Embedding the list of classroom blogs in this post was tricky but useful for students. By embedding, I mean making the list show up directly in the post without having to click on a link or anything.
Jill one of my concerns once I get this up and running is dedicating the time to respond to all of the comments. Like every other middle school teacher I will have between 180 to 210 kids that I will see everyday.
I have many questions, even after looking at some of these excellent examples. I already have a webpage that works well as a hub for the class but it is, as you said, static. I am looking for a way to have conversations with students and have students converse with one another outside of the classroom. I did not see many examples of this but perhaps I just missed them. I know it is possible and that is why I am in this class, I just want somebody to show me how it is done and how to control it. I did already learn one thing - do no have each student open their own blog.
this is the same thing that I noticed on many of these blogs. Many of them are not using it to create conversations, but to share information. That is what it seems to me, at least.
The main blogs I looked at were the blogs that focused on the visual art, which I teach. I noticed that none of them had any comments on any posts. This is the main reason I want to use blogs, to foster conversation. What do you think is the best way to create those conversations? Also, am I able to view and give feedback to posts before it shows up on the blog?
It took me a while to find a blog that was for middle school age students but eventually I did find one. It was just a matter of continuing to explore the blog until I clicked on the correct button.
it makes me wonder who is using blogs in the classroom. Specifically, what age groups are using this in the classroom? Is it more common in high school, or are blogs also being used quite a bit in elementary and middle?
I've seen blogs used for elementary through high school.students. Kidblogs.com is a good tool for younger students in that it provides better security mechanisms.
As I look at other blogs, I see quite a few possibilites. Certainly keeping students updated on assignments would be an advantage. But the ability to embed video would enable me to present proper theatre technique on stage and off. Students could watch their own or other student's scenes and comment on them regarding what was done well and what needs increased attention.
I can also list upcoming events and present options that students could comment on. For instance, we are ordering T-shirts for a play and students could discuss a consensus on the color of the shirt.
Great idea regarding the T-shirts. This would be a great way to get opinions of those who would like to communicate something but often feel drowned out by those students who are quick to raise their hands and tend to dominate the discussion because of their outgoing personalities.
I'm also interested in learning how to imbed video, a class calendar, or slideshows. It's a daunting task for me to figure that out on my own, so I hope that it is touched on in the class.
The blogs I looked out seemed very busy and overwelming. I only looked at three blogs under the 5th grade category, so I am certain with more time I would have found a blog that would have satisfied my need for what I am interested in doing in my own 5th grade class. I did like seeing the kids writing on blogs, and like the ease of them posting these writing assignments on the blog rather than on their own webpage. In the past they would post their writing on their own webpage and then there was a link to their webpage via my webpage. Blogging appears to make this purpose of posting and sharing writing easier for the kids to access each others as well as a beautiful way for the kids to add comments and peer edit each others work. I know there is much to learn with blogging as the week progresses. Learning the blog vocabulary and where and how to post items as well as peeking at others blogs will hopefully help me find the right recipe for success on my own blog.
I felt a little overwhelmed as well. I wonder in the beginning if keeping the blog simple would be helpful. Maybe add more links along the way. Then again perhaps our students are used to all of the variety of information coming at them at a high rate of speed.
This is very similar to my post and experience looking at all the blogs. I found myself not taking any time to peruse those blogs that I felt were too "busy," opting more for those blogs that were simply laid out.
Great examples on all class blogs. I particularly liked the Leopold site and the Yollis site. I saw many ideas that I would like to incorporate in my blog: guidelines, widgets (translate, student blog list, labels, resources, popular posts). I am confident with modeling and going SLOW I can get my third graders to interact with a class blog site as well as develop their own blogs and be excited at the same time!
It seems a bit overwhelming to create a blog! Going slow and modeling with your third graders is the way to go. Your kids will be so engaged in the classroom once they have created their own blogs. I can't wait to see your third graders creating their blogs this fall!
