Off to the races!!

     The purpose of a blog is to communicate information to an audience.  This blog is no different.  As a future teacher, I hope to create a community for my peers, students, and families of students where we can exchange and share resources, ideas, and stories that all pertain to school and learning. 

     A blog can be so useful for all involved.  JBlack, who maintains the blog “Web 2.0 in the Classroom” (http://web20intheclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/10/ways-to-use-blogs-in-your-classroom-and.html), wrote a post dedicated to all the ways a blog can be useful in the classroom.  Given the chance, I would love to try them all!  I especially love her idea of creating a blog for students’ book reviews.  What a wonderful way to include technology!  Knowing that they will have the chance to post their book review to the class blog is just another reason to read a book!  Even if it was a book the student did not particularly like, they are more motivated to stick with it and finish it so that they can post their review about it.  This type of activity could even evolve into a book club! 

     Even though I do not yet have my own class, I have know that teachers commonly gripe about the times students miss class because of family vacations.  It happens.  For a teacher who maintains a class blog, it doesn’t have to mean that the student will be behind when they return.  Students who are away from class, for whatever reason, can have access to lessons and class work from wherever they are.  When they return to class, they will be able to “jump right in.”

     I love all of the different ways blogging can be incorporated into the classroom!  As a future teacher, I can see the other ways that blogging can be beneficial for me too.  Not only can it become a place to share ideas with other teachers and parents, but it can also be a place of reflection.  For instance, if a lesson did not go so well I could blog about it and receive feedback from other teachers.  Maybe they could suggest ways to make it better or they could share their similar experiences and what they did afterwards. 

     As long as all involved respect some rules, I think this could be a REMARKABLE experience!  So, without further ado, here are a few ground rules (subject to change at a moment’s notice):

1.       No complaining.  It’s not productive.

2.      No swearing or inappropriate language.  Let’s keep it professional, please.

3.      Give credit where credit is due.  If you borrowed words or an idea, make sure you attempt to cite the information.

4.      Be respectful of all who post.  Let’s be civil and courteous.

5.      Happy reading and happy blogging!!