Why we blog.
assessment, Blogging, Sarah Soltau-Heller, Uncategorized Tagged writing February 12, 2012
I have had parents, teachers and students all ask me why I have Kindergarten and Grade 1′s blogging. I even ask myself in the beginning of each year, when the learning curve is steep and I feel a bit overwhelmed by new students, this same question. My answer to this has varied slightly as I read and connect with other teachers around the globe who also use this tool but my main goal continues to help students learn to write.
In Kindergarten and in Grade 1 we are learning the basics of writing and the purposes for writing, blogging gives us both opportunities. Communicating with the world is the main reason children write, these communication tools are changing for my young students. Through blogging they can see how powerful writing can be and a real purpose in writing for an audience. Their blogs are also a showcase for their learning . Their progress is clearly evident on these blogs, students can see it, parents can see it and I can see it. The interesting thing I find is that several students have been extremely motivated to use this tool to write while other students clearly enjoy the paper and pencil form. Why? I am not sure but I do always see an importance for giving students choice while offering a variety of forms of communication.
In my Sunday morning coffee/google reader/twitter/internet session I found this interesting post with some great links. Henrietta Miller’s blog Techie Brekkie was particularly interesting in her post about Blogging in a Primary School and one of her links include this great video from Rachel Boyd Why let our students blog? Rachel has said it well on this video I am sure I do not need to recreate this wheel. Thank you Rachel for sharing your ideas.
Do you see blogging as a useful way to teach writing skills? What challenges or concerns do you have with this writing form? Why you think some students are more motivated to communicate digitally than others?
February 12th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for sharing this video, and it does answer the question about why we should let primary students blog. I think the important thing you mentioned is that there is choice. One of the things I struggle with is when to introduce keyboarding skills, instead of finger typing. Keyboarding skills may not be considered necessary as students have had such success with finger typing.I wonder if students who are finger typing are at a disadvantage during digital exams as they may not be able to get their ideas down as quickly as someone who finger types?
Christina
February 12th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Glad you liked it – can’t believe it was made in 2007!
) I also wonder if my students will be using computer keyboards to complete these exams? Probably, but who knows. I will leave typing to intermediate teachers.
I do not teach keyboarding to my students, mainly because it would be an exercise in frustration for my students unless they had keyboards that fit them properly. The laptops were currently use are way too large for my students hands. While I believe that keyboarding is an important skill that should be introduced to students in elementary school, developmental it would be too difficult for my students at this age. Also many of my students are just beginning to “sound-out” words and if they were using correct hand position they would be covering the letters and this would make letter/sound recognition difficult.
As I took typing in high school I type “correctly”, it is faster for me. I do believe that it is more efficient (although I have never seen a good finger typer at work
Thanks for your thoughts!
Sarah
February 19th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Sarah,
Thanks for sharing your post and the movie. As a parent of a “Kindergarten blogger”I see many reasons why it is important for primary students to blog. Our friends in Ladysmith were amazed that a 5 year old wanted to log in to “her blog” and post about her trip down Island. My daughter also loved using her blog as a way to stay in touch with her class and classmates while in Maui. Friends and family members (older cousins and adults) are impressed and,at times, envious of her skills. People often remark that “this generation” is so adept at “picking up” these skills but I have watched her be taught the skills, practice the skills and build upon the skills throughout the first 100 days of school. I can see the improvement in her writing skills, communication skills and technical skills in a short time–she can readily insert/upload a photo now; but I also see that she is applying that knowledge to other areas of her life. Not only has blogging allowed her to make connections with others and she is making connections between what she is learning in school and what she is “seeing” outside of school.
My reluctant speakers really like word processing and blogging. I will be partnering with Leah and the students at Eke Me-Xi for online Literature Circles in the Spring as a way to tap into the highly motivating aspect of blogging. We are anticipating that students will have deeper online discussions about their novels. Perhaps you could suggest a few links/sites that have pre-blogging/technology surveys–don’t want to create the wheel but would like to get an idea what questions I could ask students prior to our unit. I am very excited about this venture into new territory–Will keep you posted!
All the best, Jillian
February 23rd, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Thank you for your positive words. I am looking forward to seeing your collaboration with Leah. It will be interesting to read your reflections of the difference in your student’s motivation, quality of writing and willingness to participate. It would be great to have Leah do a guest post on the blog! Excited that you are collaborating and sharing your knowledge, passion and teaching skills.
Can’t wait to hear what happens.
Sarah
February 25th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
What a great post, Sarah. You brought up so many great points.
The power of an authentic audience truly is amazing. One of my favourite quotes is that “Writers write to be read.” My students are motivated to do their best when they know others around the world will be reading their posts.
Another reason I love blogging is that it allows family members, even those living far away, to be actively involved in the students’ learning. One of my students, for example, has an aunt and a grandma who had to move to the interior. They both write on Trista’s blog several times a week. She literally lights up and can’t wait to write them back.
Like you I also have students that enjoy pen and paper. I have quite a few that I think just like to switch things up. I have noticed that the students that are the most comfortable with the keyboard tend to choose blogging all the time.
Blogging certainly is powerful!
Melody