Blogging

[Mary Ellen Lynch]

I teach grade 1-2. We loop so I take a grade 1 class and keep them for grade 2. I created my first classroom blog last spring with my second graders. So it is just 3 months worth of work. http://teacher102.edublogs.org/
I am wondering what my next step should be. Should I create a brand new blog for my new First Graders? I love the cluster map.... will I lose all that data? Should I create a new one for this first grade class and then keep this blog for two years. Can I just add on to the blog I already have? What are other teachers doing? Do you create a new blog every year? I want to start with just a classroom blog but eventually I'd like the students to do their own bogging.

[Steve Hargadon]

Hi, Mary Ellen. I think you'll find some really good discussions on this at http://www.classroom20.com/.

[Mary Ellen Lynch]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your comment and I will check it out now.

[Trish Dower]

Hi Mary, I am in a very similar situation. I teach Grade 2 and started a class blog in 2007. I wasn't sure what to do at the beginning of the year so I just continued on with a beginning of the year introduction of our new class. What I do like about this is that the students from last year can still come to the blog and through the archive can relive their memories of their time in Grade 2.
I wonder if you'd be interested in doing some form of collaboration with our classes. I loved your skype session with the kids and although I don't know much about skyping it would be a great way for both the children and I to learn. Hope you are enjoying your well deserved summer holiday break.
Trish
http://trishd.globalteacher.org.au

[Mary Ellen Lynch]

Hi Trish,
Thanks for your reply here and your comment on my blog. I checked out your blog, too! I love it. We celebrate the 100th Day of school too and I might try some of your ideas. I am very interested in doing some kind of collaboration between our classes. I would like to keep in touch with you.
Mary Ellen

[Nancy Bosch]

We've had a classroom blog for the last several years. I teach in a gifted program so have the same kids year after year and the younger kids just come aboard when they are ready. We have "conversational" posts so the kids start in 4th grade when they can post some good discussions and responses. I suggest you keep the same blog, your kids will love looking back when they get into 5th or 6th grade. If you like the layout, stick with it. You can see our blog at http://areallydifferentplace.org My blog is on the front page, go to recent posts to see student blogs.

[Mary Ellen Lynch]

Hi Nancy,
Thanks for the link to your blog and your suggestion. I think it would be a good idea to keep the same blog so that kids can look back to it. Thanks.
Mary Ellen