A Blog About Blogging

As Dr. D mentioned during our session on Friday afternoon, writing across the curriculum is a SIP goal.  Tied in with his comments about homework, a review of the day’s lesson, and checking for understanding, I would like to comment on a web 2.0 tool that I think teachers, across content areas, could utilize to achieve the above-mentioned ideas: blogging as a classroom.  The basic premise is this:  teachers can post a question for which students can write a response.  The responses are visible by everyone else in the class and students and teacher can comment on the students’ responses.  Different blogging services give different control over the permissions of posts and comments.  One that I like and have used is Kid Blog at http://kidblog.org/home.php 

The features of this site are: being able to view posts and comments from students before they are published, importing your class list from an excel spreadsheet, password protection from anyone outside the class to view posts, and the ability to add guests from outside the class (like your LMC specialists!) to take part in the conversation.

Possible blog topics taken from opener/closer handout:

• Do you know anything about . . .?  How does it compare to . . . 
• Describe . . . using your sensory words and new content words
• Explain what is meant by . . . How does that compare to what you or others believe/see/explain?
• What is an example of . . . ?
• Compare and contrast . . . 
• What is the cause or effect?
• What is the most important idea and why?

Susan and I would be more than happy to facilitate the use of a blog in your classroom.  It can also be linked to your teacher web site for easy student and parent access.  Happy blogging!