Three Ways To Use Blogs in My Classroom

1. One option would be having the students in my social studies class use a blog as an online journal. I can utilize the blog as an on-going assignment throughout the school year to strengthen literacy skills as well as encourage student interaction and examination of different points of view. The goal of the assignment would be to have students assume the role of a historical figure in each unit covered in class. They would then write blogs in the form of journal entries describing and analyzing the events of that unit from the perspective of the person they choose: man, woman, white, black, rich, poor, soldier, politician, factory worker, farmer, etc. The other students in the class would comment on a certain number of these posts to agree or disagree with the points made in the blog based on their own assumed roles.



2. A second idea would be to promote cultural exploration and awareness by the students and link them up with students in the culture that they are studying. For example, students can do research about Chinese cultural practices and blog about their findings online. The Chinese students that they are linked up with could comment on the reality of their findings and how true it rings for their own families. My students would assume the opposite role of commenting on the findings of the Chinese students about American cultural practices. Links can be set up with a variety of cultures, such as African, Latino, European, or Muslim communities, to help end the ignorance and stereotypical ideas that lead to prejudice.




3. A third option would be using a blog as a line of communication between the teacher, parents, and students. I would continually post a summary of the day's course content that was covered in class along with any assigned homework. This would allow students to have a rough idea of what they missed in class and what work they can have prepared for the following class day. Students can also post questions about the assignments that I can respond to outside of school. A blog provides an opportunity for parents to stay involved in what their child is learning in school and allows them to be aware of the work their child needs to complete. It also makes myself, as the teacher, accessible to parents for their own comments or concerns, especially if they are unable to make it into school for one reason or another.