Baby Steps:Blogging in the Classroom

Ms. M. HudsonArchdiocesan Professional Day

Friday, September 4, 2009

Resurrection of Our Lord School“… united through Christ …”

Opening PrayerLord Jesus, when you lived and worked and talked amongst the people, they called you Teacher. Help me to remember the greatness of the work which has been given to me to do.

Help me always to remember that I work with the most precious material in the world, the mind of a child. Help me to help these children, not only to store things in their memories, but to be able to use their minds, and to think for themselves.

And amidst the worries and the irritations and the frustrations of my vocation, help me to remember that the future of the Church, the nation and of the world is in my hands.

May the blessings of your sevenfold Gifts be in all who teach and in all who learn through the Holy Spirit.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

- Taken from “Catholic Prayers for Teachers”

What exactly is blogging?

In it’s simplest form, blogging is online journaling. It gives writers another mode of communication. The online aspect provides immediacy. Writers can share their ideas instantly and receive real-time feedback.

Blogging is also …

• A way for writers to collaborate on a single piece.

• An avenue to manage multiple writing tasks.

• An opportunity to extend expression beyond the written word to include audio and video presentations of one’s opinions and ideas.

• Connects traditional writers to modern technology and its mode of communication.

Okay, that’s interesting, but how can I use blogging in my classroom?

Benefits of blogging in the classroom:

• Provides an additional mode for writing.• Engages writing skills.• Presents writing as an instructional tool in the

content areas.• Incorporates technology.• Makes learning relevant.• Boosts students’ self-confidence.• Engages various learning styles.• Facilitates critical thinking.• Meets district and state learning standards.

Benefits of blogging in the classroom:

• Provides an additional mode for writing.• Engages writing skills.• Presents writing as an instructional tool in the

content areas.• Incorporates technology.• Makes learning relevant.• Boosts students’ self-confidence.• Engages various learning styles.• Facilitates critical thinking.• Meets district and state learning standards.

My Baby Steps

• Expand my use of technology.

• Commit to one technological endeavor.

• Expose students to technology, not liability.

• Find a real-world application for language arts.

My Baby Steps• Networked with teachers I met

at NWP / NCTE.

• Attended available technology-based workshops.

• Researched blogging online and contacted educators via phone and email.

• Selected Epals for security, management, and diverse activities.

• Birth of “The Blogging Rams.”

Secure Login

Student Work

Image Control

Student PostsAssignments

Assignments

Teacher’s Critique

… the first line does not fit the poem … in the eighth line, you need a comma …

Teacher’s Critique

Errors in Grammar

Logic & Style

Teacher’s Critique

Like Danielle, you have a gift for writing poetry … address one error at a time … proofread … I’d like to hear the music …

Assignments

Changes in My Classroom

• Use traditional instruction for mini-lessons.

• Provide guided practice and evaluate student mastery via blog assignments.

• Ignite students’ interest and excitement.

• Give writing a modern makeover.

• Observed fewer discipline issues and more student growth.

Suggestions

• Determine accountability.

• Surf the web.• Network with

colleagues.

• Play!

• Identify assessment and evaluation.

• Implement.

What’s your next baby step?

For my students … podcasting!

Shhh … don’t tell them. I’m still playing.

Notable Links• The Blogging Rams (Resurrection School)

http://sites.epals.com/bloggingrams

• Epalswww.epals.com

• David Warlick’s Blog Meisterhttp://www.classblogmeister.com/

• Michelle Hudson’s (Test) Podcasthttp://msmhudson.podomatic.com/entry/2009-08-31T18_07_26-07_00

• Greater New Orleans Writing Projectwww.gnowp.org

• National Writing Projectwww.nwp.org

• National Council of Teachers of Englishwww.ncte.org

• National Day on Writing (NCTE)http://www.galleryofwriting.org/contribute.php

• National Day on Writing Sampleshttp://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting/samples

Contact Michelle Hudson:

msmhudson@epals.com