Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Classroom Usage

Hello everyone! As an educator who is new to blogging, I've been thinking of practical ways I could use this tool in the classroom. I must confess, that I have become somewhat addicted to checking my blog and reading comments on the blogs of other Walden classmates. As the school year comes to a close, and I begin to prepare my summer reading assignment for honors 10 English, I am strongly considering creating a blog for the summer assignments. This blog would provide a place for students to communicate with me and each other about the text and other assignments. Blogging about the assignments, along with what to expect in the fall, could greatly reduce stress for the incoming freshmen, and provide a sense of camaraderie within the classroom before we arrive again for the next school year. If the blog is a success, students could respond to questions I post to further discussion of the texts and continue the blog once school has resumed. Blogging would be an option, not a requirement for the summer assignment, as some students may not have Internet access at home. What do you think? Any suggestions for creating a blog for summer reading?
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9 comments:

  1. Ruth CrawfordMay 13, 2009 at 3:52 PM

    I am going to create a blog with reading suggestions and a place where the students can post comments on books they are reading. Here is a list of reasons for them to read and that will be on the site as well.

    1. To gain insight into other lives, cultures, and ways of thinking
    2. To see you’re not alone and how others cope with problems
    3. To learn about something ‘in context’ or learn to do new things
    4. To learn something new or remember something forgotten
    5. To learn to write concisely and coherently
    6. To learn how to express yourself more effectively
    7. To improve your reading skills
    8. To relax and get quiet time, just for yourself
    9. To laugh or cry or get angry or righteously indignant
    10. To strengthen current ideas and values or to question them
    11. To make connections and make sense of the world
    12. To have an adventure you might not otherwise get to have
    13. To learn about a place before you go there or
    14. To go somewhere you might never go
    15. To provide other perspectives on a topic or viewpoint
    16. To save your life
    17. To have something to talk about besides gossip
    18. To have a friend at the end of every day
    19. To test the “road not traveled” or “test drive” an experience
    20. To understand your friends well and your enemies better
    Good luck

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  2. SG WineMay 13, 2009 at 6:24 PM

    Ruth,

    That is an excellent idea and a wonderful list of reasons. Thank you for sharing! I hope you don't mind if I use a few of your reasons. :-)

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  3. CCharbMay 14, 2009 at 9:50 AM

    Sheryl

    If you want more ideas for your summer reading program take a look at the pdf file for summer reading that is posted on my blog http://ccharb.edublogs.org/. It contains the list that Ruth shared with you along with other great suggestions and book recommendations. It was compiled by a district committee so it is full of great "think tank" ideas.

    If you develop a way to incorporate blogging into your program please share as this is an idea that we have been trying to get off the ground for the past two years.

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  4. jamesrider3May 15, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    Hi Sheryl,

    I think bloggns is excellent for an English classroom and high school students are (for the most part) educated in the technology areas.

    One questions, how will you assess the blogging comments and posts your students make? It's an area I am struggling with.

    Thanks,
    James

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  5. UnknownMay 15, 2009 at 4:38 PM

    Hey Sheryl,

    I really liked your idea of summer reading and blogging. This is a great way to keep students involved and reading. I think I will steal your idea if that is okay. I think I may try to get technical and scan in a report form for my students to use as a guide. Your students are older, so I'm not sure if something like that would work for you. My students are middle school age and need lots and lots of guidance.

    Thanks...Sherrie

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  6. Mr. LollisMay 15, 2009 at 6:09 PM

    Sheryl,

    I love your idea of a blog for student use in the summer. I think you could have great success with such a tool. Even if only some students participated, it would definitely have value and benefit your incoming students.

    Would it be similar to a book club with discussion of non-assigned reading or do you see it more of a head-start type program that allows your student to preview of get ahead with the curriculum.

    I have been toying with the idea of using a blog with my upcoming students this summer as well, and I am curious as to how your blog turns out. Please keep us posted.

    Dan Lollis

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  7. SG WineMay 16, 2009 at 10:18 AM

    Everyone,

    Well, my plans of summer blogging have been foiled by a change in the schedule for next year. It seems that I will not have a class to do summer reading with. For those of you who plan to blog with a summer reading assignment, I hope you share your experience with me. I intend to search for rubric ideas for blog assessment to use in the fall. Thank you for all of the feedback!

    Sheryl

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  8. CCharbMay 16, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    Sheryl

    I am so sorry to hear about your scheduling misfortune. What classes will you be teaching if not the grade 10 students you were expecting? Could you not create a blog for these new students as well?

    Carol

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  9. SG WineMay 19, 2009 at 5:19 AM

    Carol,

    I was expecting an honors class that I had this year, which would have made a blog opportunity for the summer reading assignment.

    Sheryl

    ReplyDelete

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