Yay!

I finally got on here to post! Sigh of relief. I am enjoying the blogging. I created one for my classroom for next year to use as a newsletter. I also think it would be a great way of keeping out of town friends and family informed with your life. I look forward to searching for more useful blogs. 

More info I wanted to share...

I've run across some great sites for educators to connect with one another, and I thought this would be the best way to do it! These are related to Twitter: if you go to wefollow.com, you can list tags such as "teacher" or "education" and they will give you lists of individuals and organizations to follow on Twitter. "Educators on Twitter" is a Google Docs spreadsheet with educators from all over the world! You could find a teacher in another country who teaches the same thing you do, talk to each other, even find ways to connect your classrooms! "Twitter 4 Teachers" is a wiki for educators from around the world. I was so excited I just had to share!

Blogging

Blogging is a wonderful tool for everyone. I especially think blogging would be a great tool to use in the classroom. It makes me sad that our school does not allow this type of communication in the school. I understand why they block this ability, but also have a hard time understanding why there can not be certain restrictions put on some of the sites they choose to block us from. After reading articles about blogging I understand that they are trying very hard to make it more secure for use in the classroom and hope that they are able to do this soon. Blogging could be a fantastic tool for journaling about a certain subject or activity that we did, to let children have a voice that are scared to speak up in the classroom, or as a tool to get to know one another better.

Susan Saunders' Blog

I have never blogged before but do see many advantages for students to blog at school. I could see using blogging effectively as a teaching tool. Students could contribute information and also links. I could also see using blogging for interactive writing across curriculums. Students would see writing as fun and even challenging especially those students who view writing as a painful act. It would also encourage reading. Students could follow blogs on subjects that interest them. Students would definitely need a course in Blogging Etiquette since many students believe everything posted on a blog. I've even had students use information from blogs that was incorrect. Our district has most blogging sites blocked so it might be futile to attempt class blogging even though there are many advantages to having students blogging.

Blogging on Blogging

I think that blogs are great for recreational use but obviously they can get out of hand. There is a clear distinction between factual information and blogging. Unfortunately, students have a very difficult time distinguishing between the two. What is even scarier, most adults do not understand the concept of blogging and the dangers of accepting bloggers as credible sources. I am sure they work great as online diaries, just not sure why you would necessarily want the world to read it!!!

Sandra Nissen's Blog

Blogging could be another great way to facilitate the writing process, but many of the districts currently block this type of internet activity. Of course, online safety is extremely important! After reading the article, Blogging? It's Elementary, My Dear Watson, I see that many districts are searching for class blog sites that are safe and secure. Using closed Web tools like KidzBlog would allow students a chance to express themselves with blogging. The technical service corrdinators need to be aware that these options exist!

Blaaaaahhging! Dena Kerr

I should really be checking my Baker email more often. I would save myself so much grief! Well, helping me figure out how to contribute an original post to this blog has been a "class project" for my summer school kids, so I can truthfully say I'm using it in my classroom! I was surprised that I'm working on this at school and no alarms have gone off, and no tech people have come charging into my classroom ready to haul me away in handcuffs. All that aside, I really can see myself using a classroom blog. When I asked my summer school students, "OK, are any of you familiar with blogging?" every kid jumped up out of his/her seat and waved at me with huge smiles on their faces. We would be fools not to tap into that enthusiasm, no matter what hurdles our districts, our techies, or our own trepidations may throw out in front of us! Kids need to feel ownership in their own educational process... to be contributors, not just receptacles.