With technology
advancing at hypersonic speeds, it can be difficult for teachers and parents to
keep up with the children. One way to combat this is through a blog. Many
parents wish to stay updated and in the know about what their children are doing
everyday in school. They are eager to stay involved in students’ lives and
would like to help further their children’s knowledge. A blog is a great way to
keep communication between teacher and parent open at all times. In this day
and time, parents are constantly on the move. Teachers have many students to
accommodate. A classroom/teacher blog can be of great assistance. When I teach,
I would like to post the weekly schedule on my blog and discuss our objectives
for the week.
In addition to posting the objectives,
I will post activities that can go along with our classroom lessons. There is a
plethora of educational games available on the Internet as well. I would like
to post links to these websites with reviews on them so that I can recommend
them to parents. Children spend so much time on the Internet…they may as well
be using that time to learn while PLAYING! I can post items such as book
reviews/recommendations for parents who have trouble choosing books for their children.
Clubs and extracurricular activities can be a common topic. This will be a
place to remind parents of upcoming events.
I would like to have a question board
available to parents so that they can discuss educational topics or
developmental topics pertaining to their children. This way, they can ask
questions and advice from both myself and other parents.
I would enjoy a separate blog of
teaching tips and valuable information so that I can exchange ideas with other
professionals in my field.
I think that your blog ideas are wonderful. I never thought blogs could be so helpful not only to teachers but to parents. I think your ideas could be of great use to all future teachers.
ReplyDeleteTwo other things to think about is how blogs could, eventually, eliminate the need to parent teacher conferences and how it will impact the dispersion of make up work for sick or home bound students. It really is amazing how multidimensional blogs can be. Blogging might just be education's method of making house calls!.
ReplyDeleteI must concur with Brandy; your blog ideas are wonderful! I had not thought of so many ways to use a blog for the classroom. It seems like you put a lot of thought into this. :) You are right that children spend much of their time on the internet these days. The adults do too, so it would not be a problem for most of them to get on your blog and browse the things that you have up for a certain week or ask questions. With your permission, I would like to organize my blog in a similar way as you have described here. It is one of the more efficient ways that I have heard of to use a blog for education.
ReplyDeleteHaving games on your blog for your students to play (and learn while doing so) is a very good idea! I know that when I was a kid I loved playing learning games on the computer! It really helped me; I'm sure it would help a number of your students, too.
ReplyDeleteJessica, I would be flattered if you used my organization technique! After all, blogs are all about sharing ideas. Mrs. Walrond always says "In teaching, you have to beg, steal, and borrow!" Feel free to borrow anything you would like. No begging involved :) Thanks so much for your encouragement Brandy! kbrown65, don't we all love games? I know I do! I think in order to be a teacher you still have to have some part of being a child in your heart. Matt, thank you for your insight. I had never considered using blogging as an alternative to PTC.
ReplyDeleteI also believe keeping the parents involved in their children's class. This is also a great way to stay in touch with parents and communicate about ideas, problems, or just to say hello. When I parent feels like a teacher is willing and trying to keep in touch with a parent, it makes the parent feel appreciated almost and that the teacher really cares.
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