Conclusion
However you choose to use blogs in your classroom, if you choose to do so, make sure students know the importance of reading the text and participating in class. Otherwise blogging could encourage students to try to go to class from home. Make sure the students understand that the blogs are supplemental and that class time is vital to their grades.
Extension Activities
So now that you've gotten your feet wet we can explore extensions. Besides the simple Teacher Blog there are many many more ways to use the blog to enhance your teaching and engage your students.
Here are some great ideas that can be used for grades 8-12 in different subject areas. These ideas will work great for evokation or reflection on a wide range of topics.
English
Have students read Catcher in the Rye and then write a blog entry as Holden Caufield.
Social Studies
After reading about the French Revolution, ask students to write Marie Antoinette's last blog.
Math
Have students post the most troubling problems from their homework and let them share their solutions and tactics for solving them. (This is not to encourage answer sharing, do this for their benefit on tough stuff that other students could help on).
Government
After reading about the last election, have students write a blog entry on the ethics of competitive ad campaigns and strategies used by parties and individuals.
Here are some great ideas that can be used for grades 8-12 in different subject areas. These ideas will work great for evokation or reflection on a wide range of topics.
English
Have students read Catcher in the Rye and then write a blog entry as Holden Caufield.
Social Studies
After reading about the French Revolution, ask students to write Marie Antoinette's last blog.
Math
Have students post the most troubling problems from their homework and let them share their solutions and tactics for solving them. (This is not to encourage answer sharing, do this for their benefit on tough stuff that other students could help on).
Government
After reading about the last election, have students write a blog entry on the ethics of competitive ad campaigns and strategies used by parties and individuals.
Making Comments
Now that you have created a blog and written an entry you need to know how to respond to comments and make them yourself.
So, you will need to go to someone else's Teacher Blog (get their URL, http://titleoftheirblog.blogspot.com and put it in your address bar) and read their entry and make a comment on it (ie "nice lesson!"). Make sure that you use someone sitting next to you and that no one uses the same person twice.
After you make a comment on another Teacher Blog someone will have hopefully made a comment on yours.
So, you will need to go to someone else's Teacher Blog (get their URL, http://titleoftheirblog.blogspot.com and put it in your address bar) and read their entry and make a comment on it (ie "nice lesson!"). Make sure that you use someone sitting next to you and that no one uses the same person twice.
After you make a comment on another Teacher Blog someone will have hopefully made a comment on yours.
Your Assignment
Okay Teachers, I know that now you're itching to get to work on your own blogs so here is your first assignment:
Click HERE to go to the Blogger homepage and create your own blog account.
Follow the instructions and create a Teacher Blog for an imaginary class.
Then, make your first post a short introduction to your class and give an assignment.
Click HERE to go to the Blogger homepage and create your own blog account.
Follow the instructions and create a Teacher Blog for an imaginary class.
Then, make your first post a short introduction to your class and give an assignment.
Teacher Blogs
Now that you have your students' attention (woah! I can blog in class!?), you should create an instructional blog of your own to guide students.
Your Teacher Blog can include homework instructions, extra credit assignments, outside references, extracurricular resources, etc. Anything you think your students should have access to outside of class instruction and handouts.
The best part is, if a student has a question they can just ask your blog! For example, if you were giving a math assignment and you had the homework problem list posted in your Teacher Blog it could say this:
"Pg 107, Complete #s 1-45 and turn in friday in class."
A student may then read this and wonder, "45 questions? is that right?" Rather than being left to question it, he or she could just comment right back, "Is that 1-45 odd or all 45?" Then when you post an answer any other students could see it as well and save you writing countless e-mails!
Your Teacher Blog can include homework instructions, extra credit assignments, outside references, extracurricular resources, etc. Anything you think your students should have access to outside of class instruction and handouts.
The best part is, if a student has a question they can just ask your blog! For example, if you were giving a math assignment and you had the homework problem list posted in your Teacher Blog it could say this:
"Pg 107, Complete #s 1-45 and turn in friday in class."
A student may then read this and wonder, "45 questions? is that right?" Rather than being left to question it, he or she could just comment right back, "Is that 1-45 odd or all 45?" Then when you post an answer any other students could see it as well and save you writing countless e-mails!
What is a blog?
The term "Blog" is short for "web log" and basically denotes an online diary or journal.
Since 1994 internet users have been "blogging" up a storm. In 1998 when OpenDiary started up, the blog scene became more interactive, allowing readers of diaries to comment on each entry.
Today, there are hundreds of different ways to blog online. From facebook to xanga, livejournal and google, internet users have many options to "publish" their lives.
Many, if not most, of your students already have blogs of their own. If they do not, then they are at least familiar with the idea of a blog. There are some great ways in which you can incorporate your students build-in interest and skill in blogging into many great lessons.
Since 1994 internet users have been "blogging" up a storm. In 1998 when OpenDiary started up, the blog scene became more interactive, allowing readers of diaries to comment on each entry.
Today, there are hundreds of different ways to blog online. From facebook to xanga, livejournal and google, internet users have many options to "publish" their lives.
Many, if not most, of your students already have blogs of their own. If they do not, then they are at least familiar with the idea of a blog. There are some great ways in which you can incorporate your students build-in interest and skill in blogging into many great lessons.
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