It is very important that I get a feeling for where all of my students are at both academically and socially. However, being a teacher in third grade, this may be very difficult to do. Many of my students are very quiet and do not enjoy the opportunities to verbally share their thoughts and opinions about specific topics all because they fear what their classmates might think of them or say. This blog will be a place where my students can freely express their thoughts/opinions about a topic and make appropriate comments on their classmates thoughts/opinions pertaining to the same topic.
In the beginning of the school year I would like this blog to be a place where my students can come and share a fun thing that they can remember from second grade and their thoughts, feelings, and fears about being in third grade.
Throughout the year this will also be a place to display the work of my students. Third graders have wonderful imaginations and all of them whether they know it or not, have many talents. This will be a place where their masterpieces will be put on display for not only our classmates and families, but also the entire world.
Blogging is a great way for my students to share their thoughts with me and with their classmates, but it is also a great way for students across grade levels to communicate with one another. This will be an adventure that many students may not have the opportunity to embark on.
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I love the idea of putting your students work on display on the blog for others to see. My only concern is privacy issues. Some schools do not let you post a students work unless their name is covered up. This might be something to consider. One thing I would do is to have parents sign a release or permission slip allowing thier child's work to be put on display. This is just a thought to consider.
ReplyDeleteKathy, you bring up a great point. My school district, however, already requires parents to sign a release when they enter our school. Anything that is posted to the internet is only allowed to contain the students first name.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful idea - most of us want to communicate with our students and let them get to know each other as well. Obviously our first two courses got through! I hope this goes well for you and your class. Kim
ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteI think that using a blog as a way for your students to openly display their thoughts and work is great. However, I do have a concern. I'm afraid that if you have the topic too broad that your third graders might have a hard time coming up with things to write. For example, instead of just asking your students to describe something fun from second grade, focus on something that you know all second graders did (field day, music concert, etc.) and ask them specific questions about that. I think that if you limit the topic slightly, your students might have more productive comments
Julie, I am happy to hear that your school has a policy for posting your students work or putting them on display on the internet. This will relieve and future problems or mishaps.
ReplyDeleteI also think Katie makes an excellent point about being very specific with your students. It seems the little the children are the more specific the directions have to be. That is something to keep in mind.
Your blog page looks great an I think you will be successful this coming year with your students blogs.
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of having a place for your more shy students to express their feelings and memories of the previous year. I taught third grade for two years and can remember how some students are so shy and introverted in the beginning of the year, but can change into the most vocal and confident student by the end of the year. They mature so much within that year, it is truly remarkable.
The only roadblock that may slow down the process of using a blog in the beginning of the year is the students' lack of keyboarding skills. I remember using laptops with my third graders and some not knowing how to type at all. Perhaps having the students complete a couple typing lessons or utilizing the program "Type to Learn" for the first couple weeks may really help out those struggling typers and give them the confidence they need to participate in your blog. You have a ton of great ideas and I'm sure your students will really get a lot out of them!
Katie and Kathy,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for recommending that I narrow my topics. I will make sure that when giving the students a topic to write about that it is not too broad or else I will have off the wall conversations going on.
With last year's students I was able to leave topics broad and they did quite a good job of staying on topic, but I think in the beginning of the year they will need more guidance.
Carman,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your suggestion of using "Type to Learn" to help my students become familiar with keyboarding. There are many school districts that do not offer technology classes, however, I am fortunate enough to work in a district that offers technology courses that teach students keyboarding skills starting in kindergarten. I am very lucky that when my students enter my classroom they have some knowledge of how to use the computer.
Julie,
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your blog. I hope that narrowing the topics will help your students to stay on track, particularly in the beginning of the year. I would also encourage you to eventually try to broaden the topics to see what might happen. Your students might surprise you and do a very nice job of staying on topic.