The primary purpose for creating a blog for my 6th grade class would be to use this blog to communicate with each other on daily assignments. At the same time, this exercise would introduce them to blogging. When taking a survey of my classes, less then two percent understand what blogging is.
6th graders are intimidated as they are now attending middle school. This will give the chance to discuss any issues they might have outside of class also. Some may find it easier to type their question rather than becoming vocal in front of a whole class of peers.
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Terri,
ReplyDeleteIf your sixth graders are not familiar with blogging, you may have to be more direct with your use of the blog. One way to be more direct would be to post a specific question each week or daily. Your question would possibly spark that communication with peers that it sounds like you are looking for. Hope my perspective helps.
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteThey are not familiar with educational blogging, however, they do know how to use Myspace. This is a great suggestion to post a question and make it mandatory that they respond. Then as 7th graders I can add an additional step, like that have to respond to my question and another classmate. Then as 8th graders, they can take turns supplying questions and respond to two classmates. Do you have any other suggestions that would benefit my students?
I am going to jump into your conversation here. I hope you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteComing from a middle school background, I would give you some recommendations.
- Be very specific as to what you want your students to do and tell them how they will be graded.
- I would also explain that they would be graded on grammar, since this will be available for more eyes than just the teacher.
- Have them go through the process with you in the class, step by step.
- Be sure that they know that what they do on the blog is recorded, archived, and can be retrieved.
- Find out your school/district policy regarding what student information and work can be posted on a blog.
- Find out if your blog is behind a firewall or if it is open to the public.
- Send home a letter to the parents explaining the purpose of blogging, the policy, the grading, and how parents can monitor the blog.
I would do some fun activities with the students before you have them work on daily assignments. Post a joke, a set of song lyrics that are popular, a link to a game site and then have the students respond to a question about whichever item you pick. Give them a class survey and then post the results and have the students answer a question about that.
I would also recommend that you become very familiar and comfortable with the technology before you open it up to the kids. You do not want them smelling fear.
Terri,
ReplyDeleteI think you have an excellent start to a useful task in your classroom. I'm sure that as you implement these ideas you will manipulate the tasks to fit the needs that you are looking for.
Sean,
ReplyDeleteYou can jump in on any conversation, thats the beauty of blogging.
THANK YOU, there is much more to the lesson as far as set up. I didn't even think about getting parents consent or even the adminstrations view point. I was so excited to have a new tool to teach them with.
So let me ask, you sound very knowledgible, what was your first lesson that you taught about blogging? I how did you start?
These are great suggestions that I will make part of my checklist.
Terri,
ReplyDeleteMy class would need an enticement to blog. I am thinking of posting the answer to the daily math puzzler I give every day, daily snapshots which is a thing we do to post on our website, or the overheard in the hallway quips and quotes. Things like these as a lead in would interest my students. I have read the comments of the others on your blog. I am enjoying the shared resources and advice. The benefit / cost for time spent is worthwhile. Good stuff.