Blogging Serves as a Way to Practice Communication Skills
My students participate in weekly blogging activities. These activities are designed to have students practice writing paragraphs in proper form, help them learn to keyboard, and to assist students in learning modern communication skills. Students are given writing prompt they must answer with a five sentence paragraph. These paragraphs focus on proper structure, including a topic sentence, three body sentences, and a conclusion. To complete this task students not only have to write the paragraph but also learn to keyboard by typing their paragraph. The part of this activity that is engaging for students and reaches into their interests is the social aspect. Each student is allowed to comment on blogs of other students in the classroom. This provides motivation for writing as well as reading and editing other writing. All comments must be in complete sentences to be approved.
Issues this Best Practice Addresses:
Modern students have so much stimulation in their lives it’s hard for them to slow down and learn proper writing techniques. Children strive to communicate in ways they are comfortable with. Blogging allows students to practice proper writing strategies while communicating with students in a unique and modern way.
Major Challenges to Implementation:
Teaching students to use a new technology Teaching students to keyboard
Benefits Derived from Implementing this Best Practice:
Students have genuine motivation to write well and learn proper techniques. Students receive instant feedback from both their teacher and peers. Blogging allows students to practice multiple skills at once.
Evidence Illustrating Success:
Students have shown increased understand of paragraph form as well as an increased motivation to write. Students want to impress their peers and teacher and work hard to perfect their writing.
Submitted by: Michael Teal, Anderson Preparatory Academy