Sometimes, just giving something a whirl ends up being a classroom changing decision.  Kidblog did this for me but better still is what it did for my students, the classroom atmosphere, and to the attitudes toward writing for reluctant writers.

A few years ago, our tech coach mentioned http://kidblog.org and since it was the last 6 weeks of that year, I thought it was a good time to try something new. My class was familiar with using Word so I thought it would be an easy transition. I also knew we would be learning together which was part of the fun. Kidblog made it super easy for teachers to use blogging in their classrooms. I sing their praises all the time! 🙂

We started blogging and the kids loved it. I did not realize its full potential but I was sold on the idea when I saw my students wanting to write over other choices offered.

The next year, I wanted to start blogging right away. I had many discussions with our tech coach and he shared a wonderful teacher’s idea of creating paper blogs BEFORE you try digital blogging. Here is the link to the originator of the idea. 🙂

http://www.notesfrommcteach.com/2010/09/learning-to-blog-using-paper.html

I had to adjust it for 2nd graders but the idea is a genius one! Thanks @McTeach for giving me permission to share the link and idea! 🙂

Here is an example from this current year.

The paper blog activity helps my 2nd graders understand that commenting is just conversations in written form.  Once we do this activity, we are ready to blog.

I use our classroom kidblog in many ways. Here are some ideas to use blogs in addition to using it for individual student blog posts.

Ideas:

•  Use it to introduce or enhance units.

I add links to videos, games, online books, and other resources on units we are studying.  Students and their parents can click on the links at any time to deepen learning and build interest.

•  It is great formative assessment.

I make posts asking a question related to a current unit of study.  I like to keep it open-ended to reach all levels in my room.  A few examples:  List 3 short o words.  What do you know about insects? What is a simple machine you use each day? As I am approving their comments, I am able to see misconceptions and errors but at the same time I notice students who are advanced in the skill/concept.

•  It is a way to share our classroom with parents, other students and the world.

By writing posts about classroom events, parents are able to see what we are learning and allows our classroom walls to expand past our school.

The best part of blogging is the fact that students realize that others care about what they write.  They have a voice and can express their interests in a new way.

If you have never tried blogging with your primary students, give it a try.  Once you feel comfortable, ask your students’ past teachers to comment. Ask your administrators and specials (art,music, PE) teachers to visit your students’ blogs.  Send out an email asking their parents and their families to visit and comment. When students see others are responding to their posts, eyes light up and they began planning their next posts.

YES, 2nd graders are more than capable of blogging.  My classroom would not be the same without blogging. I am so glad I  just gave it a whirl.  It indeed turned my classroom upside down but in a good way.

We would LOVE for you to visit our blog and see what 2nd graders can do!

Here’s the link:

http://kidblog.org/MissMacsOutstandingOwls/

Don’t be afraid to try! Even if you have ones younger than 2nd, you can find ways to blog!

Happy Blogging!

We’ve all been to meetings or professional workshops/seminars where you walk in and can tell in a few minutes that you are going to be bored…the WHOLE time.

Here are two complaints I hear from teachers about meetings or PD yet it seems to accepted in the classroom:

1. Reading things off the screen with no discussion.

Teacher’s experience: Don’t you hate when a speaker reads off a Powerpoint screen?  Not that it cannot be used well. I have been to great PD where powerpoint is used to keep the meeting moving and start discussions. I have also been where everyone just sits with a glazed look on their face and the speaker starts to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher. “Mwah, mwah, mwah…” There’s no time allocated to discuss what you are learning  (if you have learned anything) or how it applies to you students or your teaching.  Even if good points are made, it rarely makes it from notes to the classroom.

Student’s experience: How boring would it be if you spent the whole day listening to someone else who takes the role as an “expert”? The only time you get to speak is when you are answering questions the teacher asks. It’s still one person speaking to one person. The whole class is not involved.  They just sit there. As a result, I imagine the learning goes about as far as the previously mentioned teacher’s meeting notes.  In one ear and out another.

SOLUTION/IDEAS:  I know every lesson cannot be “amazing” or “exciting.” There’s just not enough time in the day especially for those of us who are self-contained and teach many subjects a day.   However, we can allow students to be active and involved. We can focus on making one or two lessons a day stand out.  Some concepts lend themselves better to this than others. Pick and choose wisely.

2. Reviewing things you already know.

Teacher’s experience: There are some meeting topics that I have heard 20 out of 20 years of teaching. Or there are things sent in an email and then we talk about it AGAIN in a meeting. Procedures and guidelines are important but there has to be a way to just quickly review already learned material to make time for the new.

Student’s experience:  In a classroom of 18 students, let’s say that 12 already understand the concept, 4 have a pretty good grasp of it, and 2 do not.  Most students have to go through the entire lesson for the 2.

SOLUTION/IDEAS: This is not easy and I admit this is something I have failed at miserably. It’s just easier to teach to the middle and add on enrichment at times and remediate the ones who need it.  BUT what if we knew it ahead of time?  I have been thinking about this problem.  Here’s my current thought.  I want to try to have a mini pre-test for each week containing a question or two for each of the most important concepts for the next week.  It will be a quick glance. This would help me guide instruction.  I would want to give it at the end of the week prior to teaching the new concepts to  give me a few days to adapt lessons.

I just don’t want to waste their time. I know what that feels like and it’s frustrating.

You know the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  This SO should apply in teaching. We are all learning. Which way do you want to learn? Don’t you want to leave a meeting or PD session excited and ready to share what you learned? Our students feel the same way about their school day.

Let me start by defending myself. I do share what I hoard. You can do that with ideas.  I love sharing great ideas and probably get on colleagues nerves because I’m always emailing new sites/ideas.  HOWEVER, I have so many great ideas that just sit in my favorites on Twitter or pinned on Pinterest.  I mean to use them. I pinned them. I hit that star so it’s in my favorites on my twitter profile but many remain there.

Have you ever watched Hoarders?  The hoarders say they have “treasures” in all that pile of clothes, trash and boxes.  They meant to use that awesome painting but it gets lost in the piles.  I can’t wrap my brain around their houses because I am a little OCD about mine being clean and tidy but I do understand treasures being unused. They sort of remind me of the recipe books I have in my cabinet.  I’m sure the best thing I have never cooked lies in those books. But my students deserve the ideas to happen.

So now that I have confessed, I feel better.  I do use so many ideas from Twitter and Pinterest but some of the best are just waiting to be used with my students. In order to help myself, I have organized my pins by more descriptive boards. When an idea is easier to find, it’s more likely to be used.  I have decided I am going to take a few minutes each night to review my “favorites” on twitter and either add to my “to do list” or pin it for use later.

I am excited about my organized collection of ideas.  I spent today sorting through them and there are incredible ideas that I want to implement THIS year.  I have also started an ‘idea” page with lists of how I can use the ones that most fit my current need and planning stage.

I still have a few items to organize but here’s my Pinterest page.

My Pinterest page

I do have non-school boards but if you a “treasure” board, follow it. I am now proudly using the ideas instead of  just holding a picture of them.