HPeterman's Blog

Blogging is something I don’t have a handle on yet  I set one up last year to only end up frustrated and not using it.  One of my goals for this year was to learn how to use it more effectively.    I didn’t really understand the purpose of blogs, or I guess how it was any different than emailing.  The blog I set up would fit under the teacher communication type.  I want to be able to communicate assignments, projects, etc. to parents and students, as well as for kids who are out ill.  My daughter was recently home sick for three days and said she could get on her teachers’ blogs to get her homework.  This intrigued me even more.  I want my students to be able to do that too.

The student blogs also intrigue me.  This would be something I could use with my subject area of language arts.  Instead of typical “book reports,” they could do book talks on their blogs.  Maybe this would give them more confidence and motivation.  With middle school aged kids though, I worry about if they would keep comments appropriate and show sensitivity.  I guess like with many class projects, rules and expectations would be given and expected to be followed.  The article talked about special programs that would allow me to control and filter posts.  This would definitely make me feel more secure.  What happens though for kids who don’t have access to internet use at home? It’s hard finding time during the school day too. I guess an option would still be to hand in responses on paper.  They wouldn’t get the benefit of the interaction though? hmm. Questions start flooding.