I have been doing a lot of thinking about how I would really like to use a blog in my classroom with my third grade students. I set up a classroom blog in November, but have yet to use it with my students in class. Until I read this week's reading, I thought that I only wanted to use my blog as a place to have students post writing pieces and respond to other student writing. I thought I might give them one writing topic as a class or have them work in small groups to post to the blog. I initially thought using a blog would be a simpler way for me to keep track of the writing that my students were doing, and an exciting way for students to complete some of the writing work that I needed them to do. However, as I began to think about the possibilities as brought to light in chapter two of the Richardson text (Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms), my mind literally began spinning about the ways that I could use my classroom blog with my students! Because I teach 3rd grade, I feel like my beginnings need to be linked to collaborative writing and sharing of ideas, using the blog as a classroom portal and information center for parents and students, and to allow for a place for student to reflect upon their learning and ask questions of myself or of other students. It is hard to even explain how excited I feel about getting my blog up and running for my classroom. I am truly thrilled about the possibilities and thinking that it will bring into my classroom!
The first thing I want to use my classroom blog for is create a classroom portal that will allow students to access daily assignments and learning resources (worksheets, examples, and study guides). I want a space to be able to help my students and parents find the information they need to complete the work that is necessary. Secondly, I want to provide a space for my students to reflect and comment on the learning and activities that we do in class. I usually find out far too late that my students have something really valuable to contribute to a discussion, or they have a terrific book or experience that would be great to include in our lessons. Several students have brought me ideas for our projects - after the project is complete. I would like a place for students to reflect on what we are doing, ask questions about things they want to know about, and add their own ideas to our classroom discussions and projects. I think the first true assignment I am going to ask students to complete will be about their own technology use. I realize that I know very little about the technology my students are familiar with. I would like to begin our technology journey together by learning about and sharing each of my student's expertise and experience with particular technologies. Any thoughts about what I could include in my portal page, my reflections postings, or in my technology discussion?
Posts
Julie - Of all the wonderful things you addressed in your post, I found the focus on reflection to be the most critical. I cannot imagine how differently I might have taken my primary grade schooling if I had something like a place to reflect. This provides such a connection for our students who otherwise are quite disconnected. You are valuing your students' responses and feelings in such a prominent formant which in turn will help create better students and ones who are more engaged. I believe that reflection is an art and in order to have meaningful reflection, the students need to know how to dig deep and reflect. My suggestion would be to practice reflecting with your kids and sharing with others so all have the opportunity to assimilate reflection into their everyday school life. I think some do's and don'ts on reflection, examples of weak reflections and strong ones. Now...what about kids who don't have access to a computer?
ReplyDeleteLauren
Lauren - I've been struggling with that idea for quite some time. I think I may have a way to get around it, for the most part. I had my students complete a technology survey with their parents, and I found that many had some sort of access to the internet, either being willing to go to a relative's house or the library. I think if I ask students to reflect a minimum of once a week, then most of the students would be able to complete that. A few would be able to complete the task from home. Those who do not have internet access would be given top priority for computer use at school - even if it meant time away from another center or classroom project.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that is is going to take some very specific modeling with my students to show them how to reflect. I think the biggest obstacles I am going to have with doing these models and then guided practices with students is going to be 1) time, and 2) getting access to the technology. I have approximately 3 1/2 hours per day with all of my students in my classroom. I will have to find a time to teach and model this type of thinking during an available time for the equipment. Our lab, unfortunately, is in use all day long for classes, and really never has an open time slot. I think that I will just have to schedule a time that is solely devoted to reflection and blog work.
Julie,
ReplyDeleteThe dilemna I forsee with using the blog for student's writing is grading it. Do you plan to grade it like a usual writing assessment or plan on creating a rubric for it. They other issue I would see is with my students(high school) is copying/plagiarism. Would you have the students submit a rough copy in the class prior to submission on the blog therefore the students all have completed it and cannot borrow anyone else's ideas?
I love the idea for using the blog as a area for information about the class. You can check out my blog, I added some of my typical back to school worksheets.
Hi Julie, I have posted worksheets and permission forms on the blog site and it works great for those few unorganized students who want to do the work but keep misplacing it.
ReplyDeleteDo you or anyone else know anything about copywright laws. Am I allowed to post a worksheet from a textbook for my class on a blog that is closed to the public, as I am allowed to give the worksheet to my students in printed form?
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI face the same obstacles of time and computer access. We just need to find ways to circumvent these hindrances. I like your suggestions. It is doable; we just need to figure it out. I am so grateful for the opportunity to do just that through our course of study.
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI teach 4th grade and I also know the limitations of not having access to all of the technology that you would like for your elementary students. In regards to yout portal page, I think the more you access it the more the parents and students will look to it as a resource. I like to put links to sites where students can learn more about subjects we are learning about that they can access at home and with parents. I think it's a great idea to find out about your student's technology use and I am hoping you will be surprised to find you have more students who have access to technology and the internet than you think. I think the key is getting parents to understand that you think it's important for your students to be able to access these tools and also emphasize a focus on safety. I know many parents put up a red flag whenever they hear about their children accessing the internet. By sharing things like kid friendly web-browsers and links to changing the parental control settings on web browsers, hopefully parents will be more inclined to let their kids access the internet to use some of the great ideas you want to implement. Also, hopefully they will become actively involved, because they see that you've put in the time to show that this is important for their children to be a part of.
Kelli,
ReplyDeleteWhen I score my 3rd graders' writing, I usually use rubrics to begin with. I am not sure that I would score the writing my student posted to the blog, because at third grade I am really trying to drive home the point that there are many different purposes for writing. I have many ELLs in my classroom, so I want to make the blog environment as risk free as possible. So to answer your question, I don't plan on grading student writing as a writing assessment, but I will be using a response rubric that will require them to answer the question and use correct grammar and punctuation. I may however use the blog to showcase student writing that they would like to share (from things they have done in class). It may take away some of the stress that students feel presenting their writing in from of a large group.
James,
ReplyDeleteI am no expert at copyright laws, but it would make sense to me that posting your worksheets would be acceptable, since your school gained permission to use them when they purchased the program. I looked but I couldn't find anything about publishing those types of things to websites, so I'm really not sure. Let me know if you find out!