Baby Steps:Blogging in the Classroom :Baby Steps:Blogging in the Classroom Ms. M. Hudson Archdiocesan Professional Day Friday, September 4, 2009 Resurrection of Our Lord School “… united through Christ …”


Opening Prayer :Opening Prayer Lord Jesus, when you lived and worked and talked amongst the people, they called you Teacher. Help me to remember the greatness of the work which has been given to me to do. Help me always to remember that I work with the most precious material in the world, the mind of a child. Help me to help these children, not only to store things in their memories, but to be able to use their minds, and to think for themselves.


Slide 3:And amidst the worries and the irritations and the frustrations of my vocation, help me to remember that the future of the Church, the nation and of the world is in my hands. May the blessings of your sevenfold Gifts be in all who teach and in all who learn through the Holy Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. - Taken from “Catholic Prayers for Teachers”


What exactly is blogging? :What exactly is blogging? In it’s simplest form, blogging is online journaling. It gives writers another mode of communication. The online aspect provides immediacy. Writers can share their ideas instantly and receive real-time feedback.


Blogging is also … :Blogging is also … A way for writers to collaborate on a single piece. An avenue to manage multiple writing tasks. An opportunity to extend expression beyond the written word to include audio and video presentations of one’s opinions and ideas. Connects traditional writers to modern technology and its mode of communication.


Slide 6:Okay, that’s interesting, but how can I use blogging in my classroom?


Benefits of blogging in the classroom: :Benefits of blogging in the classroom: Provides an additional mode for writing. Engages writing skills. Presents writing as an instructional tool in the content areas. Incorporates technology. Makes learning relevant. Boosts students’ self-confidence. Engages various learning styles. Facilitates critical thinking. Meets district and state learning standards.


My Baby Steps :My Baby Steps Expand my use of technology. Commit to one technological endeavor. Expose students to technology, not liability. Find a real-world application for language arts.


My Baby Steps :My Baby Steps Networked with teachers I met at NWP / NCTE. Attended available technology-based workshops. Researched blogging online and contacted educators via phone and email. Selected Epals for security, management, and diverse activities. Birth of “The Blogging Rams.”


Slide 11:Assignments


Slide 12:Assignments


Slide 13:Teacher’s Critique


Slide 14:Teacher’s Critique Errors in Grammar Logic & Style


Slide 15:Teacher’s Critique


Slide 16:Assignments


Changes in My Classroom :Changes in My Classroom Use traditional instruction for mini-lessons. Provide guided practice and evaluate student mastery via blog assignments. Ignite students’ interest and excitement. Give writing a modern makeover. Observed fewer discipline issues and more student growth.


Suggestions :Suggestions Determine accountability. Surf the web. Network with colleagues. Play! Identify assessment and evaluation. Implement.


What’s your next baby step? :What’s your next baby step? For my students … podcasting! Shhh … don’t tell them. I’m still playing.


Notable Links :Notable Links The Blogging Rams (Resurrection School) http://sites.epals.com/bloggingrams Epals www.epals.com David Warlick’s Blog Meister http://www.classblogmeister.com/ Michelle Hudson’s (Test) Podcast http://msmhudson.podomatic.com/entry/2009-08-31T18_07_26-07_00 Greater New Orleans Writing Project www.gnowp.org National Writing Project www.nwp.org National Council of Teachers of English www.ncte.org National Day on Writing (NCTE) http://www.galleryofwriting.org/contribute.php National Day on Writing Samples http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting/samples Contact Michelle Hudson: msmhudson@epals.com