I'm not sure where I stand but I remember the day April 15th 2009, when I started this blog.
This blog hasn't been a place of regard on the internet, it hasn't changed education as a system. You know what it has done? It has given me a voice, given me a place to document my thoughts, cool tools and ideas.
What do leaders like Seth Godin and Tom Peters think about blogging, well:
Rob Berger's work from "The Ethics of Excellence" challenges us to find authentic audiences for our students' work.
So, why not Blog?
When I went to look up the common core standards for writing, here's what I found from 5th grade:
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2a Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2b Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2c Link ideas within and across categories of information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast, especially).
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2d Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2e Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3c Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3d Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3e Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
How can this all NOT be accomplished through blogging? PLUS we get a chance to allow family and friends to subscribe, comment, and all the while teaching digital literacy. Hard to not pass it up.
Recently I listened to Michael Hyatt's podcast on "the resistance." It's that urge we all feel when we are going to try something new. The fear we have that creates all the doubt to try something new. He states that the first phase to overcoming that fear is to: Just Start.
After all, What's more REAL WORLD, than the actual REAL WORLD!
So, Start blogging today! More importantly, let your students blog.
There are many things more important than blogging, especially how it is often used in the classroom. As you know I argue that blogging and other forms of social media have the potential to be transformative when they are used to connect students with others around the world. Unfortunately this isn't the norm of blogging or social media use by our students.
ReplyDeleteWhen teachers refer to authentic audience they often confuse it with a larger audience. Authenticity means that the readers want to read the writing. They choose it, they don't have it chosen for them (even when they are assigned to do it through comments4kids). We don't develop authentic audiences with our students because that requires we give up control of where the students go and what they read.
If we want blogging and commenting to be transformative we have to let students choose to blog, choose to respond, and choose to not participate. Then the power of connections can truly transform our students thinking. I truly believe that connections made by future generations online will help bring about a more peaceful and caring world, the question is will educators lead the way or will we continue to stifle it through our lack of understanding?
I'm with you! I'll be putting this in my Evernote notes so I can use it to encourage other teachers to blog as well!
ReplyDeleteI started my blog a little over a year ago, and what has it done for me? It's made me more transparent to my administration and fellow teachers. It has also made me work much, much harder at my job. Don't get me wrong; I've always worked very hard. But now I'm ONLY focused on my students, and not on all the other baloney that could happen at work. I feel as if I'm more professional now, and I enjoy sharing all I learn, instead of hoarding it! ;-)
My next step - I've got to get my 7th graders blogging more, and seeing the results of their blogging, as you have suggested. Thank you for this post!