Blogging…what exactly is it? Will Richardson states that a Weblog is an easily created, easily updateable Web site that allows an author(s) to publish instantly to the Internet from any Internet connection.  Blogs engage readers, promote critical thinking, and they are also a collaborative space to interact in discussions and opinions.

I have been a teacher for four years and have never tried blogging with my students. Well, this is only my second blog post too! The more I learn about blogs the more intrigued I become to learn more innovative ways to use them in my classroom. As I begin to reflect on all the writing units and topics we cover throughout the school year, the possibilities and ideas of blogging for my students seems endless.

As Richardson states, blogs are a "New Writing Genre." My students can gain broader knowledge by blogging a journal, book reviews, summary, or connecting with an author. "Connective writing" seems to have all the components to make my students successful, not only in the classroom. Reading their work carefully, caring about editing and clarity, and linking sources are all skills that are continuously reinforced. Is it time to finally try something different with my students?

I believe that blogs are going to make a difference in my classroom. I am going to try to use kidblog with my students in the next week or so. Maybe to write a summary of the novel we are using right now, or researching more about animals they had to learn about for our Animal Fair.

Has anyone used kidblog or any other blogging site for research and gaining more information? My students want to learn so much more about their animals, but want to share what they have learned.