Another Blog Already?

I know, after what I wrote earlier, it seems strange to me, too. But after customizing my blog and adding a picture I really like, I think it's pretty cool! I knew that Facebook could be addicting; now I find myself not wanting to get off the computer, although I really need to do my Spanish reading for tomorrow.

After reading ways that blogs can be used in the classroom on edublogs.org, I've been inspired. If kids really are the digital generation we've been calling them, the more we use technology in the classroom the more engaged they will be in the material.

Last semester I had the opportunity twice a week to observe Steve Shelton's 8th Grade GATE English class at Santa Barbara Junior High. I loved it; I learned so much from Mr. Shelton, and I wish I had time to go on helping in his classroom this semester. One of the things I admired so much about him was the way he so skillfully infused technology into his classroom. It wasn't anything super hi-tech, but certainly a lot more technology was involved than when I was in 8th grade. Everyday, as the students walked into class, Mr. Shelton had a writing topic projected onto the overhead for them to begin working on while he took attendance and updated students who had been absent the day before. It was a cool projector, too; not like the dinosaur transparency projectors I remember from school, whose loud fans forced teachers to raise their voices and whose bulky equipment often blocked students' views. This projector worked with a video camera that sat on Mr. Shelton's desk, underneath which he could put ordinary computer printouts so that they came up on the screen in full view of the entire class. Apart from this, Mr. Shelton often had students email him assignments when they had printer trouble. He sent news on upcoming events in the classroom to parents through email, as well as through newsflashes from his website. This website included information on current assignments, extra resources, and personal information so that students could contact him as well as get to know him better on a personal level. Finally, for Mr. Shelton's second period journalism class, he had enough wireless apple computers so that each student could work on their assignments at their desks, typing away throughout the period and submitting their work to him via email. So cool!

Anyway, the edublogs website reminded me of how well Mr. Shelton used technology and how much I hope to be like him when I have my own English class. I love their practical ways blogs can be used to enhance a class and more effectively reach out to students.

I'm so excited to blog, and I'm so excited to use my blog to better reach my students!

By the way, the picture is a photo taken by Steve Shelton of Santa Barbara Junior High, where I observed last semester. So technology advanced, yet still so beautiful!