Class+Blogs

=**__Class Blogs__**=


 * Blogging Guidelines for Mr. Provenzano's Class**


 * Everyday, 2 students will be in charge of live blogging each class. They will sit on the stage and take notes on the class discussion. Each day will be labeled on the blog and the students will post their coverage of the class in the comment section of the designated post. It is important that each student log in to the school site to ensure they receive credit for their comment.**


 * The schedule of who blogs on each day will be posted in the class and on the website. In the event that someone is absent on their day to blog, the next student on the list will replace them and the sick student will blog on their day back. Besides the class discussion, students will also be in charge of adding the following information to the blog post;**


 * Each student will write down the Word of the Day (WOD) and provide the definition.**


 * Notes written on the board by teachers and students.**


 * Mention any handouts passed out in class.**


 * List any homework given in class.**


 * Note anything that was collected.**


 * Note any special announcements.**


 * Type out any long term project reminders.**


 * Students are encouraged to check the blog each day and add any information that might have been left out or missed by the student bloggers. Student comments will be collected and entered in a raffle to win extra credit points for the semester.**


 * The daily blogging is a place for students and parents to see what is going on in class on a daily basis. Absent students will have a place to see what they have missed for the day. Each class will have a meeting place to comment and discuss the class materials.**

One of the things I wanted to do at the start of the year was create an environment where students would be comfortable using technology every day in the classroom. I created an area of my room that I named "The Blogger's Cafe". In "The Blogger's Cafe", 3-4 students would sit and take notes for the day and publish them to a class blog. The idea behind the class blog was to provide parents and absent students with an account of what was happening in class. Students quickly took to the blogging space and were begging for it to be their turn. I had created an environment where students WANTED to take notes. By giving the students a space to share their thoughts on the topics being discussed in class, I was able to show them the importance of taking notes and sharing them with others.

I decided to go with Kidblog.org because it was very easy to use and I could control the content that was created by the students. I was able to create student accounts for every student and their passwords. For Freshmen, it is good to have control over that information to help them when they lose or forget it. Kidblog works in the simplest of fashions. It is designed for Elementary students, so it was easy for my Freshmen to pick up and use. It has standard word processing components and also allows for video and picture embedding. Students have been very comfortable using Kidblog.



Parents and students loved to see the notes and I was not longer bogged down by student requests for homework after they were gone from school. All students could check the student blog and find the information they need. Parents have also expressed to me that they like the access to the notes and the events that happen during class. They feel like they can now talk to their kids about what happened in class that day. Below are the links to the class blogs.

1st Hour Freshmen English Blog 5th Hour Freshmen English Blog 6th Hour Freshmen English Blog

By integrating simple technologies, I was able to turn note-taking from a chore to the fun thing to do. The Blogger's Cafe will become a permanent fixture of my classroom.