After looking at various blogs, I came across one from Mrs. Moore’s 3rd grade class.
Click link to view: http://blogs.goaj.org/amoore/.
What fascinated me most is how they as a class used the blog to share their work. The first blog I read was a story creation called “Mystery Woman” were students used specific vocabulary words that they learned to create a story. Each student had to use their creative writing skills and compose a short story using the five vocab words. After scrolling even further, I found another assignment the class completed on kindness. Again using their creative writing skills, students had composed 25 different ways to be kind (collectively) and why it is important to be kind. This really hit home for me as a Health teacher because part of my self-guided curriculum is teaching about character and how to treat others. This unit also touches on bullying and our efforts to stop it.
What impressed me most was just how well the students used their vocab words and articulated their own reasons why it was important to be kind. If every class did projects similar to this I think it would help students better understand the quality of good character traits, a skill that many students lack in today’s society unfortunately. I also liked the use of a hands on project when it came to the kindness blog. Using the blog, it allowed students to share their work and describe just what it means to them to be kind. Being kind to one another helps combat bullying but also improves relationships with one another, covering all forms of Health education, not just the physical side of things.
I personally feel that I could use this idea for my own classroom, with adaptations of course. First, using my own blog, I can create a lesson that students can use their own creative writing skills in a manner that covers bullying. I would encourage my students to share their own bullying stories and why we need to stomp bullying out of our everyday life. I would also pair this up with a hands on activity that has students create their own anti bullying posters which can be shared with their stories.
After seeing just how a teacher uses a blog as an education tool, I also feel that I can incorporate this tool a little more if districts approves of course. I feel that sharing links to articles discussed in class can be shared on my blog site and students can share their own thoughts individually. I feel this is a good thing because I often have to tell students who want to share a story to write it down or talk to me after class because we never have enough time for everyone in class to share.
Blogging in an educational setting has many advantages that goes ways beyond the classroom walls and students today desire new and innovative ways to learn. Using tools like this to share students work, allow for open discussions about topics discussed, and adding online classroom challenges can help bridge gaps that can’t always be addressed in a 40 minute window. I also believe it can be used to motivate our students learning and sharing capabilities in new collaborative ways.
Check out these links to the student blogs discussed: http://blogs.goaj.org/amoore/2018/04/17/mystery-woman/ – Mystery Woman
http://blogs.goaj.org/amoore/2018/03/30/why-is-being-kind-important/ – Why is being kind important?
Mr. Kotansky's Blog 
Robert,
Our students love having their work published. I have found that when my students knew their work was going to be read by others besides the teacher, they tended to write more and took more time editing their work. It gave them a sense of pride. It also promoted critical thinking as they read others’ postings and commented on them. With your health curriculum, there would be lots of topics that your students could discuss together.
LikeLike
Blogs like this are the perfect example of how students can use these forms of collaboration to enhance their creativity and confidence to help retain the subject knowledge. Students have to be creative to come up with these short stories and, even better, they’re about a subject that keeps the students in a positive state of mind which will facilitate a comfortable environment for the students to become confident in their abilities. A healthy environment, when everyone is on the same page, really sets the tone for successful students.
LikeLike
Robert,
Blogs can be a wonderful tool for providing students with voices in educational and real-world settings. Creating a safe and supportive classroom environment in which your kiddos can share their bullying experiences via blogs is such a great way to prepare them to have mature conversations about difficult topics. Kudos on the idea! You mentioned that you would have to seek district approval to utilize blogs. My former school district was very strict when it came to social media, as well. Between legal obligations and parent push back, breaking the barrier was near impossible at times.
LikeLike