EDU 517 Begins

As a sixth grade language arts teacher I am always looking for ways that my students can publish their writing authentically. Tonight the world of blogging opened up to me. I've always known that blogs existed. I even have one for my family's cabin to keep everyone updated on the progress of its restoration, but I just hadn't seen the link to my classroom before. I knew that it was an option, it's just that inspiration has never struck. Tonight in class I saw the possibilities. Each of my classes can have their own blog to create, visit, and make posts.  I can construct prompts as posts that they can then leave comments on. 

As a matter of practicality I can see myself going home at the end of each school day and not having a bag load of papers and a cramp in my neck from carrying them all.  I can see sitting down at my computer each night and being delighted to see that my students are leaving their comments for all to read.  In the past, I always struggled with how to get my students to share their writing.  Now they can post their writing and make comments on the writing of their classmates.  I can see parents being able to follow the work of their child and their child's classmates and even leave feedback for their student.  In my last class with Dr. Howe (Classroom Assessment for Learning) we were discussing ways that students can get specific and timely feedback.  Duh. Blogs!

I am very excited indeed...