Thursday, March 11, 2010
Classroom Blog Ideas
I teach first grade. The idea of using a blog in my classroom intrigues me. I think I would start by introducing a class blog to my entire class. Showing them the postings and where to comment. Then I might make blogging an optional homework assignment. It would be optional since some homes do not have computers or internet access. This way parents could help guide their students through the process of commenting. Next, at school, I would share with them how to comment on the class blog. I would keep it simple by asking ,"What did you do over Spring Break?" Next I would take my students to the computer lab. My school has a computer lab that all grade levels share. Due to popularity, my class can only visit the lab once each week. I would allow students time to type a few things in the blog that they did over Spring Break. Knowing that many of my students are very slow at typing, I expect some will only get one sentence. This is still great practice for sentence formation and typing skills. I am a little concerned that this might just turn into pure confusion in the computer lab. Hopefully the few that did it for homework would be able to help others. Like I said, I am brand new to blogs. This might be way too much for six and seven year olds. I am willing to try it. At the very least, I hope to set up a blog to display artwork or writing samples for parents and students to visit from home. I would place the blog site on my weekly newsletter and encourage them to interact. What do the rest of you think? Is first grade too young to expect blog participation?
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Hello Shonda,
ReplyDeleteI too have taught first grade and wonder if it is too young to start them blogging. In my opinion I also think it would be difficult to do due to the students need of support. I think the willingness to try it and expose the kids to blogs would be wonderful. I also think the idea of posting artwork or student created writing, even if a sentence would be an excellent idea. I too do a weekly newsletter and I think the idea of connecting with the families by using blog is another great tool. Good luck! Let us know how it went.
I was also wondering about what age level students could start blogging because of the writing ability and technical skills required. I think that you have a very good idea to get them started with just a sentence later in the year (Spring Break). I am not sure if your computer lab has one, but I have found the LCD projector extremely helpful to show students step by step instructions for new tasks. Also, it may seem a little militant, but when I’m teaching a new skill in the computer lab I have had students put their hands on their shoulders after each step so that I can easily see who’s completed the step and to prevent random clicking—which can lead to problems when they are not familiar with the site. (I know you are thinking of a few kids in your class right now who would be your “random clickers.” ) Do you think that it would work with kindergarten and early first grade to create something like a blog word wall? The teacher could post a letter or sound and have the students comment with a word that begins or ends with that sound.
ReplyDeleteI like Paula's idea of a sound word wall or even for word families for students to add to. I wonder if it would be too basic for my high students or too challenging for my low students. I think I am just going to have to try it out to see what they are capable of. Thanks for the comments.
ReplyDeleteCould you assign the higher students to create word walls for vowel sound and digraphs? Just a quick thought. Many of us are new to classroom blogging and I know that there will be some guess and check as I get used to the new format with students. I hope all goes well as you try it out with first graders--very brave.
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