Why should I have a classroom blog?

Many of today's schools use BlackBoard and other platforms that allow online sharing of class notes, assignments, etc. However, these services require one to log in, and are often not viewable or fully functioning on mobile devices. These are some of the reasons why a classroom blog can be of great use.

Pros of a Classroom Blog

• Teachers can create separate blogs for each class. Most teachers opt to have a single blog, wherein the teacher uses separate posts or bold headings to highlight specific classes.
• Parents and guardians can easily access the blog because it is public. This means no lying that "we didn't have homework today."
  
• Parents feel connected to the school when they have instant access to classroom goings-on.
• Blogs are free.
• Teachers can update blogs from anywhere at any time. Those with iPods, Droids, etc., can download free apps that allow quick and easy posting from their phones.
• Students in a "BlackBoard-free" school can access class assignments from home. If teachers use tools such as Google Docs for posting worksheets, students who are home sick can complete their assignments and turn them in the next day, as if they'd never missed a day of school.
• Teachers and administrators have a running log of what happened each day in the classroom. This can be of great benefit should questions ever arise.
• Regular classroom teachers can keep special education teachers informed as to what mainstreamed students are doing. For example, resource room teacher Mr. O'Connor asks Samantha, "What are you working on in Mrs. Johnson's class?" Samantha answers that the class is doing nothing, or something else misleading. With a quick click of his mouse, Mr. O'Connor can look at Mrs. Johnson's classroom blog and see exactly what the class is doing, making Mr. O'Connor better able to help Samantha.

Classroom blogs are a terrific and economical way to share information between teachers, parents, students, and administrators.

Tips for Classroom Blogs

• Remember your audience: busy people. Keep your posts as simple and direct as possible.
• Separate your classes clearly, either through separate blogs, separate posts, or bold headings.
• Establish a posting format. Use it consistently.
• Don't force your readers to wade through a mess of text.
  

Sample Posting Format

• Today's Lesson: Today we covered a PowerPoint on the early labor movement, then studied primary source documents on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
  
• Today's In-class Work: Student groups drafted responses to a DBQ on a speech by Frances Perkins, and turned these in at the end of class.
  
• Homework: Students are asked to write at least one paragraph explaining why, had they been factory workers living in 1910, they would or would not have joined a labor union.
  
• Coming Up: The test over the Industrial Revolution will be on Tuesday. The test will include 30 multiple-choice questions and three essay questions. Students may not use their textbooks or notes during this test.