Google Map Demo

Here's a map of Malden, the school district that I work in. Included in the map are sites that the kids find to be important to them. Some sites are Beebe School, Fellsmere Park, The Malden Public Library, MacDonald Stadium and the YMCA.

My Voki Intro

Using blogs in the classroom

    I have used blogs in many different ways in my classroom.  One way was as a basic homework blog for students and parents.  It allowed me to post long term assignments, weekly homework and daily homework.  I found that many people did not actually check the blog, but those who did found it helpful.

    I have also worked in conjunction with our school's literacy coach to begin a reading blog with students.  We initially wanted to use the blog to connect with other schools in our district, but not everyone was so keen on the idea.  We used the blog as a kind of book club, so that kids could use it to discuss the books they were reading.  The problem we found was that students were not always responsible with the blog and were signing in outside of school and using it inappropriately.  We spent a lot of time explicitly teaching responsible blogging, but found that some of the students still weren't able to handle the blogging on their own.

     One way that I would like to try blogging in my classroom is to use it as an interactive notebook.  I have a few classroom computers and I could set everyone up on a collaborative class blog.  Students could  post responses to questions, show their thinking and add media to explain their thought processes.  We could have a schedule so that each student gets a chance to post and then cycle through that schedule throughout the year.