I write this as I sit at home on yet another cancelled day of school this year due to inclement weather. It leads me to think about the many advantages of technology as a way to remain in contact with my students, even when I am not able to physically see them. This year, we have missed a total of eight full days, as well as multiple hours, due to closings and delays for snow and ice. At the beginning of the year, we were all excited about snow days. Now, as the winter moves on, even my students are beginning to grow weary of the break in routine so frequently. Finding ways to deliver instruction to them, even when I don't get to see them, and even when absences are not planned, has been my main focus as the winter weeks have dragged on. Blogging seems like a great solution to deal with this problem. If students are accustomed to visiting a blog on a daily basis, even when we are closed, they will still be able to contact me and see any announcements that I need to make. For example, this teacher does a nice job keeping the students on task even regardless of the weather. Students might not love they idea of working on their "day off" but I know that many of my upper level students, especially those studying for the AP exam, appreciate the ability to keep moving forward. They will be able to continue classroom discussions and extend their learning. It will also help them to communicate in Spanish, in spite of the fact that they are not actually together with their classmates.
Next year, we are also making a major change at my school, switching from a seven period day schedule to an A/B day 90 minute schedule. This new block scheduling will impact me greatly, because it will reduce the time and frequency that my students are able to hear and speak the foreign language. Because I will only see them every other day, it will mean that they are not getting the daily instruction that I believe is critical for advancing proficiency in the language. I have been worried for weeks about how I will address this issue, but am now seeing that blogging seems like a perfect solution! Students will be able to post, read, and respond, even if they are not on a "class" day. It will keep them engaged in Spanish as often as possible, something that is needed to advance in a foreign language. This site lists some benefits and concerns from teachers concerning block scheduling (FLTEACH FAQ Block Scheduling) Blogging will help reduce some of the concerns. Clearly it will not fix everything, but it will help my students and I stay connected despite the changes that are taking place.
While blogging is not perfect, and does require a great deal of teacher planning, monitoring, and additional instruction, the benefits are great. It is definitely something that I am preparing to include in my classroom in years to come. It is fascinating how much has changed in the past decade that I have been teaching. However, it is impossible to move backwards. We have to keep moving forward and embrace the new ways that have appeared to reach our students!
Great Post!
ReplyDeleteI think after this winter, a blog would be very useful to use. Students can still stay on top of their studies, and like you stated, you can keep in contact with them. There has been many days off for students this winter, so I can only imagine how far behind all the teachers are in there studies. Did you e-mail any of your students today about an extra reading assignment or maybe extra credit on this snow day.
Block Scheduling is hard for teachers. You have to keep their interest because the chances are higher that they will lose their concentration. Would you require students to get on daily to look at the blog? Is there a way you can track every time your students are on?
Stay warm!
Melinda
I did not email my students yesterday with snow day assignments, but I have in the past. They now that they are still expected to complete assigned work and move forward in the syllabus, but I believe that a blog would still provide them the ability to speak with each other easily about material discussed in class.
ReplyDeleteFor the block scheduling, I plan to give students assignments that must be completed at some point in the two day window between the time that I teach them and the time that I see them again. I don't necessarily think I will require them to be active every day because I fear that they may be overwhelmed with all of their other course work for the other seven classes they will be taking. Ideally, I would encourage them to check the blog and post on days that I don't see them, since the days that I do see them they will have already had a chance to practice the language. I'm still trying to work out all of my ideas, but you pose great questions to get me thinking!
Blogging would work great to continue outside instruction as well as student communication and collaboration. I experienced the opposite situation with schedules when I taught at a charter school last semester. Classes only met for 50 minutes. I formerly taught at a high school that had A/B schedule.I teach technology therefore we need a longer block of time to cover and work on the computer. The transition was tough. By the time I taught a new concept, it was time to go and they didn't get a chance to practice. Good Luck with your transition!
ReplyDeleteMeghann, I think everyone could attest that a blog would be really beneficial for our students especially with all these missed school days! It would make students accountable for their education and allow them to stay up on their studies. I am sure that teachers would be more thrilled at the fact that they can hold their students accountable, more than the students themselves! I know that when I was a student I REALLY enjoyed those snow days and not being help accountable for assignments. Since I work in an elementary school, I do not have to deal with a block schedule. I remember as a student I attended two different high schools, one that used a block schedule and one that did not. I think there were advantages and disadvantages to both. For a teacher that teaches a foreign language, I could see how a block schedule could be extremely challenging. When I was a student, I enjoyed the block scheduling because it typically gave us longer to complete assignments and focus on specific classes at a time. If teachers implemented blogs into their classes, I think this would help students keep that open line of communication and may eliminate some of the issues you may have transitions from a 7 day period to an A/B school day! Goodluck next year! I am sure everything will work out!
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