We are beginning a very exciting project in our classroom: student blogs. I am working on this in a co-teaching model with one of our district Technology Coaches, Mrs. Amy Gwizdz. If you have any questions about the technology aspect, please contact Mrs. Gwizdz at gwizdza@dearbornschools.org. I want to clearly state my goals for this project and address any concerns you may have.
Goals
- Students will create Booksnaps by creating a blog entry about books that are read inside and outside of the classroom.
- Students will present Booksnaps to classmates by completing an oral presentation that highlights one blog post.
- Students will read and write comments on books that classmates have created on student blogs.
- Students will understand safety and appropriate responses regarding the internet: creating online posts and writing comments that are shared with a broad community.
FAQ
Will my child’s work be posted publicly on the internet?
No. Their work will be posted on a blog that is viewable ONLY within Dearborn Public Schools. The only people who are able to view this work are people who have a dearbornschools.org extension on their username. So, their classmates, teachers, principals, and superintendent can view their work. It’s basically like posting work out in the hallway (virtually). So, parents cannot view the work unless they are logged on with a student account. Take the time to look at this work together.
Why are we doing student blogs?
We live in a tech-centered society. I think it’s important to teach students to use the internet as a tool. And, as with any tool, it’s important to learn to use it correctly and safely. Students are interested in using computers and I want to take this natural interest and explore it in a fun and creative way. I also want students to have a platform on which they can share good books with each other, make recommendations for reading material, and see examples of top-notch work.
Are students allowed to work on this at home?
Currently, students are NOT allowed to work on this at home. They have been explicitly instructed not to make comments or complete work on the blog at home. We are still in the process of learning how to use the blogs.