Class Portal

After reading Richardson, I noticed that I really liked the class portal idea. It is similar to Blackboard in that assignments can be posted for a particular class. As I said in my previous post, I already manage a class website but homework and other assignments on it. The problem is that my parents don't look at it. I am constantly being asked for extra copies, even though I remind them in every newsletter to check out my website. Does anyone think starting a class portal blog would be benefitial? I feel like it would be difficult to get the parents excited.

Using Blogs in the Classroom

Ok, so I'm starting to see that this could be something that I could use with first graders. After doing the readings in the book and checking out the comments, I may not be giving my kiddos enough credit. I think what most confuses me is whether or not to do a class blog or have the kids to their own. I think they would be much more excited to completely create their own but it may cause me to pull my own hair out. So...that leaves me with a class blog. I like the idea of reading reflections but I wonder what else I can do. We already have a class website that has pictures, posted homework, and curriculum links. Wouldn't I just be reinventing the wheel?

First Blog

So this is the first blog that I've been asked to write. My only experiences with blogs are the ones that I've accidentally run into while doing research on the Internet and the ones that my friends start when they have kids. Neither of which have seemed very exciting to me but I'm willing to give this blogging business a try. I haven't done the readings yet so I hope that once I get off and running I will see some education uses. Teaching in a first grade classroom, integrating technology seems really difficult at times. I have no idea how I could incorporate this new technology into my daily teaching. I think having 6 year olds start their own blogs would be more of a lesson in keyboarding. Any other ideas on how to use this with first graders?