Blogging

I have tried blogs with my 8th graders through gaggle.net. After today's discussion, I think I will do more! I know that the students would like to write to each other and feel like real published authors. A former colleague used blogging as a center for her 5th graders. I could use a class blog as a reward for students who have finished their other work. Students could also have their own blogs to use as journals, which I could grade from time to time.

We suggested this morning using blogs as a form of parent communication. Instead of papers that don't make it home and emails that might get spammed, parents could access the blog on their own time. Access to a computer with Internet access would be possible challenge with my ELL population. I think about half of them have Internet at home.

I think I will set up a blog and see if there are any readers after a few months. If my students and their parents are not reading, I will know it is a waste of time. On a personal note, I think I will need a blog for those who want to follow our adoption. Another project for the fall!!