The new school year is not so new anymore. The first month has slipped away in a blur of establishing routines and getting to know a new class.
I am back in a traditional classroom this year, the online teaching being too all consuming to be compatible with family life. Starting over in a new school has been hectic. I especially feel the pressure as part of my role is to provide some leadership in technology integration. I will be supporting my colleagues in their tech projects as doing projects with my own class. I think that this is just the right kind of challenge - attainable, but enough to push me a little throughout the year.
So, some goals for the year:
1 - I want to post at least two blog entries each month. Hopefully by the end of the year I will be able to work this up to once a week.
2 - I want to keep up with my feed reader. I want to read at least my must-read blogs at least once each week. This should include leaving at least 2 comments each week.
3 - I want to get a ning up and running for my school staff.
4 - I want to organize 2 telecollaborative projects this year and participate in 2 more. These projects should seamlessly integrate technology into my existing teaching.
5 - I want to further develop my PLN.
Well, in theory at least, these are all attainable. It is good to have something to shoot for, and now it's in print. Let's see how I do!
Showing posts with label student blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label student blogging. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Authentic Audience
Why do we write? We write because someone, someday, is going to read it. In the classroom, there is a group of peers to appreciate student writing. We also post writing in hallways and invite the principal into the class to comment on writing.
Since I work with such a small group of students, I cannot rely on a peer audience in the class. I feel very strongly that I need to generate an authentic audience for my students. Mem Fox writes about getting students to “ache with caring” about their writing. The way to do this is when they have a real audience who will read their words. I want my students to ache with caring about their writing.
I am hoping I will be able to create an audience for my students by posting their work to a blog. I am going to have to do a little more thinking about it, though. One of my students posted a blog about a book that he was reading. Only one person commented on his blog – the only way for him to become aware of the audience. The comments came from a student in a colleague’s class in our school board. I spent two days checking with other teachers and begging for participation to get that student involved – not something I can do for every project.
It is one thing to tell the students that anyone can read their writing on the web. It is another for them to realize that real people are reading it. I don’t want to promise an audience that I cannot deliver. As noted by the postings below (0 comments total), I am not sure how to get people to read and comment on a blog. I guess that I will have to do some research.
If you are reading this and you have any advice, I would love to hear it.
Since I work with such a small group of students, I cannot rely on a peer audience in the class. I feel very strongly that I need to generate an authentic audience for my students. Mem Fox writes about getting students to “ache with caring” about their writing. The way to do this is when they have a real audience who will read their words. I want my students to ache with caring about their writing.
I am hoping I will be able to create an audience for my students by posting their work to a blog. I am going to have to do a little more thinking about it, though. One of my students posted a blog about a book that he was reading. Only one person commented on his blog – the only way for him to become aware of the audience. The comments came from a student in a colleague’s class in our school board. I spent two days checking with other teachers and begging for participation to get that student involved – not something I can do for every project.
It is one thing to tell the students that anyone can read their writing on the web. It is another for them to realize that real people are reading it. I don’t want to promise an audience that I cannot deliver. As noted by the postings below (0 comments total), I am not sure how to get people to read and comment on a blog. I guess that I will have to do some research.
If you are reading this and you have any advice, I would love to hear it.
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