Blogging in the Elementary School Classroom

Instructor Information
Instructor: Rachel Nachman
E-mail Address: Rachel_H_Nachman@mcpsmd.org

Workshop Description
This workshop is designed to educate teachers in grades 3-5 about how to incorporate
blogs within their instruction. Teachers will learn various ways that blogging can be used
to develop students' reading and writing skills. Additionally, teachers will learn about
different instructional activities in which blogs are used to promote global collaboration
and cultural awareness. Furthermore, teachers will also learn ways that they can maintain a
blog that promotes the relationship between the teacher and students families.
Throughout the workshop, there will be an opportunity for teachers to design their own
blog as well as create lesson plans involving blogging within their classroom.

This course will be held once a week for five weeks.

Workshop Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Identify and explain at least three ways that blogging can be used within the
classroom
2. Identify at least three safety measures that must be taken when using blogs in the
classroom
3. Design a lesson plan in which a blog is used to develop students' writing skills
4. Design a lesson plan in which a blog is used to develop students' reading skills
5. Design a lesson plan in which a blog is used to promote global collaboration and
cultural awareness
6. Design a classroom blog aimed to promote a family-school partnership

Workshop Materials
The following materials will be provided during the workshop:

Davis, A. P., & McGrail, E. (2009). The joy of blogging. Educational Leadership, 66(6), 74-77.

Luongo, N. (2012). Lets pre-blog! Using blogs are prewriting tools in elementary
classrooms. New Horizons, 5(1).

Quappe, S. & Cantatore, G. (2005). What is cultural awareness, anyway? How do I build it?
Retrieved from
http://www.culturosity.com/pdfs/What%20is%20Cultural%20Awareness.pdf

Note: Participants will have access to additional online resources throughout the duration
of the workshop.

Grading Information and Criteria
In order to receive 3 CPD credits for taking this workshop, participants must achieve a
minimum of 330 points on course assignments. The distribution of points is as follows:

Assignment Maximum Points
Pre-Workshop Survey 5 points
Lesson Plan (Writing) 100 points
Lesson Plan (Reading) 100 points
Lesson Plan (Global Collaboration and
Cultural Awareness)
100 points
Classroom Blog 100 points
Post-Workshop Survey 5 points
Class Participation and Attendance 10 points

All assignments must be original work. Plagiarism is not acceptable and all workshop
participants found to be plagiarizing will be dismissed from the course.

Project Descriptions
Pre-Workshop Survey On the first day of the workshop, participants will be asked to
complete a pre-workshop survey in which they discuss their prior knowledge of and
experience with using blogs in the classroom. While this survey itself will not be graded,
participants will receive full credit for completing and submitting the survey.

Lesson Plan (Writing) Participants will be asked to create a lesson plan in which
students use blogs to develop their writing skills. More information regarding the specific
components of this lesson plan, as well as a grading rubric, will be provided during the
workshop.

Lesson Plan (Reading) - Participants will be asked to create a lesson plan in which
students use blogs to develop their reading skills. More information regarding the specific
components of this lesson plan, as well as a grading rubric, will be provided during the
workshop.

Lesson Plan (Global Collaboration and Cultural Awareness) - Participants will be asked
to create a lesson plan in which students use blogs to engage in global collaboration. This
lesson will also aim to improve students awareness of different cultures. More information
regarding the specific components of this lesson plan, as well as a grading rubric, will be
provided during the workshop.

Classroom Blog Participants will be asked to create a blog for their classroom. This blog
will serve as a way to promote a family-school partnership. More information regarding the
specific components of this lesson plan, as well as a grading rubric, will be provided during
the workshop.

Post-Workshop Survey On the last day of the workshop, participants will be asked to
complete a post-workshop survey in which they discuss what they have learned from the
course. Participants will also be asked to provide feedback to the instructor. While this
survey itself will not be graded, participants will receive full credit for completing and
submitting the survey.

Class Participation and Attendance Participants will be expected to attend all
workshop sessions, arrive on time, and engage fully in all activities and class discussions.




















Workshop Schedule
Day Instructional Topics
Day 1

Introduction, Refreshers, and The Blogging Basics
What Is Blogging?
How Do I Create A Blog?
Why Use Blogs in the Classroom?
Blogging and Multimedia
How Can We Use Blogs in the Classroom?
Rules For Using Blogs in the Classroom
Day 2 Using Blogs To Develop Students Writing Skills
Why Use Blogs To Teach Writing
Blogging and Multimedia
Blogging Activities To Promote Writing Development
Hands-On Learning: Creating a Lesson Plan For Your
Classroom
Day 3 Using Blogs To Develop Students Reading Skills
Why Use Blogs To Teach Reading
Blogging and Multimedia
Blogging Activities To Promote Reading
Development
Hands-On Learning: Creating a Lesson Plan For Your
Classroom
Day 4 Using Blogs To Encourage Global Collaboration and
Cultural Awareness
Why Blogs Should Be Used For Global Collaboration
and Cultural Awareness Activities
Blogging Activities To Promote Global Collaboration
and Cultural Awareness
Hands-On Learning: Creating a Lesson Plan For Your
Classroom
Day 5 Using Blogs To Promote A Family-School Partnership
The Family-School Partnership
Why Blogs Should Be Used For Promoting The
Family-School Partnership
Ways That Teachers Can Use Blogs To Develop The
Family-School Partnership
Hands-On Learning: Creating a Blog For Your
Classroom