Periodically I receive comments from teachers who are using Class Blogmeister. Usually it is to report a bug in the program, a lost password, or some misunderstanding about the blogging engine’s operations.
Occasionally, teachers share with me how blogging has impacted their students’ learning. Here are some excerpts from one such e-mail message from a teacher with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade bloggers.
- Without a doubt the children that find their voices first and carry the most enthusiasm for blogging are my special needs children.
- Students who would agonize over a sentence are writing prolifically about their lives.
- This has created a stronger connection with families as they respond to their child’s blog.
- Another positive is that the improvements in writing are steadily making their way back to paper and pencil!
This observation is consistent with some informal data that I am collecting from Class Blogmeister teachers, that the lower than average performing students seem to be impacted more dramatically by classroom blogging, and that this distinction seems to increase in the secondary grade levels!
Image Citation:
Inga. “Gloomy Hard at Work.” Dollie_Mixtures’ Photostream. 17 Nov 2006. 22 May 2007 <http://flickr.com/photos/dollymixtures/299311799/>.
I too am using classblogmeister with the entire 5th grade at my school. I have found that blogging has completely changed the way the students are thinking about writing. They don’t look at writing as an arduous task anymore. They are loving it. I have found that all my my students have benefitted in some way with blogging. I work in a Title 1 school and many of the students do not have access to an internet connection at home. I am trying to use school as an outlet for them to reach a global population with their thoughts. So far, so good. Thanks a lot for the site. I will continue to use it!!
Dave,
That is my experience as well working with students who typically avoid writing and explains why I am so passionate about web 2.0 tools for students with special needs. Blogging is an engaging, motivating tool when they know they are writing for an audience. And when we can help these students have more opportunities to write, it improves the quality of their work.
It’s part of Universal Design for Learning!
Karen
Ditto from me! I love blogging with my 3rd graders, and they love it even more than I do. The best part at this time of year is that I don’t have to let go of my kids over the summer. My students have asked to do summer book club, and we will continue to blog all the way to 4th grade! Then I will have to let them move on I suppose, and start with a fresh batch of future bloggers!
Just today a student asked if their blogs were going to stay up after they left the class. I didn’t know how to tell her that the students were going to have to give up blogging on class blogmeister. I hope they urge their 6th grade teachers to sign up. Or perhaps they’ll find a venue of their own. And this from children who never did love to write. 🙂
I coordinate distance learning projects for schools and we use videoconferencing and Moodle in many projects and what I have discovered is that once the teachers see what it does for their students, it becomes easier for the technology to be used in many different ways.
My favorite project connects classroom students with university pre-service teachers discussing books in the forums in Moodle (my schools are very conservative and we aren’t to blogs yet!) Here is one of my favorite posts from a 7th grade teacher after our project last year. http://www.edlink12.net/vcrox/2006/12/07/impact-on-7th-grade-students/
This is a great topic and one I was recently thinking about doing with my own students. I am a technology teacher who sees the 900 students at my school from first grade through eighth grade. The end of the school year is in two days, so I can not start it this year. I was thinking of starting it next year but wasn’t exactly sure how to get the students motivated to write and what to have them write about on their blogs to enhance their writing. You see I worked with a group of sixth grade students this year on podcasting and they did a good job with it. The hard part was getting them to write out their script ahead of time and keep working on it, because I see them once every six days for forty minutes. Any suggestions or thoughts or even resources on where I can start my students off at with blogging?
Thanks
Interesting…
[URL=http://audi-forum-rs4.audiaustralia.cn/lumber-and-not-cars.html#] lumber and not cars [/URL]
http://audi-forum-rs4.audiaustralia.cn/lumber-and-not-cars.html lumber and not cars