I am feeling overwhelmed; it's probably the same way my students feel when I would introduce fractions. However, I'm also very excited to get started! I visited a 4th grade student's blog and loved that she listed her goals as a fourth grade student. I spent a bit of time visiting a kindergarten teacher's blog. I loved that she was able to scan a class book for the parents to see. I also liked that she posted a video introducing the website to parents. I noticed that she had a student post as well. Kindergarten parents are often concerned about their students progress and learning; this will be a great way to open up conversations! Here we go!!!! --Angie
As I've viewed other blogs, I find that I can get hung up on how the blogs are organized or arranged. Often many blogs are cluttered with widgets and links that at first viewing, they seem jumbled and disorganized. This prevents me from delving into the content, which I'm sure is good with many of them. An example of this is the blog from the list above, the Language Arts blog "In Session:..." and the Special Ed. blog "Mr. Borg & The Blog Squad." I find that I'm more attracted to the more simple blogs that have a clear point or directions and are laid out with few distractions. Examples of this are "Teaching English use web 2.0" and "SCC English."
The appearance and organization of a blog matter to me in that those blogs more simply presented entice me to continue reading. I think that's important in how I develop my blog so that my students (mostly having a disability) can more easily interact with it.
My favorite 5th grade blog was "A Full Classroom". I liked how the teacher, Ms. Full uses her name in an interesting manner for the colorful title. The blog highlighted daily classroom events with pictures and words geared toward keeping parents informed. She used large widgets on the top right to link to other sights (student blog, email, etc..). The archived posts were also on the right side which helped to keep this blog very organized and easy to follow. It seems to me that she has been blogging for some time. I wonder how long it would take me to develop a blog as advanced as this one? I wonder how much time it takes each day to keep up with your blog when there are so many demands in a teacher's day?
Embedding the list of classroom blogs in this post was tricky but useful for students. By embedding, I mean making the list show up directly in the post without having to click on a link or anything.
ReplyDeleteJill one of my concerns once I get this up and running is dedicating the time to respond to all of the comments. Like every other middle school teacher I will have between 180 to 210 kids that I will see everyday.
DeleteI have many questions, even after looking at some of these excellent examples. I already have a webpage that works well as a hub for the class but it is, as you said, static. I am looking for a way to have conversations with students and have students converse with one another outside of the classroom. I did not see many examples of this but perhaps I just missed them. I know it is possible and that is why I am in this class, I just want somebody to show me how it is done and how to control it. I did already learn one thing - do no have each student open their own blog.
ReplyDeleteI apologize for any grammatical mistakes. :)
Deletethis is the same thing that I noticed on many of these blogs. Many of them are not using it to create conversations, but to share information. That is what it seems to me, at least.
DeleteThe main blogs I looked at were the blogs that focused on the visual art, which I teach. I noticed that none of them had any comments on any posts. This is the main reason I want to use blogs, to foster conversation. What do you think is the best way to create those conversations? Also, am I able to view and give feedback to posts before it shows up on the blog?
ReplyDelete~Dan Willis
I think what I will try is to ask some type of open ended question at the beginning of each session.
DeleteYou can moderate posts so that you can look at the content before they are published.
DeleteIt took me a while to find a blog that was for middle school age students but eventually I did find one. It was just a matter of continuing to explore the blog until I clicked on the correct button.
ReplyDeleteit makes me wonder who is using blogs in the classroom. Specifically, what age groups are using this in the classroom? Is it more common in high school, or are blogs also being used quite a bit in elementary and middle?
DeleteI understand your search. I wish I could see a blog that deals with the specific subject matter and age level that I am teaching.
DeleteI've seen blogs used for elementary through high school.students. Kidblogs.com is a good tool for younger students in that it provides better security mechanisms.
DeleteAs I look at other blogs, I see quite a few possibilites. Certainly keeping students updated on assignments would be an advantage. But the ability to embed video would enable me to present proper theatre technique on stage and off. Students could watch their own or other student's scenes and comment on them regarding what was done well and what needs increased attention.
ReplyDeleteI can also list upcoming events and present options that students could comment on. For instance, we are ordering T-shirts for a play and students could discuss a consensus on the color of the shirt.
Great idea regarding the T-shirts. This would be a great way to get opinions of those who would like to communicate something but often feel drowned out by those students who are quick to raise their hands and tend to dominate the discussion because of their outgoing personalities.
