Welcome to 21st Century Literacy!

[Jami Miksiewicz]

Instead of working on a home improvement project, reading for pleasure, or taking naps, I decided to spend this summer researching my profession. I have spent most of my time reading the blogs of other English teachers. I've learned that, technologically speaking, I am way behind! I want to incorporate 21st century literacy into my teaching, but I'm not sure where to begin. No one at my school is doing this! I've created a web-site at Teacherweb.com where I plan to post lesson plans, handouts, homework, etc. But, what I really want to do is get my students involved in blogging. How do I begin?

[Tammy Gillmore]

I agree with Lisa....let them read blogs and comment. That's how I have learned what little I know! (I love my Reader!)

I think it's also important they have their own blogs...to give them an ownership in this genre. With a blog set up, then they, the students, are ready to begin modeling good writing. Isn't that why we show them mentor texts in class? To learn, to model, to write?

[Angela Stockman]

I haven't blogged with students yet....but I will be this fall. I did teach my daughter how to blog, however. I found giving her a purpose that she was really passionate about helped. She focuses on service/charity work. It's gone really well.

[Lisa Huff]

Sounds like you're off to a good start. If you want to get students blogging, I'd recommend having them start by reading and commenting on blogs--something I didn't do but wish I had. Just as you have read blogs to understand what they are, how they work, and what you can do with them, I think students need this same opportunity.

You might introduce them to RSS/Reader so that they can subscribe to a few blogs and read/comment regularly. Some teachers hand-pick a few blogs for students to begin reading or at least create a page (maybe on your website) of blogs they can choose from to narrow the information field. An easy way to manage this task is to create student accounts using one gmail account. This saves class time and headaches!

Then, after they've had some time to explore, you can move forward. Here are some resources I've created (borrowing widely from the ideas and resources of others) that might help:

• Blog2Learn: A webQuest to get started blogging.
• 21clc: a site I've created for our school to get started using digital tools to deepen learning; we're not very far ahead of you!
• pearlsandonions:my class blog where students are exploring blogging this summer, writing evaluations of blogs and feeds they've been reading in their Reader.
• Hope these ideas help. Most importantly, you're jumping in; that's the most important step!