The document discusses the concept of blogging and its applications in middle school classrooms, emphasizing its benefits as a tool for student motivation and collaboration in various subjects. It outlines ways to implement blogging in language arts, math, science, and social studies to enhance learning and interactions. Additionally, it provides resources for teachers to help integrate blogging into their curriculum.

1. Blogging in Middle School ClassroomsSarah L. AllredProject 1 EDTC 5010ECUSummer 2010Mrs. Fine

2. What is Blogging?Blogging is the action of writing a blog (short for web log).A blog is a web site which is much like an online journal. A blog author regularly writes articles about a topic of their choosing.A blog is typically organized in chronological order, and may be written by a professional or amateur writer.(Introduction to Blogging, 2010)

3. Why Blog?Straight from the mouths of students . .Top 10 Reason's to Use a Blog in the ClassroomClick the title above to view video on Youtube.(supershona, 2008)

4. Where to Create a BlogThere are a multitude of web sites where a free or low cost blog can be created. These are just a few:http://www.wordpress.comhttp://www.blogger.comhttp://blog.comhttp://myeweb.orghttp://edublogs.org/http://www.21classes.com/

5. Blogging in Any Subject AreaUse the blog to keep a journal of learning over the course of a class, or as a work portfolio.Blog daily class activities to keep parents and absent students informed.Have students blog to summarize and review learning, or to assess learning.

6. Why Blogging in EducationIntegrating blogging into any topic of study can be a great motivator to get students to read and write.Blogs can help students begin to collaborate as learners, and monitor and record their own learning.A blog can serve as a learning portfolio.Blogging makes writing in the classroom more authentic since it is quickly published to a real audience.(Crie, 2006)

7. Blogging in Language ArtsLanguage Arts class is one of the most obvious places to use blogging. Some ways you might do this:Have students blog responses to or reflections about a text, thus creating an online discussion about what they read.Have students blog drafts of written work, and then have classmates comment, and suggest revisions before creating a final draft.

8. Blogging in MathBlogging can be quite useful in math class as well.Post a problem solving activity, and have students respond on the blog with how they would solve the problem.Create a blog for students to record real world applications for math concepts being taught in class.After learning a mathematical process have students blog explaining the process in their own words.

9. Blogging in SciencePost a problem solving activity, and have students respond on the blog with how they would solve the problem using scientific inquiry.Create a blog for students to record real world applications for science concepts being taught in class.Allow students to blog about current events related to science topics and share their personal view of them.

10. Blogging in Social StudiesAllow students to blog about current events related to social studies/history topics and share their personal view of them.After studying a particular historical event have students blog about their reactions to what happened and how they may have responded differently.

11. Want More Information?These are some great sites which may be helpful as you integrate blogging into your classroom:http://my-ecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=4992http://www2.teachersfirst.com/content/blog/blogbasics.cfm

12. SourcesCrie, M. (2006, October). Teaching Today. Retrieved June 7, 2010, from : http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47"Introduction to Blogging." WordPress. n.d. Web. 8 June 2010. <http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging>.Supershona, (2008, January 31). Top 10 Reason's to Use a Blog in the Classroom. Retrieved June 4, 2010, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfJETK3am1M