DeleteI would like to learn how to embed pictures and video too, hopefully we will learn that!
DeleteWe will embed pictures and video and it's easy to do :)
DeleteI'm also interested in learning how to imbed video, a class calendar, or slideshows. It's a daunting task for me to figure that out on my own, so I hope that it is touched on in the class.
DeleteThe blogs I looked out seemed very busy and overwelming. I only looked at three blogs under the 5th grade category, so I am certain with more time I would have found a blog that would have satisfied my need for what I am interested in doing in my own 5th grade class. I did like seeing the kids writing on blogs, and like the ease of them posting these writing assignments on the blog rather than on their own webpage. In the past they would post their writing on their own webpage and then there was a link to their webpage via my webpage. Blogging appears to make this purpose of posting and sharing writing easier for the kids to access each others as well as a beautiful way for the kids to add comments and peer edit each others work. I know there is much to learn with blogging as the week progresses. Learning the blog vocabulary and where and how to post items as well as peeking at others blogs will hopefully help me find the right recipe for success on my own blog.
ReplyDeleteI felt a little overwhelmed as well. I wonder in the beginning if keeping the blog simple would be helpful. Maybe add more links along the way. Then again perhaps our students are used to all of the variety of information coming at them at a high rate of speed.
DeleteThis is very similar to my post and experience looking at all the blogs. I found myself not taking any time to peruse those blogs that I felt were too "busy," opting more for those blogs that were simply laid out.
DeleteGreat examples on all class blogs. I particularly liked the Leopold site and the Yollis site. I saw many ideas that I would like to incorporate in my blog: guidelines, widgets (translate, student blog list, labels, resources, popular posts). I am confident with modeling and going SLOW I can get my third graders to interact with a class blog site as well as develop their own blogs and be excited at the same time!
ReplyDeleteIt seems a bit overwhelming to create a blog! Going slow and modeling with your third graders is the way to go. Your kids will be so engaged in the classroom once they have created their own blogs. I can't wait to see your third graders creating their blogs this fall!
DeleteBoth the Leopold and Yollis sites were blog award winners.
DeleteI am feeling overwhelmed; it's probably the same way my students feel when I would introduce fractions. However, I'm also very excited to get started! I visited a 4th grade student's blog and loved that she listed her goals as a fourth grade student. I spent a bit of time visiting a kindergarten teacher's blog. I loved that she was able to scan a class book for the parents to see. I also liked that she posted a video introducing the website to parents. I noticed that she had a student post as well. Kindergarten parents are often concerned about their students progress and learning; this will be a great way to open up conversations!
ReplyDeleteHere we go!!!!
--Angie
Certainly there is a flexibility and freedom inherent in blogs.
DeleteIt's great to be a student and see what it is like for them. We can share the overwhelming feeling we had this week when we teach them!
DeleteAs I've viewed other blogs, I find that I can get hung up on how the blogs are organized or arranged. Often many blogs are cluttered with widgets and links that at first viewing, they seem jumbled and disorganized. This prevents me from delving into the content, which I'm sure is good with many of them. An example of this is the blog from the list above, the Language Arts blog "In Session:..." and the Special Ed. blog "Mr. Borg & The Blog Squad." I find that I'm more attracted to the more simple blogs that have a clear point or directions and are laid out with few distractions. Examples of this are "Teaching English use web 2.0" and "SCC English."
ReplyDeleteThe appearance and organization of a blog matter to me in that those blogs more simply presented entice me to continue reading. I think that's important in how I develop my blog so that my students (mostly having a disability) can more easily interact with it.
My favorite 5th grade blog was "A Full Classroom". I liked how the teacher, Ms. Full uses her name in an interesting manner for the colorful title. The blog highlighted daily classroom events with pictures and words geared toward keeping parents informed. She used large widgets on the top right to link to other sights (student blog, email, etc..). The archived posts were also on the right side which helped to keep this blog very organized and easy to follow. It seems to me that she has been blogging for some time. I wonder how long it would take me to develop a blog as advanced as this one? I wonder how much time it takes each day to keep up with your blog when there are so many demands in a teacher's day?
ReplyDelete