Blogging for the Classroom
I think that blogging would be a great way to connect with my student's and their parents. I would like to set up a blog each school year where parents and students can look to see what is going on in the classroom. I would like to teach third grade so I am not sure how exactly it would work. I was thinking of getting the students involved in a classroom blog. Each student would get to write on the classroom blog throughout the school year. I think this would be a great way for students to connect with technology and an exciting thing to show their parents as well. Of course if I do something like this, my students may be teaching me how to blog instead of the other way around. I think this is a great way for students to practice their typing skills along with using different forms of web tools that will help them later on in their schooling career. I would hope that parents would take the time to read the blog but considering what I've heard from teachers about PowerSchool and how barely any parents log-in to check their child's grades, I'm not sure how many parents would take the time to read the classroom blog.
In addition to creating a classroom blog, depending on how this 23 things blog goes, I think I would like to set up my own personal blog where I can express my feelings about my first year teaching. I know I would like to read first year teacher's blogs almost as much as I would like to read a well-seasoned teacher's blog. I feel like if I can connect with other first year teachers over the troubles and breakthroughs that I am having and that I am sure they are having, I won't feel so isolated being a first year teacher. Plus when I have a few more years of teaching under my belt it would be nice to look back and see how much I've grown as a person and educator. I think blogging is almost like a diary (that everyone can read!) and a penpal all tied up in one. My only fear with starting a personal blog my first year of teaching would be will I have enough time to dedicate to putting my thoughts down. In the past I was never a very good penpal and never wrote in a diary for more than a week or two. This blog is the first one and so far I am having a good time writing it so we will see!
I really like your idea of blogging to connect with parent's. I plan to be in Special Education and to have the ability to share with the parents what their children will be involved in each week will be an invaluable tool. To be able to post lessons, thoughts, and ideas about what we are doing and possible ways that the parent may be able to assist their child will be such a great resource to have. The key will to make sure the parents understand what is being presented and how to access your blog so as there will be no excuses as to them no knowing what there children are learning and involved in. You may have the parent who is not computer inclined and then you may have to print up the blog for them but in the end the ability to say this is where we areto each and every one of them will be invaluable in the learning process.
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