About 3,000 teachers nationwide are using blogs as both classroom tools and outlets for their musings and rants. Experts say the public online journals, however, raise privacy and security issues.
Today, I just got this email news from the Council for Exceptional Children Smart Brief:
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July 5, 2005. Self-reflection is a hallmark of many teachers' blogs, according to the creator of weblogg-ed.com -- the first stop for most teachers who want to try blogging. But thinking of them only as online journals shortchanges the medium, said Will Richardson, the nationally known lecturer on the topic who runs the site.
Rather than hang their writing around the room, she's (Chris B.) publishing the musings of one of her eighth-grade classes on her blog. Readers can share their thoughts in postings on the blog.
''The kids got feedback from England, from the United States, from Bermuda,'' Burnett said. "That's what got them hooked. They wanted to keep writing better in hopes that they would get positive feedback.''
She figured out an effective system for thwarting the primary concern that keeps most teachers from blogging about their classes: protecting students from predators. None of Burnett's students' names appear.
Instead they use identification numbers. All feedback comes to her e-mail first and she determines if it is appropriate for posting.
Not that the Palm Beach County is taking a Luddite stance. So many students are using the Internet already that it's too tempting of a tool to get them interested in reading and writing for school to shun, Cavanaugh said. (The Miami Herald)
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I have my own story about this. See my previous entry: The Class Digital Anthology of Ms. Angala's Exceptional Students.
I think the best time to teach kids to blog is when they learn how to write and how to operate the computer and to use the internet responsibly.
I view a computer, like a pencil, as another writing tool, and one that can open the world of the written word to children. I think technologies such as email and text messaging has produced a learned age group of students who, instead of chit-chatting on the telephone after school, are creating written messages to friends, even if its in their own language. Many teachers who integrate writing and technology inside the classroom encourage the students to blog.
Blogging can be a way to fight the loneliness that plagues every human being, not just the students. I am in fact encouraging everyone, not just my students, to do it.
It's my Teacher Sol blog's 2nd "Month-sary" on July 11. Another blogger friend is celebrating her blog's 2nd month-sary too. CHEERS, Isabela! More power to us!
18 comments:
Blogging is a very powerful medium of learning too because opinions expressed in the blogs can teach, sway other's beliefs and opinions, inform, etc. It can provide entertainment and can harness one's skill in writing, spelling and vocabulary too.
Add the plus of gaining friends through blogging :)
Ako, malapit na anniversary ng blog ko :D
Hey Teacher Sol,
You're right.. blog is a medium to fight loneliness. And indeed, I find solace just reading your blogs and posting my comments if I can. I agree that blog generates creativeness in writing as well force us to practice writing. As a parents of two very young kids, I am challenged to teach them to read and write. In my time back home (Philippines), I do not remember such emphasis on these things. But here my kids are expected to read and write at Kindergarten. The teacher told me is never too early to start. As a working mom, wife and everything, this is sometimes too overwhelming for me.
HI MARISOL!!
As teachers, we need some time for reflection...to learn about what we are learning. It's like learning to the second, third, fourth power!
I've only taken up blogging for a little over a year. I've always thought of myself as an introvert writer. But slowly that is changing. If it wasn't for blogging, I wouldn't be able to really expand my creative expressions. Not to mention, I wouldn't be able to meet others who's ideas overflow...even if it's just "chickenscratch" writing, I still think it's fun to read!
Technically, I started blogging end of July 2004 with this blog being my test blog. In the header was written "My Heart Whispers" and it was an anthology of poems I give as examples to my students for their class digital anthology. I updated once a month, because I was focused in another blog, MY DIGITAL BOOK (www.teachersol.blog-city.com), my lifestory according to me from birth 'til present.
Then I got bored with the drama of my DIGITAL BOOK, I wanted something more interactive. Less than two months ago, I decided to change the title of the header of this blog, the layout, etc...and the poems were set aside in the links. This Teacher Sol blog was born, updated almost everyday except on weekends.
Many thanks to all of you, MY DEAR BLOGGER FRIENDS, for giving me more appetite to write. Your comments are very encouraging, and I learn a lot from your blogs too when I do my rounds (blog hopping).
Comments from readers are overwhelming. Proof that my blog is doing its job of... creating good friendship with fellow bloggers, being fun & interactive, imparting quality information through my entries, and most of all, being proactive and inspiring.
Let's countinue our symbiotic relationship of teaching and learning from each other. Thank you so much everyone!
PATRICE, may pakain ba sa anniversary ng blog mo? haha, tawagan mo ako ha. We wouldn't be blog addicts if not for the benefits we get from blogging.
ANONYMOUS, I look forward for your comments too in my every entry. I may not know you but I do learn a lot from the things you share about your personal experiences and your insights are inspiring as well.
ISABELA, Gusto kong i-share dahil kakabasa ko lang sa NCTE Inbox email news: Poor Writing Costs Taxpayers Millions (Business Week, July 4), According to a report released by The National Commission on Writing, states spend nearly a quarter of a billion dollars a year on remedial writing instruction for their employees. However, the report says the indirect costs of sloppy writing probably hurt taxpayers even more. Nagrereklamo ang mga nasa gobyerno dito dahil sayang sa oras na kailangan pa nilang intindiin o ulitin nang pagkakasulat ang mga papeles dahil sa hindi maintindihang pagkakasulat dito. Nasa pahayagan yan, kahapon lamang, tama ang sinasabi mo kaibigan. Sinisisi lalo nila ang technology, dahil daw sa chat, o email, o text, sagabal daw yan sa pagkakatuto ng mga bata na gumamit ng lapis at papel. Kailangan pa rin ang formal writing, business writing at essays sa pag-a-apply ng trabaho, grants, reports, etc. Sa totoo lang, hindi naman kasi nabibigyan ng sapat na kahalagahan ang pagsusulat dito, di tulad sa atin na naka-tutok talaga ang writing textbooks at writing notebooks mula kinder hanggang grade 3, at pag di ka magandang sumulat nakakahiya eh, di ba?
