Here is a link to My Class Blog on kidblog that I am using for my literacy project. Many parents had asked me what their children could be doing at home to help in their learning, so I started a class blog where I post every weekday. The students read the postings and their classmates replies and can reply back if they like. My posts usually include a video or picture that the students can watch and a question to answer. A problem I encountered was that many students wanted to read the blog but their parents were too busy to set it up for them, how sad, or even sadder, some students don't have a computer at home. I decided to make blogging a daily center in my literacy center schedule. The center has only been up and running for a couple of days but so far it seems to be a success!
Dear Beth,
ReplyDeleteThe fact that your students don't have the technology at home makes it all the more critical that you allow time in the classroom, as you have. The set up of your own blog with the students comments is a good idea, which I will pass on to others who work in schools where students have limited access at home. I also like how you posted videos for the students to comment upon, including your own digital story. The access to the story in KidBlog gives students an opportunity to watch it again, reinforcing what you're teaching them about Arctic animals.
1st of all, I couldn't figure out who Mrs. Brown was?! I think I am sleeping with my eyes open! 2nd, I love the kidblog and the way that you are posting it is very similar to the posts I am doing with my class. Are you going to have them post anything themselves or are you going to use it for response? Oh, and are the kids answering at home? They seem to have really good spelling/ grammar so I was wondering if parents were helping or if not, what's your secret?
ReplyDeleteRight now they are just replying to my posts I don't think we're ready yet for our own posts. You can really tell the replies that are done at home from the ones done at centers in class. I really wish the parents would just let their kids do this alone, I'm going to bring it up at conferences in 2 weeks. I'd love to see your kidblog, will you share?
DeleteAh Beth, then some of your students do have access at home? Still, for those who don't, try to give them more time in class. I have also heard from elementary school teachers that once they implement blogging, their students who don't have access at home find ways to go online to blog. For instance, some go to a neighbor's or a relative's houses.
ReplyDeleteYes, about half have access at home but my students have told me their parents don't have time to get them to the kidblog website and help them log in the first time. Now that we have done this at school they will know how to log in themselves. I just find it so sad that parents don't have 5 minutes to bookmark a site for their child. I will be discussing the blogging at conferences and hopefully more will help.
ReplyDeleteBeth, I love your classroom blog! I really enjoyed reading a few of the posts. I'm sure your students appreciate you being so open and honest regarding your personal preferences and experiences. That definitely helps to build relationships inside of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI am in the on-campus version of Educ 584 and in the process of developing my literacy project. Your class blog provided me with some superb ideas. Even though I teach high school, I could very easily adapt and use the concept with my students. What a wonderful experience this must have been for your students!
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