[URL=http://metro-ford-bc.audiaustralia.cn/2001-focus-ford-problem.html#] 2001 focus ford problem [/URL]
http://metro-ford-bc.audiaustralia.cn/2001-focus-ford-problem.html 2001 focus ford problem
[URL=http://cargo-net-car.audiaustralia.cn/fagan-cadillac-in-janesville-wi.html#] fagan cadillac in janesville wi [/URL]
http://cargo-net-car.audiaustralia.cn/fagan-cadillac-in-janesville-wi.html fagan cadillac in janesville wi
[URL=http://car-warranty-upkeep.audiaustralia.cn/british-car-designations-18-85.html#] british car designations 18 85 [/URL]
http://car-warranty-upkeep.audiaustralia.cn/british-car-designations-18-85.html british car designations 18 85
[URL=http://european-car-horns.audiaustralia.cn/lamborghini-reveton.html#] lamborghini reveton [/URL]
http://european-car-horns.audiaustralia.cn/lamborghini-reveton.html lamborghini reveton
interesting
[URL=http://peugeot-elyseo-scooter.berglandjeep.cn/allstate-car-rental.html#] allstate car rental [/URL]
http://peugeot-elyseo-scooter.berglandjeep.cn/allstate-car-rental.html allstate car rental
[URL=http://honda-genuine-parts.berglandjeep.cn/2002-nissan-altima-wheel-bearing.html#] 2002 nissan altima wheel bearing [/URL]
http://honda-genuine-parts.berglandjeep.cn/2002-nissan-altima-wheel-bearing.html 2002 nissan altima wheel bearing
[URL=http://corpus-christi-lexus.berglandjeep.cn/best-2007-sports-car.html#] best 2007 sports car [/URL]
http://corpus-christi-lexus.berglandjeep.cn/best-2007-sports-car.html best 2007 sports car
[URL=http://car-care-vmo.berglandjeep.cn/2000-mazda-protege-air-conditioning-diagram.html#] 2000 mazda protege air conditioning diagram [/URL]
http://car-care-vmo.berglandjeep.cn/2000-mazda-protege-air-conditioning-diagram.html 2000 mazda protege air conditioning diagram
[URL=http://ford-explorer-spottrac.berglandjeep.cn/1994-ford-taurus-wagon-pic.html#] 1994 ford taurus wagon pic [/URL]
http://ford-explorer-spottrac.berglandjeep.cn/1994-ford-taurus-wagon-pic.html 1994 ford taurus wagon pic
Interesting…
[URL=http://hsbc-credit-car.cadillacsavannah.cn/replacement-toyota-motors.html#] replacement toyota motors [/URL]
http://hsbc-credit-car.cadillacsavannah.cn/replacement-toyota-motors.html replacement toyota motors
[URL=http://www.cadillacsavannah.cn/toyota-strut-shock.html#] toyota strut shock [/URL]
http://www.cadillacsavannah.cn/toyota-strut-shock.html toyota strut shock
[URL=http://fitzpatrick-ford-newnan.cadillacsavannah.cn/used-honda-element-dallas-tx.html#] used honda element dallas tx [/URL]
http://fitzpatrick-ford-newnan.cadillacsavannah.cn/used-honda-element-dallas-tx.html used honda element dallas tx
[URL=http://chrysler-richland-washington.cadillacsavannah.cn/get-out-of-car-knickers.html#] get out of car knickers [/URL]
http://chrysler-richland-washington.cadillacsavannah.cn/get-out-of-car-knickers.html get out of car knickers
[URL=http://original-jeep-decal.cadillacsavannah.cn/gordon-kellet-car-sales.html#] gordon kellet car sales [/URL]
http://original-jeep-decal.cadillacsavannah.cn/gordon-kellet-car-sales.html gordon kellet car sales
Interesting…
[URL=http://oem-jeep-seat.fabricioferrari.cn/bmw-cca-houston.html#] bmw cca houston [/URL]
http://oem-jeep-seat.fabricioferrari.cn/bmw-cca-houston.html bmw cca houston
[URL=http://car-dagnosis-site.fabricioferrari.cn/palm-springs-ca-used-cars.html#] palm springs ca used cars [/URL]
http://car-dagnosis-site.fabricioferrari.cn/palm-springs-ca-used-cars.html palm springs ca used cars
[URL=http://small-car-manufacturers.fabricioferrari.cn/warped-rotors-on-a-ford-ranger.html#] warped rotors on a ford ranger [/URL]
http://small-car-manufacturers.fabricioferrari.cn/warped-rotors-on-a-ford-ranger.html warped rotors on a ford ranger
[URL=http://toyota-micro-mini.fabricioferrari.cn/ford-trucks-super-duty08.html#] ford trucks super duty08 [/URL]
http://toyota-micro-mini.fabricioferrari.cn/ford-trucks-super-duty08.html ford trucks super duty08
[URL=http://national-car-services.fabricioferrari.cn/buy-oxygen-sensor-1998-volkswagen-beetle.html#] buy oxygen sensor 1998 volkswagen beetle [/URL]
http://national-car-services.fabricioferrari.cn/buy-oxygen-sensor-1998-volkswagen-beetle.html buy oxygen sensor 1998 volkswagen beetle
interesting
[URL=http://bmw-national-aftersales.fordfleet.cn/village-car-care.html#] village car care [/URL]
http://bmw-national-aftersales.fordfleet.cn/village-car-care.html village car care
[URL=http://dodge-viper-07.fordfleet.cn/ford-f350hd-parts-manual.html#] ford f350hd parts manual [/URL]
http://dodge-viper-07.fordfleet.cn/ford-f350hd-parts-manual.html ford f350hd parts manual
[URL=http://dodge-viper-07.fordfleet.cn/toyota-echo-2005-reviews.html#] toyota echo 2005 reviews [/URL]
