I teach 4th grade, all subjects, with math and reading as the most critical when it comes to passing the standardized test coming up in the spring. I have thought of a blog idea that would place emphasis on reading skills being that it is the one area in which my students perform at a low level.
I would like my students to read a chapter book as a class or a story from their reading book and use blogging to interact with one another about the various aspects of the book/story. I would like them to communicate on the author's purpose for writing, what type of genre it is, the characters and what roles/feelings they brought to the story, the setting, the plot, and any cause and effect events that might have occurred.
I feel this would be a good way for students to interact and comment to one another and for each of them to share their view points of the story and how it affected them. It will also help in their written communication skills and allow them to truly think about what they read.
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Hi Rebekah,
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at you teaching 4th graders and the idea of using blog with them is brilliant. I only know a few international primary schools have their students carry a laptop in school. The infrastructure is amazing. And yet not many try the idea of blogging with 4th graders, the youngest I know is 6th graders!
I fully support teaching the young ones about technology at an early age so that when they get to high school, they'll already have a certain level of skills. And don't you think it's easier to talk to the young ones than teenagers who will be busy chatting online when we are trying to teach :)
Any problem you might foresee doing blogging with your 4th graders? Do you think they'll need guidance from home as well? How are you going to prepare that. The idea of using the blog as a platform for students to bounce ideas off each other is one of the great ways to use the technology, it's completely out of the classroom and can happen anytime anywhere.
Sarah
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYes, I do see problems blogging with the group I have now. First, they have low reading and writing skills. Second, many do not have computer access at home. I have talked to our person who teaches computer and she is going to let them practice in class. Our school policy will not let their blogs be made public-it will have to be in-school only. I and the computer teacher will have to provide a lot of guidance-hopefully they will catch on!
I have heard that it is not what they read it is the fact they are reading. If the students are excited about the idea of blogging I do not see how it can not be of benefit. This seems like a great opportunity for students to work on reading and writing as well as computer etiquette (or is it netiquette) and skills. This is especially a great opportunity for the students that do not have a computer at home. Exposure to new things is a big part of education.
ReplyDeleteOur elementary schools all have computer labs yet our students come to the middle school with very few computer skills. I think it is great you are using them.Do your students take Keyboarding?
Rebekah,
ReplyDeleteThat is a great way to have a book discussion. It also helps them to learn the concepts needed to understand blogging. As creative writing follow up, may I suggest that you break down a story by its components: Setting, protagonist, antagonist, conflict, and conflict resolution. Have the students write the most descriptive setting online. The students then choose which setting they want for their collective story. Then they write about their best characters, conflict, and the resolution. The class votes and a story is born!
I think this is a very good idea. This is very similar to what I am going to do on a College level. As a literature I think that the blog will serve as a device for revision, learning new concepts, and for both parents and students to get involved. Blogging will indeed help both written and oral communication. The class can work together to improve each others writing as well as peer editing each other work. For your problem with the computers, that is something you have no control over. I guess you can just use the IT room, and like me have the student plan what they are writing first and if it is good enough then you can post it.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebekah,
ReplyDeleteWhat's the reason your school won't allow you to publish the blog in public? Is it because of privacy reasons or what?
I think there's not much you can do if it's school policy, it's a shame though. I hope they'll change their mind soon. However I think posting stuff onto the school network, so that other students can read is also exciting for 4th graders I think, no?
See the thing is if the school doesn't publish the blog for whatever reasons, any of your students learn the skills about blogging, they could always make it at home (if they have internet and computer access at home) and blog themselves. I guess school wouldn't care then if it's the kid initated it, eh?
Sarah
You mention that you want students to discuss various aspects of the book. Are you going to use prompts with the students? I teach high school and I cannot imagine them addressing the aspects you mention on their own. I think once I gave prompts for perhaps the first couple of stories they would get the hang of it though. Interesting idea.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason we can't blog is because of the privacy issue and most county and school administrators are still in the "industrial age".
ReplyDeleteYes, to do the reading activity, I would definitely have to use prompts and guide the students along-I don't know if they could do it otherwise.