Classroom Blogging

This is the first year that I have done a classroom blog and the response has been wonderful. I started writing this blog in August and feared I would run out of ideas to write about. I quickly realized that I have more than enough to write about. If you are a teacher, you know what I mean. These kids keep things interesting!

I have had the best response from my student's parents. Parents have told me they love reading about what their child is learning at school. Parents who cannot visit the classroom feel like they know what is going on because I have brought the classroom to them. My administrators have complimented on how I have created a window into my classroom for family members.

I have a few tips on how to start a classroom blog. First, be sure to ask permission from the parents from the beginning of the year. In my county, we must have permission to post pictures of students. Second, be sure to link it to your classroom website. If you can, incorporate it into your website. This provides easy access for parents so they do not have to "Google" you. Another tip is to add pictures to your site. Parents love to see their child learning and having fun. Epal is recommended as an easy way to blog with your students from the Tech Tools blog.

I have had many discussions with my classmates about having students blog. I always thought that blogging was for older students but one of my classmates does it with his first grade students. He has his students posting sentences on his class blog. I thought it would be a great writing assignment where the students handwrite the sentences first and then type it into the blog.  I have not tried it yet but I am willing to try it one day. If anyone has blogged with early childhood students, please let me know. I would love to hear what you are doing!

Comments

[susana]

Hello i am a Portuguese childhood educator and i l want to share knowledge with educators from around the world. visit: http://jardiminfantil.blogspot.com/

"hi

[amelia]

it's so great to hear you are enjoying blogging! i love reading your posts and hearing about your kindergarten classroom. i imagine that the blog acts similar to how a weekly newsletter would for parents - but even easier to write and share!

[David Caldwell]

Christina,

Sorry to leave this as a comment, but I coulnd't find a way to email you directly. I recently found your blog and want to subscribe, but it appears that the link is broken. Can you help me? Thanks and good work.

David

[Marlisha]

I think your classroom blogging is an effective technique to stay in contact with the students' parents. Parents are essential people in the students' lives. By allowing the students to respond to your blog, you are making the students feel like they belong, which is one of the students' basic needs according to Glasser.