http://dodge-viper-07.fordfleet.cn/toyota-echo-2005-reviews.html toyota echo 2005 reviews
[URL=http://tommy-stradder-car.fordfleet.cn/2003-toyota-sequoia-and-tow-capacity.html#] 2003 toyota sequoia and tow capacity [/URL]
http://tommy-stradder-car.fordfleet.cn/2003-toyota-sequoia-and-tow-capacity.html 2003 toyota sequoia and tow capacity
[URL=http://morgan-kit-cars.fordfleet.cn/grossman-chevrolet-old-saybrook-ct.html#] grossman chevrolet old saybrook ct [/URL]
http://morgan-kit-cars.fordfleet.cn/grossman-chevrolet-old-saybrook-ct.html grossman chevrolet old saybrook ct
Nice
[URL=http://los-magnificos-car.fordnos.cn/car-insurance-exeter-new-hampshire.html#] car insurance exeter new hampshire [/URL]
http://los-magnificos-car.fordnos.cn/car-insurance-exeter-new-hampshire.html car insurance exeter new hampshire
[URL=http://dodge-pick-ups.fordnos.cn/ford-trck-lowering-shackles.html#] ford trck lowering shackles [/URL]
http://dodge-pick-ups.fordnos.cn/ford-trck-lowering-shackles.html ford trck lowering shackles
[URL=http://mature-car-sex.fordnos.cn/unsold-2006-car-inventory.html#] unsold 2006 car inventory [/URL]
http://mature-car-sex.fordnos.cn/unsold-2006-car-inventory.html unsold 2006 car inventory
[URL=http://los-magnificos-car.fordnos.cn/auto-car-new-part-store.html#] auto car new part store [/URL]
http://los-magnificos-car.fordnos.cn/auto-car-new-part-store.html auto car new part store
[URL=http://motorcada-chevrolet-cadillac.fordnos.cn/nissan-xterra-cars.html#] nissan xterra cars [/URL]
http://motorcada-chevrolet-cadillac.fordnos.cn/nissan-xterra-cars.html nissan xterra cars
interesting
[URL=http://intruder-motorcycle-suzuki.greenvillechrysler.cn/strobe-car-lights.html#] strobe car lights [/URL]
http://intruder-motorcycle-suzuki.greenvillechrysler.cn/strobe-car-lights.html strobe car lights
[URL=http://ford-e4n71b-transmission.greenvillechrysler.cn/car-mini-shriner.html#] car mini shriner [/URL]
http://ford-e4n71b-transmission.greenvillechrysler.cn/car-mini-shriner.html car mini shriner
[URL=http://lexus-picture-rx330.greenvillechrysler.cn#] lexus picture rx330 [/URL]
http://lexus-picture-rx330.greenvillechrysler.cn lexus picture rx330
[URL=http://ford-exp-turbo.greenvillechrysler.cn/dodge-5.9l-super-charger.html#] dodge 5.9l super charger [/URL]
http://ford-exp-turbo.greenvillechrysler.cn/dodge-5.9l-super-charger.html dodge 5.9l super charger
[URL=http://jeep-shara-wrangler.greenvillechrysler.cn/car-designing.html#] car designing [/URL]
http://jeep-shara-wrangler.greenvillechrysler.cn/car-designing.html car designing
Nice
[URL=http://camry-engine-toyota.hondahomcoming.cn#] camry engine toyota [/URL]
http://camry-engine-toyota.hondahomcoming.cn camry engine toyota
[URL=http://returning-new-car.hondahomcoming.cn/ogylvie-renault.html#] ogylvie renault [/URL]
http://returning-new-car.hondahomcoming.cn/ogylvie-renault.html ogylvie renault
[URL=http://used-suzuki-cavalcade.hondahomcoming.cn/chandlers-ford-hampshire-map.html#] chandlers ford hampshire map [/URL]
http://used-suzuki-cavalcade.hondahomcoming.cn/chandlers-ford-hampshire-map.html chandlers ford hampshire map
[URL=http://camry-engine-toyota.hondahomcoming.cn/bangor-maine-honda-dealership.html#] bangor maine honda dealership [/URL]
http://camry-engine-toyota.hondahomcoming.cn/bangor-maine-honda-dealership.html bangor maine honda dealership
[URL=http://cadillac-catera-rims.hondahomcoming.cn/mckennon-toyota-alabama.html#] mckennon toyota alabama [/URL]
http://cadillac-catera-rims.hondahomcoming.cn/mckennon-toyota-alabama.html mckennon toyota alabama
Cool…
[URL=http://honda-prelude-dash.hydroelectriccar.cn/mercedes-mechanics-hartford-springfield.html#] mercedes mechanics hartford springfield [/URL]
http://honda-prelude-dash.hydroelectriccar.cn/mercedes-mechanics-hartford-springfield.html mercedes mechanics hartford springfield
[URL=http://nissan-in-hopkinsville.hydroelectriccar.cn/honda-diesel-2009.html#] honda diesel 2009 [/URL]
http://nissan-in-hopkinsville.hydroelectriccar.cn/honda-diesel-2009.html honda diesel 2009
[URL=http://lexus-es300-pictures.hydroelectriccar.cn/volvo-penta-280-tilt-unit.html#] volvo penta 280 tilt unit [/URL]
http://lexus-es300-pictures.hydroelectriccar.cn/volvo-penta-280-tilt-unit.html volvo penta 280 tilt unit
[URL=http://car-seatbelt-extender.hydroelectriccar.cn/toyota-gtp.html#] toyota gtp [/URL]
http://car-seatbelt-extender.hydroelectriccar.cn/toyota-gtp.html toyota gtp
[URL=http://car-dubai-sale.hydroelectriccar.cn/auto-title-car-loans.html#] auto title car loans [/URL]
http://car-dubai-sale.hydroelectriccar.cn/auto-title-car-loans.html auto title car loans