Mathematical Musings

Blogging

What is a “blog”?

• Short for “web-log”
• Keeping and posting a personal journal online
• A special type of web page that can be created and easily updated using a web browser

How can teachers use blogs?

• As a personal journal
• To post class information (assignments, upcoming projects and tests, copies of handouts, information for parents
• Generate discussion among students

Link to Will Richardson video

Examples of blogs
Science blog
Social studies blog - Middle school
Social studies - High school
Language arts
The Secret Life of Bees
Darren's Pre-Calculus class
GCHS Math
Verity7Math
S1Math

Other information about blogging
http://budtheteacher.blogspot.com/
A great discussion of blogging in the classroom. Bud teaches writing.

http://www.budtheteacher.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
Lots of information about blogging: acceptable use policy, parent letter, student blogging handbook

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/blogboard/
Teacher Magazine's look at what's new and noteworthy in educator blogs.

http://ripmixlearn.blogspot.com/
A workshop (“blogshop”) on blogging by Darren Kuropatwa

http://anne.teachesme.com/
Another teacher’s thoughts on blogging. Lots of links to other blogs.

http://freevlog.org/#step1
Tutorials on lots of cool things (blogging, putting video on your computer

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml
Article on blogging with links to blogging software and examples of blogs.

It's late, and I couldn't remember the URL for my blog. I thought I would google it to find it, and I guess I don't exist. I put in my name and found very little about me and nothing about my blog. The title of my blog didn't show up in a search either! No wonder no one has commented! I have now written the URL in a safe place so at least I can find it!

I want to begin blogging with my students. I think that I will start with my math team. I have heard several of them talking about using AIM and MySpace, so I think there are some very tech-savvy kids in the bunch. I'm not really sure how I want to set up the blog. I like Darren's idea of having a scribe for class each day summarize what was learned. I want to know how he introduced the idea to the students. It seems as if it were really simple to get the students excited about using a blog.

My principal has asked me to talk to the faculty about blogging. I am trying to gather my thoughts as I prepare. I should be posting the links I need on this site. That will be my next step, but for now it is time to go to bed!

I spent today with nine other teachers from across the state of Alabama in a meeting of the 21st Century Fellows. I feel so behind the times, but I am eager to catch up! I want to begin a blog for my classroom and encourage my students to write about their mathematical thinking. I was so impressed by Darren's blog and the thinking that his students were writing about. Aimee will be a good resource person and encourager as well. I know I can do this! There are enough hours in the day. I am looking forward to getting to know all of the other fellows better and learning from them.