventions?
Hi Shaina,
I was wondering about your use of blogging in the classroom, because I have never done it before and I am interested in starting up a blog for my Spanish classroom. When you have students blog, are they at home or at school? What do you do for the kid who doesn't have a computer? If you have them work at school, do you have a laptop cart you use, or do you go to a lab? How long does a blogging session take if you do it in class? I am just wondering because I am new to all this. I would have my students probably do something similar to our Master program, where I could have them blog from home, and I would assign the blog on a Monday and expect them to respond by Wednesday, and then respond to two others by Sunday or something of that sort. I'd be happy to hear how you run the blogging in your class! Thanks!
Hi Linda and Marie-
Thanks so much for you comments. I really love using blogs in my classroom. Last year, it worked quite well with my group of kids. However, this year I can't tell if they are mature enough (6th graders). I have done one blog so far this year and will continue to get them practicing, by the mid year they will have it down pat. The website I use actually sends me every blog comment at the time of post (right to my email) so I am able to delete comments immediately, I have never had any issues, because they will loose computer privilidges if they do. We have computer lab an hour/day, so usually about 2 hours a week we will spend utilizing the blogs. My website is: www.mrstubergansclass.weebly.com
I also use this site for homework and annoucments, I love it!
Shaina :)
Hi Shaina,
Ditto on everything Marie has been asking you. You sound like a pro and I have been dying to start some blogging in my Spanish classes and I have never done it before. I think it's great that you get to use a computer lab everyday. I'm not sure how I would be able to run it. I see my 8th graders everyday for 40 minutes so i think I would have to use Marie's idea of running the blog like this masters course. Have assigned dates for postings and discussions.
Hey Marie,
I also had you pegged as a blogging pro from all the wonderful ideas you have for your Spanish class. Maybe we can help each other in the future on how this would really look in the classroom.
Hi All!
Thanks for the comments. The reason I know a lot about using technology in the classroom is because I graduated from college a year and half ago, my last semester of undergraduate I had a class that taught me how to operate a classroom website and blogging. Ever since then I have tried to use these ideas in my classroom. My students teach me new things everyday, I am always learning. But, feel free to take the risk and you will really see the benefits out way the problems in no time. Have a great night!
Hi Shaina-
I really enjoy your blog and the great ideas you have. What resources to you provide to give to your students who do not have a home computer?
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