Blogging with 2nd graders

Ok, I finally think I have an idea. I have some book bags that contain about five books on a certain subject. My students usually take them home for two weeks, read them and then come back to the class and share what they learned and what books they recommend. This show and tell usually takes time away from my regular curriculum. I am thinking of having my  students blog their reactions to the book bag, their favorite book, something new they might have learned and whether or not they would refer this book to a classmate. I figure that a two week period is great. I can open up the blog and present it to the class.

Now I need to figure out how to start a blog on Blackboard. I have decided to have my class blog on Blackboard because their parents are already familiar with it. With my students being just seven and eight years old, I think their parents will help them blog at home and I will help at school. Stay tuned.

A student in my class had a birthday today. He is eight or two, it depends how you count. I am still working hard to include more lessons focused on individual learning styles. Easier said than done.  Yesterday, instead of administering an end of the unit test on animals, I let my students decide how they wanted to show me that they had learned the concepts taught.  I am sure you have guessed. They(really we) are now working on slide shows, books, and plays to demonstrate the knowledge attained over the last month.  I know that a written test would have been quicker, but both my students and I would miss the opportunity of seeing greatness.  I love to see my students thrive and eight year olds love to perform.  I will let you know how it goes.  I am off to plan more lessons where students choose what they would rather do in order to make sure they are being taught according to their unique learning styles. God bless them.

First and Second grade teachers must give the DRA2; reading test to all their students . This test is given over a four week period. This year the test add a non fiction element.  Now I am trying to focus on providing tiered lessons for differential instruction.  I wish I had a week offf inbetween a week of teaching. I love to plan exciting lessons, but in order to plan for individual learning styles, I need to be with my students

I just attended an inservice on Differential instruction on 2/21/08.  It has given me ideas about blogging as one level of the tiered lessons.  I only have four computers in my classroom, but I could set up a schedule and because I teach seven and eight year olds, I would use a parent volunteer to help out at that center. One idea could be for the students to choose their favorite character from a chapter book read and share what traits they relate to the most.  It is funny, if I look to blogging as another tool for students to use in order to demonstrate their understanding of a concept,  it seems very natural that blogging would be exciting for them.

This is my first attempt to setting up a blog.  I have gotten this far. I have a lot to learn.  I would like to know what other teachers think about blogging with 2nd graders. Let me know what you think