The use of blogs in the classroom

The use of blogs in the classroom.

As I began my research, I found many reasons teachers would use a blog for academic learning in the classroom. According to www.pembinatrails.ca/program/technology/uses_of_blog_in_education.htm, most teachers use blogs as a web page, link to internet research, to organize class discussions and for teachers and students to reflect about classroom learning and respond to topics. Teachers can also use blogs as a way to pass along class syllabi and for students to have a purpose for writing.
As I looked at these websites focused and ways to use blogs, and found other examples of teacher websites, I felt that many uses were created and more easily adapted in intermediate grades and certainly middle and high school. I then changed my search to look for uses of blogs in the primary grades, especially focusing on kindergarten. I was especially curious in looking at the use of blogs in a kindergarten classroom since most kindergarten students (especially at the beginning of the year) cannot write.
I found two wonderful blogs created by two teachers at the same community school, one kindergarten and one first grade (www.classblogmeister.com). The blogs were visually set up the same. The teachers organized the page and students had a chance to post comments and share class work. For the writing portion of the blog, the students used their best “sounding out” words and then the teacher added “adult” spelling at the bottom. One addition on the kindergarten teacher page that I found especially appealing was the video for parents on “how to blog with your child.” The teacher set up the video to encourage families to blog over the summer.
I have realized through my research that blogs can have a use in all grades and can be a successful tool even for students that are learning to write. Blogs can be used as a form of communication from teacher to student, student to teacher, and family to family.

educational journal

I decided to subscribe to www.earlychildhoodnews.com.  I decided to pick this journal because they listed many articles relating to developmentally appropriate practices for early childhood education teachers and primary school teachers.  In particular, I am interested in the articles that talk about early entry students to kindergarten and first grade.

PPT as an educational tool?

I have yet to use power point presentations in my own class.  I have heard about and seen other teachers use PPT in the primary grades with success.  Mostly, teachers I know have used PPT to display pictures in a story while they read the text or display the entire pages of a book so that students may practice using different types of reading and comprehension strategies.  I have also seen teachers turn classroom pictures into a powerpoint to display at the end of the year.  Parents and students alike enjoy that!

Brooke Morris-immigrants vs. natives

I think that there needs to be a balance between the old ways and the new.  I think that immigrants are always weary of the new because it is something unfamiliar and untried.  As educators, our job is to encourage students to be thinkers and inventors.  With that in mind, shouldn't we push students to be smarter and better than ourselves?

I do think there is a lot to be said about the "ways of the old."  I don't think that we should give up ways that we value from the past.  For me that means writing actual letters (mail) on paper and sending them.  I use email and text (most frequently) but I still take the time to send real letters/cards to my friends.

My Intro.

Hello,

I teach 1st grade in the Mukilteo School district.  This is my fourth year teaching.