Blogging in the Classroom

While there are many blogs that I enjoy reading for leisure and information, it was only recently that it occurred to me that I could potentially use them in my own classroom.  I have a colleague who frequently used hers for her AP English class writing prompts, but I worried that my use might be a little too simple.  That was BEFORE I read, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, by Will Richardson.

After reading his chapter on blogs, lightbulbs started to go off in my head.  My curriculum standards are deviating from the TWO state standards and are embracing the national LOTE standards. The FIVE C's are Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, Communities (http://www.actfl.org).  These standards are perfect for the blogosphere.  I see myself using them for communication with my students, to help them make connections and comparisons between cultures of Spanish-speaking countries and how they can help in their own communities. All the while, they would be making their world smaller AND larger at the same time!

My students love to give feedback, whether it's positive or negative.  By encouraging students to own their opinions and feedback in a blog format, it's a win-win situation for me as a teacher.