I am a firm believer in the important role blogging plays in my classroom. There are many reasons for this:
- It gives our class a way to connect with other classes in NZ and worldwide.
- Blogging keeps parents in touch with what has been happening in class.
- It is a way for students to revisit and extend on classroom lessons.
- It gives us an authentic audience to show off our successes.
- My blog models to the students how to keep an interesting and up-to-date blog.
I have been keeping a class blog for four years. Originally I started it as a way to record some of the 'special' activities my class took part in, such as cross countries and concerts to share with parents. Parents enjoyed this and expressed that they would like an insight into what was happening in the classroom. So, from there I started incorporating work students had completed to a high standard, and the next step from there was for students to be rostered on a week each term where they had to write a post. This year, I have stepped up again, in terms of the effort I put into recording our year in my blog. I have loved the way it has put me in touch with students and teachers from all around the world, this has challenged me to think of more creative ways of teaching to share with others.
Instead of students writing for my blog this year, I have set them the goal of having individual blogs. This has been something new for Berkley. I am thrilled with the end results. One of my students has loved blogging so much that she has set herself the goal of entering the Edublogs International Student Blogging Awards later in the year (you can see it here).
Please visit my class blog:
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