1. Technology Times
Fall Focus: Blogging
Technology in our classroom
Whether we like it technology, but to will highlight the Volume 1, Issue 1
or not, technology use it in my class- latest technology we Fall 2010
seems to be every- room regularly. Us- are using in our
where you look these ing technology in the classroom. It will
days. Children are classroom is a crea- also be sent home as
Ocean
sponges when it tive way to get the a hard copy for you Elementary School
comes to pretty students’ attention convenience. Wel-
much everything while also teaching come you to our Ms. VanW agenen’s
4th grade class
good and bad. Tech- the lesson. Having classroom!
nology is no excep- so many standards to
tion. In fact, kids follow, technology
have taken to tech- will actually make it
nology so quickly easier and faster to
they often know get the students in-
more than adults. As volved and learning.
a teacher it is ex- Technology Times is Special points of interest:
tremely important a monthly newsletter
Technology in the classroom
for me to not only you will see on our
Internet Safety
know how to use classroom blog. It
Technology standards
Blogging introduction
Our classroom blog

2. Page 2 Technology Times
Internet Safety
Thanks to technology, infor- racy issues in regards to in- internet sites. Please visit
mation is easily accessible. formation on the internet. the following websites to
Communication between Our school has implement- learn more about student’s
people has become world ed filtering software to privacy rights and ideas to
wide, opening up new expe- guard against unacceptable implement on your home
riences between different computer.
cultures. As and educator, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/
it is my responsibility to en- pubs/consumer/tech/
sure that technology is tec08.shtm
used appropriately.
http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/
There are copyrights, privacyinitia-
acceptable use, and pi- tives/childrens.html
National Education Technology StandardsTaken from the official website:
http://technology.osd.wednet.edu/media/technology/technology/technology/nets_t_standards.pdf
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

3. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3
What is blogging?
Blog is short for weblog. It tive. It has become a popu-
is a webpage that can be lar tool that young people
edited, viewed and contains use to communicate. They
posts (comments) that are can also be used by teachers
arranged in chronological as an intellectual tool to
order. It is a type of inter- support the ongoing curric-
active online journal that ulum.
can be used in a variety of
ways. The unique charac-
teristic is that it is interac-
Why use blogs in the classroom?
This is a way to teach 21st Blogs require students to standards while also teach-
century skills to children in think critically, respond to ing across the curriculum.
a responsible and intellec- other students with respect
tual manner. Because blogs and thoughtfulness, using
require reading and writing critical thinking skills.
skills it is an opportunity to Blogging is a unique and
enhance their literacy. interesting way to teach the
How will we use blogs in Ms. VanWagenen’s room?
We will be creating a Parents are encouraged
classroom literature to go on to our classroom
response blog. blog to see what we are
doing each week.
This is a collection of
collaborative posts You are welcome to share
regarding books read, your comments and sug-
writings and other gestions.
literary resources.
Please join our discus-
sion! What are you
reading this week par-
ents? Let us know!