I seem to be continually uncovering more and more benefits to educational blogging. Aside from the advantages that I’ve shared here and here, having your class involved in the educational blogging community allows students to learn from and with their peers from all around the world.
In my class we often use our blogging buddies’ posts as inspiration for classroom activities, and as role models for high standards of work.
One such example was the readers’ theatre activities that we were doing last week as part of our CAFE reading program.
Throughout the week, we read a range of readers’ theatre scripts and used the posts on Mr Salsich’s Classroom Blog and 4T’s Classroom Blog as inspiring models.
We published one of our own performances on our class blog here which hopefully continues the cycle of sharing.
There have been many other instances when my students have learnt from their blogging buddies. Just a few that spring to mind are:
- Last year, when my students were conducting interviews for their “Dinosaur Conference”, we used the interviews on Mr Avery’s class blog to help us work out what makes a good interview.
- When we were learning about arrays in maths, we used the ideas on Mr Salsich’s blog for our own classroom activity. His class had been finding arrays in everyday life and we carried the idea on into our own blog post.
- The idea for Family Blogging month which we hold every year in our class came from our blogging buddies in Mrs Yollis’ class.
Being part of the blogging community not only enriches my students’ education but assists me to create authentic and interesting classroom activities. Everyone wins!
Hello Kathleen
Thanks to your guidance and the TYT workshops, our class blog is well under way.
We recently invited parent to contribute to our maths discussion on how they use the calendar in their lives. The contributions were rich, meaningful and valued highly by the children – especially if it was a comment by their mum or dad that appeared on our classroom screen.
The parent-school relationship has been well-enhanced by the class blog.
cheers
Brette
Hi Brette,
That is fabulous to hear that your blogging journey is going well and you’ve been able to get parents involved. The post for parents seems to work very nicely and tying it in to your maths topic is a great idea.
Thanks for your great comment,
Kathleen
At my school we are restricted to using the Ultranet as our blogging. Students still benefit from blog buddies within the school, however I don’t think it is as powerful as it could be.
There is no need to cotton wool students rather educate them about safety and dangers of the internet.
Hi Reflective Teacher,
I couldn’t agree with you more. I have elaborated on my thoughts on blogging and the Ultranet here http://primarytech.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/02/20/blogging-and-the-ultranet/
Happy blogging,
Kathleen
i like how all these different kinds of ways to teach the class this is a great idea the new generation is so lucky and i wish they had stuff back when i was at school.
Yes, me too! It would have been fun to blog and use technology when we were at school.
Thanks for your comment,
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen
Your post has prompted me to thank you for the wonderful contribution both you and your class have made to blogging. It has certainly been an influence on my teaching.
Over the last term, my students and I have been learning about quality commenting which I have seen students apply straight to their posting on their new student blogs.
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
That’s great to hear! I love how the sharing just continues on. We learnt about quality commenting from Linda Yollis and long time ago and we love to pass that same message on.
Thanks for the comment,
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for the mention about our blog. In regards to your question, I think blogs have become such a valuable resource in my teaching. We often look at other class blogs for examples and inspiration. It has been a good source of showing what can be done. Blogging has also been a powerful way of reflecting upon learning, both for myself and for my students.
Only recently we participated in “The Great Egg Roll” which came from a website called “Projects by Jen”. The learning that came out of that was engaging and valuable.
Blogs have really enriched my classroom and has made it exciting.
Regards
Kate Todd
Hi Kate,
Thanks for dropping by.
I heard about “The Great Egg Roll” and it sounded really fun and valuable!
I certainly agree that blogs make our classroom enriched and exciting!
Kathleen