10 Reasons Why I Want My Students to Blog - Getting Smart by Susan Lucille Davis - DigLN, edchat, EdTech Email Share October 22, 2012 - by Susan Lucille Davis 54 Email Share “ Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field. First of all, blogging is writing, 21 st -century style, plain and simple. 1. If you are looking for ways to have students write that reach real rather than “pretend” audiences, I can’t think of a better format than blogging. Ask any writer of blogs how it feels to connect with his first mystery readers about what matters to them. 2. Blogs are an immensely versatile, energizing medium. Jeff Dunn celebrates the passionate learning of students in “ 30 Incredible Blogs Written by Students,” featuring posts about sports, pets, traveling and attending museums, raising money for charity, and a host of other topics. In some ways, blogs are the new “show and tell,” allowing students to share their own very infectious love of learning. 3. As students unleash their passions, they must learn to respond to and learn from readers in the form of comments. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Student Blogs: Learning to Write in Digital Spaces Student blogging is not a project, but a process. We are continuously striving to refine, improve and re-evaluate. As I am meeting with teachers individually, I can’t stress enough the importance of READING other blogs (professional, student, blogs about your hobby, blogs about other interests you have etc.). I am trying to filter and funnel quality blogs in education, their grade level and areas of interest to them as I come across them, so they can build a quality RSS Reader. BUT.. we need their help in having a basic understanding of blogs, its pedagogical uses, as a platform of a new writing genre (digital writing) and how our blogfolios fit into your curriculum and the BIG PICTURE of LEARNING. The blogfolios are not a platform to use only for a particular subject, but should give evidence of learning for each student. Creating the platform and the username and password and teaching the kids to log in is the EASY part. The focus needs to be in using the platform to guide students to :
7 Reasons Your Students should be Blogging in 2013 One of the best things about blogging in the classroom is that it is a cross-curricular activity that can be used to teach any subject and develop just about any skills, from reading and writing to math, geography and everything in between. If you are still unsure about how blogging can benefit your students, here are seven reasons that might be able to persuade you as a teacher to get on board with blogging in the classroom this year. Blogging motivates students to read and write The best way to get students to read and write is to offer them things that they are interested in reading and writing about – things that relate to them and their peers. Blogging gives students a larger audience As a teacher, it is your duty to grade and critique the work of a student, but getting a second, third or fiftieth opinion never hurts either. Blogging gives students confidence Blogging enables students to create a virtual portfolio Blogging allows teachers to discover a student’s true talents
Why Are You Blogging? [Guest Post] You hear that all teachers should blog. You follow the tutorials and set up a blog. Now what? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the idea of blogging, especially if you are unclear about the purpose of the blog. Is the blog for you or for students and parents? This post highlights the most prevalent types of education blogs and includes links to blogs that exemplify each of the types. A Blog is Not Just a Blog A single classroom blog may exist for many reasons. personal reflection on teaching and learningcommunication between you, parents, students, and the worldexhibition of student workrecommendation of resources to other teachers Student blogs also vary. ongoing reflection on lessons, work, or projectsportfolios of work for parents, friends, and the worldstudents’ exploration of interests or passions When you clarity the purpose behind your blog, you begin thinking differently about your practice. Below are some examples of blogs that illustrate clear purposes. Google “the resume is dead”.
5 Rewards of Teaching Young Students to Blog I have been an elementary-school teacher for more than 25 years and I am always on the lookout for meaningful ways to engage and motivate my young students. I started Mrs. Yollis’ Classroom Blog in 2008 with the idea of sharing class activities with parents. Over time, the blog has grown to be the centerpiece of our third-grade classroom. It has become a true global learning community that offers myriad rewards for students, parents and teachers. 1) Develop quality literacy skills When I first started blogging, I thought the posts would be the primary focus of the blog. My students are highly motivated by their authentic global audience and take great pride in producing top-notch writing for their readers. What has been even more exciting for me is the student participation from home. 2) Parents are included in the learning Parental involvement has strengthened and expanded the learning opportunities for my class. Many parents work but would love to volunteer in some way.
So...You Wanna Use Blogs In The Classroom Blogging is an important part of who I am as a professional. I can use this space to share resources with you, reflect on my own practice and try to figure out how to be a better educator. It is my public reflection on technology, leadership and learning. Think about when you were in school. You write an essay. Blogging changes that for kids. More and more teachers and classrooms are embracing blogging in the classroom. There are lots of platforms to use. Five Steps To Starting A Classroom Blog-Ms. Two Critical Tips For Blogging Projects-From my good friend Bill, this post offers some more great advice on blogging in the classroom and how to make it successful. Collection Of Blogging Resources-When I think of classroom blogging I think of Silvia Tolisano. Tips For Blogging With Students-Sue Waters (from Edublogs) also has written a lot about blogging with kids. Student Blogging Guidelines-Some teachers will want some guidance in place when they undertake blogs with kids.