The purpose of this blog is to teach primary grade students how to create quality blogs. Ms. Morris, the author of the blog, draws on her own experience with primary grade students, by using some of their work as examples of preferred and non-preferred blogging. Several aspects of quality student blogging are examined; she comments on the shortcomings of a blog created by students who lacked instruction along with commenting on the strengths of a blog created by students who received instruction. She lists tips on writing posts, tips on teaching students how to research and filter information. She also posts comments on current teacher concerns such as student centered learning, the use of blogging in peer learning , and a reflection on what life was like pre-Internet days and how technology has impacted our lives.
This post is an example of how Ms. Morris offers help to students with research.
This post explains the advantages of student centered blogging.
Teaching Literacy in the Early Years
Fourth grade teacher Kelly Jordan focuses on Literacy Education in this blog. Her blog shows how she and her team teacher structure their 2 hour Literacy Block with their 4th grade students in their classrooms. Students are introduced to the online tool, “Glogster” that allows students to make free interactive posters or “glogs”. The word “glog” is a short form for graphic blogs which can be used for Literacy Lessons on class rules and with book discussions. Ms. Jordan also posts about how she uses blogging as a platform for her literacy teaching by including a slide show and a spreadsheet showing her 2- hour time schedule as a way to integrate blogging in her Literacy Block everyday.
This post is an example of how Ms. Jordan uses “Glogster” with her students.
This post is an example of how to use a class blog.
This blog offers art lesson plan ideas, lists of online art related resources, samples of student work, and reflections on being an art teacher in China. The teacher includes her email address for the convenience for her readers.
This post is an example of student work while studying Matisse.
This post is an example of student work while studying how to create something interesting out of a box.
I found each of these blogs easy to read and follow. The first blog offered specific criteria for students to follow when creating their own blogs with specific tips of things to avoid; the second and third blogs were both helpful by including examples of student work. They all were organized well. Each was effective in achieving its purpose: helping teachers provided technology tools for student learning. The first two blogs were written by team teachers from Australia. By reading these blogs I can see how incorporating blogging into my lessons will enhance my teaching, encourage student participation and skill development with blogging, and further improve the quality of technology education within my school and my program.
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