Blogs in the Primary grades-All it takes is asking 3

Well this is my thrid installment of the All it takes is asking post. My students have been blogging now for almost a month and let me tell you I am so impressed. Right away I saw their engagement level soar when I told them we were going to blog. Now given it is still new and they are really just posting to a topic that I am starting, but they are really getting into it.

I have really been impressed with it's impact on my ESL and struggling learners. Many of them hated when we did writing activities and it was like pulling teeth to get them to do them. Now all I need to do is say we are going to blog and I have everyone's attention. I have seen an increase in the way that take notice of information they are learning and to watch a student sit there and really critique their writting to make sure the facts he is posting are correct is just so amazing. Esspecially after that same student just a few weeks ago would argue with me about writing.

Now I am so glad that my class is having so much success, but I think the most interesting fact about me implementing this tool into my class, has been the impact on other teachers. When I told people I was going to blog with my 2nd grade students they looked at me like I was smoking something. However, now in the last two weeks I have had 4 teachers come to me and ask how I am doing it and how can they start. This is very refreshing and it will be interesting to see how my principal reacts when she has other teachers coming to her and asking to blog with their students.

One of the teachers who is on my 2nd grade team is going to be starting in the next couple weeks with her students and we are going to have our classes communicate back and forth with each other using the blog posts. This is amazing how one small idea has now blown up and become a huge idea with many teachers. I kind of feel bad for the 3rd grade teachers because they are going to have kids coming to them and wanting to communicate with each other about ideas next year. Guess they will have to just jump on the band wagon and keep the ball rolling.