One of my fellow classmates, Cindy Clark, shared this slideshow about blogging. Check it out here: Slideshow . I love some of the ideas and even though this is through the eyes of a 4th grade teacher I am inspired for my kindergarteners. I created a new class blog. You can see it here: Dills' Darlings. What do you think? Do you think I should have seperate pages for students or just have them blog on the main page, then it's sequential... I'm not sure yet! Any thoughts? My main goals for the blog is 1)communication with parents and 2) student interaction through writing and sharing which will lead to a greater degree of student ownership. I already like the 'cuteness' factor much more than my previous one here: Dills Old Blog. This new one is also much easier to navigate.
As for creating more authentic learning experiences I am busy finding more resources. I am currently investigating the Project Based Learning Site to find ideas of suitable kindergarten activities. Here are some of the projects that might fit into a kindergarten classroom:
~creating our own healthy granola bar
~How much water goes down the drain?
~Math Hunt around the school
Any ideas you've used with younger students????
I feel that this is the half-way point in my GAME plan. I feel that I am on the right track to meeting my goals. I will continue to monitor my progress.
Resources:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your blog page. Where did you get the background? I too am trying to use my blog page more with my parents and peers so that I begin putting teaching ideas and lessons for others to see on my blog. Its a working progress! But I too am wondering about allowing students to blog on my page or have them create their own. I don't think my students are old enough to create their own blog page yet. But I don't want them to have access to mine either. What should we do?
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteYou are truly in tune with our GAME plan assignment and doing well by your students. I think you should have students log into the main page instead of separate pages, it would seem to be less confusing for them. What creative ideas for your project based learning! I am excited for you and your students to be taking this important journey together!
Regards,
Mike
Hey Melissa...
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
I am just beginning to think about blogging with my students and parents, so I thank you for your great creative ideas. Your GAME plan is really coming together and I think you'll really enjoy PBL. My students love it, and their friends, who are in other classes are jealous. I hope one day that all teachers have the opportunity to participate!
@ Tricia, if you click at the top left of my blog where is says 'click here for free blogger...' it will take you to the site that I got the templates for this blog, my new classroom one, and my personal one http://allbecausetwopeoplefell.blogspot.com/ I can't help but share my little sweetie : )
ReplyDeleteI am thinking that I'll do the logging in for my blog and the students will do it on mine. I think for the first year this will be the most manageable. Maybe later on I can take on having multiple blogs but this might be a good starting point!
@ Mike, Thanks for your comments. I think I've decided on a project to finish up the year...the lost and found! My students are obsessed, and I mean obsessed with that thing (can i take this to the lost and found, can i check the lost and found... it never ends!) So I think they will love predicting, sorting, counting, and then creating a movie to share with others what is found. I'm hoping our guiding questions will be 'What is in the lost and found? and How can we share what items are lost?' We'll create a 'commercial' type of movie and then count how many items are claimed by the end of the year. I'm thinking my kids will LOVE it...of course, we shall see!
Thanks, Melissa
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ReplyDeleteMelissa great idea in incorporating the blog with your class. If I had a vote i would say give each student a page for themselves so that they would feel ownership and then allow them to post to the main page whenever they think their post needs to be shared with everyone. Individual pages will let your students talk to each other but allow you to monitor and the main page becomes the reward for having a neat or good idea to share.
ReplyDeleteGood work.
Doug Baker
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking out the resource and commenting on it. You made me feel famous putting mu name in print. Each week I really enjoy the passion and energy you put into your GAME plan, You have a knack for creating interesting blogs and making learning fun. Your lost and found idea was fantastic. The kids show an interest in something and you picked up and ran with it! Well done!
That is great. I hope that you find more and more ways to integrate your blog into your teaching. This is one great method for implementing technology into your classroom.
ReplyDelete