Ready, Set...BLOG!

Today I introduced my students to blogging.  This is a pretty momentous occasion for my classroom because I've been wanting to try blogging with my 6th graders for years...literally, 3 years!  I had dabbled around a bit with an 8th grade class I taught a few years back and had some successful moments.  However,  I was a little baffled at how to recreate the experience with 160+ students.  I couldn't grasp how to manage it, monitor it, and most importantly, how to utilize the resources that we already were using.  I was nervous about introducing another new tool.

The answer was simple and it was right in front of me...Canvas 💡We use it daily.  The kids are familiar with it.  I can monitor the content easily.  It is already linked to my grades.  I can't believe it took me so long to figure it out.  Canvas does not offer a blogs feature, but it does have a great discussion board option.  This gives students the basics of blogging and for now, it will allow me to have a bit more control over students and what they are commenting and posting on.  It also solves my biggest concern...99% of my students have never blogged before.  I am thinking Canvas will allow me to introduce this new concept to kids and also share the proper online etiquette for discussion boards with students.  Seems like a win-win situation!

Agency Blogs
I am most excited about how I am tying the blogs into our game theme.  Each period or agency has their own blog.  This will help me to keep my periods organized, but it will also allow kids to view what's going on in other classes.  I would also like to offer side quests and/or easter eggs hidden throughout the blog for students to discover.  Here is an example of my 7th period's first post...

Leading By Example

Now the really hard part...being an example for my students.  I was very active with blogging this summer and really enjoyed how it helped me to reflect on my classroom.  However, I haven't posted in a few months.  I had several of my students ask to see my personal blog today and one even said she was going to motivate me to write more.  My immediate reaction was...awesome!  If I am asking them to write more, then I should be doing the same thing.  Therefore, I need to lead by example.  If I expect them to post to our agency blog at least once a month, then I need to post at least once a month.  I think that is only fair.

I am very excited about this opportunity for my students and even more excited about how THEY will inspire ME to become a better blogger.