What's all the worry?

We have listed a “worst case” scenario that covers just about any administrative concern regarding blogs. Most schools will not require all of the items below. You, as the teacher, will have to decide how many safety precautions you want to take above what your school requires. TeachersFirst is simply listing the options to make you aware of different approaches.

The prinicipal may or may not be familiar with the district’s acceptable use policy and may send you to another administrator. Be persistent, if you are the first teacher asking about blogs.  It IS worth it!

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              What do I ask, exactly? - May I set up a "gated" class blog under these conditions?

• principal is aware of the blog
• parent permission for students to participate in the blog
• posting/commenting is monitored and approved by the teacher
• access to read postings and comments is by password only (shared with students and   parents)
• no actual student names are visible (uses initials or pseudonyms)
• no student user has a profile online
• no recognizable student images are on the blog
• students must read and sign a blog user agreement
• students must sign the district Acceptable Use Policy and recognize its applicability to using   the blog, even when they use it from home
• consequences for misuse of the blog are spelled out in advance and administered through   the school’s student disciplinary system
• the blog is hosted on a reputable, established web site
• the district internet filtering does not block the chosen blogging tool

Lay the Groundwork
It may seem a pain, but it’s worth it!

As you consider trying a class blog, ask your principal or supervisor if district policies allow a “gated” class blog with the stipulations listed here (and which of these, if any, would be required for you to have a blog). Different schools interpret recent U.S. laws requiring archives of activities done on school computers with varying degrees of stringency, so no two schools will have the exact same policy. Don't be afraid to try!

Roll over the topics at the left for the details or skip to the tools to get started.

Check out some examples:
Kindergarten blog with videos and quotes from kids
1st grade classroom shares what they do, including video and pictures
6 to 7 year-old class blog, including video and voicethread for AUDIO comments!
3rd grade class with a blog and some podcasts of stories and more
4th grade classroom writes on curriculum topics
Fictional history blog on Harriet Tubman by elementary students
7th grade blog as a class organizer and daily “scribe” space for students
8th grade U.S. History class blog and link to class podcasts
8th grade math blog, including whiteboard slides
9th grade English blog
Geometry Class with “Posting for Points” options
IB English 1A (HS) students write and comment on literature
HS biology blog -interesting prompts on bio related issues
a school’s central blog - students reflect on Humanities posts
college physics student blogs from a summer research project

...and don't miss our TeachersFirst Class Blogs!

Then What?

Still wondering about ideas for ways to use blogs in your classroom?

Check out some ideas and more ideas

Check out the TeachersFirst Class Blogs (examples of active classroom blogs where students are obviously writing to learn)

I read everything. Now take me to the blogging tools.