LIZ (NAVYBLU789), Like you, I find blogging so much fun too. With the weblog, I get to enhance my writing skills, publish it online, and get consistent readers from around the globe, and get their feedbacks instantly. I am presently maintaining 4 personal websites, plus, a professional site for a teacher’s organization (DC Area Writing Project), and a class homepage. The blogospehere just brings out my creativity; my being a writer and teacher…it brings out the best in me. I got hooked the first time I used this technology!
I agree with you Sabel, yan nalang si Marisol -she has good handwriting. Its funny because I was the secretary of our class in high school..not because I was a proficient writer, but because of my neat handwriting just like sol..hehe.
Americans are the worst speller I would think. They cant even spell simple words. I dont have nothing against them..Im not a good speller myself nor do I use good grammar in writing either..but the thing is, I may be a bad speller, but I know I can spell better than than they do..hehe..just my observation...
hi, keep on blogging ang continue to inspire us :)
I agree. And I believe that blogging has alot of untapped potentials waiting to be explored. It's a global phenomenon now. I really admire the distinct personality your blog is able to exude.
Blogs have redefined the meaning of E-Learning. This gathering of online personalities prove to be a worthwhile experience. Indeed, the internet has evolved and it would appear that I am only speaking to a friend nearby.
I AM HONORED TO READ YOUR BLOG TEACHER SOL!
Thanks for encouraging me to blog and (blog hop :)..sol. It became sort of a therapy for me after a long day of studying and stressful clinicals. Im learning alot from you and from other bloggers as well.
And who would have known we can actually chit chat though by phone lang nga -something we never really had the chance to do in hs other than just plain hi and hello's ..all beacuse of blogging.. :)
i love reading stories and blogging/blog hopping gave me a chance to do just that and it opened my mind to a lot of things. it also gives me a chance to say what is on my mind. i gained friends too thru blogging.
no wonder i'm a blog addict.
HONEYPOOH, nakow! Yari na naman ako nito, dami akong co-teachers na 'Kana na nagbabasa ng blog ko, hehe..naka-Inglis pa yang sinabi mo, hehe. Another news from the NCTE Inbox email enews: The National Commission on Writing report released Tuesday (linked in the News section above) asserts that state employers put a high premium on the writing abilities of their employees. How can we as teachers help ensure that the students in our classrooms meet the needs of such future employers? We must encourage authentic writing activities and foster literacy communities that support all writers!
DARKBLAK, ikaw ang nakita kong pinaka-magaling na mag-prove ng mga bagay na interesting sayo. Talagang sinundan mo ha, hehe. "To see is to believe" baga, hehe. Ang sikreto natin, satin lang hanggat hindi pa lumalabas ha,aasahan namin yan. *wink*
MIKEY, I went to your blog and guess who I saw...a writer just waiting to be discovered! The entries were writtten in poetic form and the metaphors used were very vivid and graphic that I could feel and see what you were expressing there. Keep it coming, Mikey! Right, you have untapped potentials waiting to be discovered. If, because a blogging, you get published, remember I told you that you have the skill, that you're a writer material!
JP, yep the internet has evolved and it would appear that I am only speaking to a friend nearby. I eventually realized that the whole world is reading our blogs. Technology indeed brings us to places!
HONEYPOOH, yep, blogging is also a tool for personal development. You get to express yourself in a catharsis thru blogging. People find one another and read one another's blogs and then begin posting on them. They get to know each other, and it's all electronic,
NIKKI, keep blogging. I love reading your Tagalog entries, makahulugan at galing sa puso. Enjoy the wonders of blogging as much as I do!
oopss...sorry Sol. This what I meant to say..Re spelling, NOT ALL AMERICANS are bad spellers, but THERE ARE SOME that I know who cant spell right (like me hehe)..hope its crystal clear..=)
Puwede pala ako diyan sa Amerika, pangit na ang sulat ko, mahina pa ako sa ispeling at bulok ako sa gramar. Will I passed by if shall I apply visa their? Pasensiya po mga pinagpipitagang kong mga guro nagbibiro lang po, nahahawa lamang ako sa kapilyahan niyang aking kabayang Bel. Dapat lang na gamitin na mga guro ang iba't-ibang pamaraan upang mapataas ang antas ng kakayahan nilang maibahagi ang kanilang kaalaman sa mga gutom na isipan. Ang Blogging ay isang napakagandang pamamaraan upang maabot nila sa bawat sulok ng mundo ang kanilang mga kaalaman, kaisipan, ideya na makapagbukas ng isipan ng mga taong makakabasa nito. Para sa isang modernong guro na marunong gumamit ng makabagong pamamaraan na ipinagkakaloob ng bagong teknolohiya "ang buong mundo ay isang malaking silid aralan."
HONEYPOOH, wag mo na isipin yon. Sigurado ako hanggang entries lang sila, di naman sila magtitiyagang magbasa ng comments natin, wala sila nyan...tiyaga.
GOYONG, gusto ko itong sinabi mo "buong mundo ay isang malaking silid aralan." Parang "All The World's A Stage" ni Shakespeare. Sabi rin yan ni LWS (nawawala ka iha, marami ka nang pinsan dito, na pinsan din ni Balagtas), isang malaking silid aralan nga ang mundo, ang mga taong nakakasalamuha nya ang mga kamag-aral. Makikilala nya at pagtagal-tagal mawawala rin. Iba't-iba ang personalidad, maraming bumabagsak sa pagsusulit at mayroong pumapasa. Saan tayo doon? Sino tayo doon?
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