Blogs in the Classroom

I can think of many ways to include a blog in a classroom. It should not replace handwritten work but it can be a huge supplement in the classroom. There are a couple different ways you could do it, depending on the level. Older students would be expected to write more and have more complicated posts, as older students would with writing in a journal.

Any Level

• A daily diary or weekly diary, where students write about their lives, in and out of school
• Using a blog to communicate with parents and students outside of the classroom, instead of sending home a newsletter.
• posting information about classroom activities
• field trips
• displaying classroom projects
• assignments that sick children missed
• giving parents and students supplementary materials and website

Younger Levels

• learning to type / practicing to type

Older Levels

• A character review for books, you could create a blog pretending to be that person
• a character from the past who wrote letters home, writing a blog to family members about their lives
• pen pals
• a place to chat with each other

There are many advantages to using blogs in a classroom

• children are interested because they like using technology- it is second nature to them
• you can easily communicate with families and studnets
• saves paper
• children can communicate and share with other classmates easily
• students are more confident from behind a computer screen

There are some disadvantages too

• it can become dangerous if you don't follow guidelines
• students need to have a balance between technology and traditional learning