[TIPS] Let the blogging begin!

Those of you who are thinking about whether or not to look into the notion of maybe finding out more about the possibility of MAYBE … :-) … having your students blog this year (whew!) may want to watch these blogs for a while. Anne Smith's students in Arapahoe School District in Colorado have been doing nice work for some time. (Remember these posts: http://tipline.blogspot.com/2007/07/tips-what-does-literature-say-about.html, http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gihttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.giff, http://tipline.blogspot.com/2006/12/tips-power-of-blogging.html, http://tipline.blogspot.com/2006/12/tips-smiths-9th-honors-class-blog.html)

Well, Anne just sent me the url's for this year's class blogs, as well as her own learning and Laptops blog. I encourage you to watch these for a while. In fact, I encourage you to do MORE than just watch them; I encourage you to comment on the posts that you find interesting. Provide some positive feedback on what they're saying and doing. As you do that try to imagine the power of those comments and the way that it changes the student motivation. Compare that to the stereotypical writing assignment that most students turn in for grades. Give them some time to get into the swing of things. The year is just getting started for them, too.

Anne uses blogger. If it's blocked in your district then send the url to your tech person and ask that it be opened up. I think your students need to see this, as well.

Good luck to Anne and her students this year. We're anxious to see your work. Er.. Not to put the pressure on … I'm just sayin'… :-)

Her blogs:
http://smith9h0708.blogspot.com/
http://www.smithenglish90708.blogspot.com/
http://smithewl0708.blogspot.com/
http://learningandlaptops.blogspot.com/