Using blogs for distribution,
discussion, and demonstration makes school more interesting for teachers,
students, and parents.
I think that the best way for me to
use a blog as a Reading Coach would be in the form of distribution. I would probably
use weebly.com to set up a blog for teachers I support and coach. I could show
them how to incorporate literacy centers into the Language Arts block of time. I
could upload how to set up the centers and how to introduce the centers to the
students. I can include tips and pictures on which methods have worked best for
me on the management board when running literacy centers in the classroom. I
can also post links where teachers can get ideas on literacy centers they can
use in their classrooms as well as attachments of upcoming testing windows,
materials they need to bring to Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings,
and upcoming trainings and dates. Teachers would have the opportunity to obtain
any information they need at anytime.
I would recommend to fourth grade teachers
that they use a kid friendly discussion board such as kidsblog.com or
edmodo.com. The students could respond to a prompt online. The assignment could include requirements such
as asking them to use the proper conventions of writing while posting their
discussions in order to reinforce correct grammar. The students may also be
provided time to have an online discussion on topics of interest to them or
topics they can debate. These writing opportunities will allow the students to
find their writing voice.
A fun way for second through sixth
grade students to respond to literature could be through demonstration. The
students could respond to the piece of literature they read on their blog. Then
in turn, other students can respond to them. They could include pictures or
videos with their responses. The blog would be a writing portfolio that would
allow all students to express themselves, and they could see their progression
of writing throughout the school year.
Allowing students to use a blog for
their schoolwork or classwork will spark their interest in school and benefit
the teachers and parents. Teachers would be able to access student work online
without having to take papers home to grade, and parents could easily access
their child’s work online to make sure that assignments are being completed.
Blogs are a good example of how technology and education can come together to
make education more efficient.
I think your idea of posting how to setup centers and how to introduce them to the students. I think this benefits everyone who has a hard time doing centers and especially introducing it to lower grade students who have never been exposed to them. Your ideas to post important test dates will help teachers keep track of everything they need to do before the deadline. I like how your blog will be a resource for the teachers.
ReplyDeleteHi Susana,
ReplyDeleteI liked the Distribution part of your reflection. You, as a Reading Coach made an excellent plan to implement at school. Also I am going to follow your recommendations about the blogs to improve grammar, and also the ones that motivate a healthy educational debate. About 6th grade students I agree with you about to use a little more complex blogs.
Jorge Villarreal.
Hello Susana,
ReplyDeleteI read your blog post and I like your ideas about how to incorporate blogs with reading instruction. Students can practice their grammar, sentence structure and new vocabulary about their reading in the blog. Also your ideas on how teachers can use blogs to stay updated about literacy centers.
Susie, I have only experience as instructor and TA in college. Reading your ideas about how to use blog for kids is interesting for me. As mother, I would like to take advantage of blogs like that to track school activities of my children and know what are they learning. Also, this is a good technique to encourage to students to practice and improve their writing and reading skills. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your feedly subscriptions, and for sharing your viewpoints as well. I found the story about the principal playing Pokemon Go somewhat interesting. Although the principal did not find any educational value in playing the game, there could be some level of educational value for students who may be inspired to become video game designers, or may be interested in developing coding or computer programs. Therefore, in essence, the value of what we learn is in the eye of the beholder.
All the best. :o)
-Melissa-