After reading the Hendron pages, I was very intrigued about creating a classroom blog. I currently have a classroom website that is supported through the Medford School website. However, I will admit that I do not use it on a regular basis. I have general information on it fourth grade, but nothing that shows what we are doing in my classroom on a daily basis. I really think this could be a useful tool for me, especially when I start teaching first grade next year. I can make it more of a daily/weekly reflection about what is happening in our classroom. Although I do create a weekly newsletter for my parents, this would be a more interactive way for them to stay updated. Not to mention, it would always be available for parents to view. When we clean our desks, I often find many newsletters shoved in folders that have never even been taken home. Thus, the entire point of the newsletter is lost. I think I will plan to create the layout for my first grade blog this year so it is one less thing I have on my plate when school starts in the fall. Here is my idea list thus far. Feel free to leave comments on what else I can add!
Pictures
Spelling lists
Upcoming dates
Daily/Weekly Reflections (Still to be decided)
Links to helpful websites
Book recommendations
Upcoming community programs
Links to our online curriculum
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I did put most of the things that you listed on to my school website last year - with a link to the weekly newsletter. At the end of the year I did a parent survey about several of my classroom routines - I was disappointed to learn that even though I had really emphasized that my website could be used to access math practice, spelling lists, pictures, links, etc., there were only 2 parents who said that they had gone to the website and then not consistently. Because of the low interest I have been not been putting the newsletter on anymore. I have many students who do not have computer access at home - so the printed newsletter still works the best.
ReplyDeleteJeannie-This is a ongoing debate in our elementary right now, and I'm guessing it is pretty common in many elementaries. Teachers say they don't want to update their sites because parents aren't accessing them. Parents say they don't access it because nothing is updated.
ReplyDeleteMy thought as a HS teacher, I understand that grades may not be applicable at the elementary level, I do however think that we need to start teaching parents to use the electronic features like you said you are using. As a parent I love having the spelling lists out there, we lose these often. Kristin, the other nice thing is your time schedule, even though it can change it is nice to be able to see the lunch time or if a appt has to be scheduled you can work around the subjects that your child has a harder time with.