So I’ve embarked on my first adventure with guiding students in blogging. I’ve watched one group of boys walk into my room with a clear vision of exactly what their blog was going to be about. They are able to come in on “Tech Day” and get down to business immediately on most days. They enjoy their blog.
And I’ve watched many other students walk into my room knowing only that they wanted a blog because it sounded exciting. “Being on the internet will make me famous,” they thought. So we sit down and brainstorm things they might be interested in blogging about. Eventually we come to idea and the blogging begins. But inside this group there are a few kids who never really got past just “being famous on the net”. These students are the ones I struggle with. Every time one of their classmates starts something new on their blog they want to do it to.
“That looks cool! Show me how to do it on my blog.,” says my student.
“But honey your blog is about internet gaming not writing your own music.” I respond.
There’s so much to teach them and I only get them for a little while.
Then it hits me…..I blog this way…I’m the little dude that can’t focus. I want my blog to be about everything that I’m interested in. I’m interested in music, education, teaching, technology, geocaching and the list goes on! Can’t I just jput it all up there? Is that wrong? Perhaps that’s why I’m the one who’s most interested in reading my blog! Once I can figure out how to help myself then I can begin to help my students more effectively.
But first I need to decide if this is something that even needs fixing.
I picked up this idea from the Geocaching Online blog. They had some really good ideas but here are a few more I’d like to add:
Today in the afternoon I had the privilege of teaching some of my peers in the Elementary building the wonders of Edublogs. In a 2 hour session we managed to set everyone up with their new blog and post a test entry. Templates were chosen and contact information was entered. Over all it was a very successful day. I look forward to seeing what my fellow teachers will be able to do with this new tool. The best part of all was that there were no complaints! I work in such a wonderful building.
I’ve been thinking for a while now that I ought to consolidate my many web presences as a teacher. Today I’m finally beginning the process. www.mrsmuench.com will now link directly to my Edublogs teacher account. I need to continue thinking about exactly how to format things in my new blog headquarters. I think this will be a much easier site to manage because I can access it from anywhere that has internet connection. My old headquarters required that I was on a computer inside my school district. Ahhh being unrestricted is good!
I’ve been at this teaching gig for a few years now. And one thing that never ceases to amaze me is exactly how much there is to get done in the spring! Everything from solos to learn for Solo and Ensemble Contest to organizing the Talent Show Fundraiser. The sheer amount of things to get done is sometimes overwhelming. When this feeling of getting pulled into the abyss of forgetfulness begins to overcome me, there are 2 things I tell myself.
1. This only lasts for about 4 weeks and then things will calm back down. The end is in sight. Do not say everything you are feeling. You’ll regret it later. Smile and think about May!
2. I NEED to look over my list of expectations. There are only so many minutes in my day/class period. I can’t get everything done. When this is over for the year I WILL sit down and eliminate something that is not serving it’s useful purpose anymore.
Then I take a deep breath and go about my daily business. Keep chipping away at the list of things to do. As long as I keep at it the list WILL get smaller. I can do this. I’ve done it before. It will pay off for my students for me to persevere.
