Blogging to Encourage Writing!

For years, it has been the teacher’s responsibility to motivate and encourage ALL students to write. Every year students must practice and learn to write persuasive, narrative, and expository essays. Not only do they have to learn the different types of writing, but they have to take a state test that only provides 45 minutes to do the writing successfully. The rough draft to final polished piece must be written in 45 minutes. That is a hard task for anyone to complete!

I feel this is where blogging throughout the year has been encouraging and motivating for students. My students are coming early to class so they can work on the computers and write stories. They want to publish these stories to their blogs. Practice, practice, and more practice makes better writers. How do you get good at something? You practice!

How do readers get better at reading? by reading! Then it is only logical that to get better at writing, we must write more. Practice, practice, and more practice.

I do not have to make my students write. They want to write using word processors, wikis, and blogs. Having an audience to write for is a powerful tool for the classroom. My students are very excited that they have a blog and wiki to work on.





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Social Networking

I sat here this morning reading Twitter messages and viewing the Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/educon-channel-1

and was amazed and excited about what I was learning through an educational conference called Educon 2.0

While multi-tasking during the morning by reading tweets at twitter, reading/watching a live chat and Ustream, and writing notes for this blog, I realized I wanted to shared what educators at this conference were saying:

* Web 2.0 tools such as social networks, twitter, blogging, wikis, Voicethread, podcasting, and skype (just to name a few) are being used in many schools around the world.

* The use of these tools are increasing in schools across this country.

* One of the problems was that teachers and students were not using these Web 2.0 tools in their classrooms. (Note: It is assumed here that Web 2.0 tools are available for use, but teachers are choosing not to use them and therefore; students cannot use them).

* Web 2.0 tools promote reading and writing just like the pencil and paper has promoted reading and writing.

All of this made me think of my students and realize that they are using critical thinking and higher order thinking skills while trying to use Web 2.0 tools. For example, the students create stories, post them to their wiki pages at school, then when at home at night, they copy and paste their stories onto their blog at Classblogmeister

What a great experience for kids if they were allowed to blog at school! There is no doubt that Blogging promotes their creativity, writing, and communication skills.
In fact, students need audiences that will read and comment directly to their creative stories or informational articles. Students need to feel their articles are being read by an audience of people. This motivates students to write more. One child told me that “I didn’t think I was a writer until I started writing in here, Mrs. Pritchard”……..He was referring to his blog articles!

Learn more at http://educon20.wikispaces.com/EduConTV


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Exciting news for Whittier School!

We have been invited to participate in the Springfield Technology 2008 http://www.springfieldtech2000.org day held at the capitol building in Springfield, Illinois. My class along with Ms. Esparza’s class will be going on May 7 to this event.

What will we be exhibiting? Blogs, wikis, and podcasting!

About Blogs:

Through The Landmark Project and David Warlick http://classblogmeister.com/ a blog engine provides us with a safe environment for students to work with blogs. My students have created various stories and articles to place on their blog spot. If you are interested in reading more about my students visit us at http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=141343

About Wikis:

Our wikis are at http://pritchardpress.wikispaces.com and http://fantasticfifth5.wikispaces.com
Unfortunately, our blogs are private and can only be viewed through our presentation at Springfield. Otherwise, you will need to come to visit us at school.

About Podcasting:

We have used Audacity to create podcasts for various projects throughout this school year. Our podcasts have been placed on our Classblogmeister homepage. Unfortunately, they are private and you will need to come to school so we can show them to you.


As you can see, we are keeping our Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasting safe for kids!

Getting out the bugs!

Up early today working on my feeds for my other blog. I wanted people to be able to subscribe to feeds such as feedburner. I was also spending time searching for a new look for both blogs. Something with a cleaning, sharp, and refreshing look. This lead me to spending time putting in a picture of my husband and me out in Arizona. What a beautiful desert!!!!

I feel it is important to keep updated on many of the wonderful tools and opportunities going on in the educational technology world of Web 2.0, so I included my del.icio.us links and will eventually add more to my blogroll. All the blogs I read have a tremendous amount of information. It seems the more I read and learn about technology, the more I realize that I need to read and learn more. It is a never ending cycle.

I spend at least 2 hours a day reading my Twitter information and visiting sites recommended by the technology people that I am following. Twitter is a social networking place where the users answer the question “What are you doing?” Many times, people contribute wonderful information regarding technology that I am able to link to and read about. My knowledge of educational technology has been growing because of these fabulous people.

Class Blogmeister!

Podcasts, Screencasts, and Avatars are part of the new Web 2.0 tools that are used in my classroom. The students are so excited now that they have a real audience to write to and they can use the Avatars and podcasts to record their stories.

Friday, I brought a lamp into my classroom to use with the Webcam camera because we didn't have enough light. It worked. The avatar started moving with every word the student spoke. The student stated that, "I was a wonderful teacher because I brought the lamp." What am I saying???? My students loved the Avatar and podcasting.

My students are excited because they can use a Webcam camera and they can use digital audio to record their voices. THEY ARE EXCITED AND WILLING TO WORK ON CREATIVE WRITING AND MORE!

Is it worth it to find ways around the blocked pictures, movies, slideshows, podcasts, and more? Yes, because when you get kids excited they will go home and try out what they are shown at school.

1. We use audacity to record podcasts!
2. We use podomatic to house our podcasts!
3. We use an Avatar!
4. I use Screencast-o-matic to prerecord blocked sites so I can show my students Web 2.0 tools.

My newest Blog for Kids!

Besides working and posting on http://parentsteachersstudents.blogspot.com and http://pritchardspress.blogspot.com, we now have a new student blog that is wonderful.

Class Blogmeister


Class Blogmeister was created by David Warlick. By the way, teachers must send an email to him to get approval to join Class Blogmeister.


What I know so far about Class Blogmeister....

1. It is completely safe because everything has to have the approval of the teacher before it can be posted.

2. Once approved the teacher will publish the posts to the blog.

3. Comments made by students to students also go through an approval process and are published by the teacher.

4. No emails for students to use.


5. Emails are sent to the teacher in-charge as soon as a student has submitted a post for publishing. Using feeds or netvibes, the teacher can easily keep up with posts. In addition, you can read and approve student posts from your email account. Truly Awesome!

6. The students love it.

Difficulties that we address everyday:

1. Our Main blog page is unblocked; however, the students' blogs are not unblocked so they can not work on them at school. In other words, we can not post at school and when needing to discuss the relevant information on our blogs we cannot.


Going around the difficulties:

As I mention, I have made a screencast using screencast-o-matic which is blocked at school, but can be downloaded to my laptop or flashdrive then taken to school.


Sad but true Podomatic and Screencasts are blocked. Students must go to Class Blogmeister at home to take advantage of the latest Web 2.0 tools.

Outstanding Parent/Teacher Conferences

Wow, I am so excited and thankful with all the parents, aunts, grandparents, sisters, brothers, and etc., which attended this week’s parent/teacher conferences. We had a great time discussing school work, behavior, motivation, state testing, blogging, wikis, and Internet safety. It is a great feeling to know that the parents are behind the teachers supporting them in the many decisions that are made within a day. It is also the teacher’s privilege and honor to support the parents. We work together as a team and it shows.

As the upcoming months go by, I would like to share my thoughts and opinions on several subjects. This is a blog and I welcome your responses and comments.

Looking forward to keeping you updated and informed.