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Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thinking about digital writing
How I might use a blog? I work with Junior Great Books at the private elementary school I work at. I might start using a blog on the website I'll have the students use so we can interact about the literature we're reading. I can see that as being really fun because the stories we read can be pretty crazy. And the kids have the most profound things to say, not only about the literature, but about life in general. I am also one of the recess "teachers." That's what the kids call me, anyway. Sometimes, over the years I've thought that I should record some of my observations/interactions at recess. They can be pretty funny. I've thought I'd call it "The Secret Life of the Recess Teacher." I've never done it because I didn't have an outlet. Well, blogging seems like the perfect outlet. Why didn't I think of that before? It would be perfect. Kind of an "Art Linkletter" approach. The kids really are delightful and I have always thought that some of our delightful interactions should be shared somehow. So definintely, blogging would enhance communication in both these instances. Also, my daughter is away at school and this way I could vicariously communicate our family dinnertime conversation with her. In otherwords, I usually tell my family what transpired during my school day during our dinner conversation. I can have my daughter check my blog and she'll be right up to spead but I won't have to repeat everything through email. What I want to learn in this course? Everything possible about blogging, twittering, etc., and all the possibilities of interacting that goes on with all these elements. My goal in entering the MEd program is to be the best possible Lang. Arts teacher I can be and I think learning all these elements is a step in that direction.
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Sonja, welcome to the program. I'm pleased with your enthusiasm about using blogs for having students share their responses as part of the Great Books project--something that can easily be done with a class blog as well as a Ning or wiki. Because students can share their responses at any time, 24/7, they can be continually building on each other's responses (critical to that process is that they are responding to each other's responses.)
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of your writing about your experiences as the "recess teacher," writing that can be used to model your own enthusiasm and creativity with students, particularly in terms of use of narratives about unusual events or challenges of being the "recess teacher." I'm sure that your family members would also really enjoy reading about your experiences. You can then tie the features of narratives--violations of norms/dramatizing the unusual nature of events (creating "tellability") to responses to narratives.
Creating a blog about your interactions at school and with kids is a great idea! I did something similar while I was student teaching and found it to be a great outlet. When something hilarious, ironic, or profound would happen, I made a mental note to post a blog about it. It was a great way for me to log what happened as well as share my experiences with others. Fellow student teachers would comment on my blogs, and my family members had a way of keeping up with what was happening in my day-to-day life.
ReplyDeleteI also think that keeping a blog with students about the books you are reading is a neat idea. Would you post your thoughts and have students write comments, or would you lead the discussion with "prompts"? Depending on the age, interest level, and engagement of the students, either way could be successful.