Using Blogs in the Classroom

In the article "Don't Feed the Trolls - Using Blogs to Teach Civil Discourse" I agree that blogs should be apart of a classroom and a way to interact with the students on a level that will interest them. I think that the author had a great point when she states, "...blogs give the students the ability to read and comment on each others drafts." I can see how this would be important for students to learn how to create their own ideas and thoughts by learning to give feedback on a topic or others responses. However, I also likes how the author brought up rules that need to be set so that feeling weren't hurt by name calling, etc. Rules are a good way to set boundaries for students to learn how to write an appropriate response vs. an inappropriate response.
I liked the blog on math as well. I thought it was an interesting way to stay connected with their students along with a way for other students to help each other.

I think it will be fun to incorporate blogs into my third grade class. I would like to make blogs a fun way to get feedback on my teaching along with ideas my students might have on homework, projects, reports, etc. Third graders along with many other age students already spend lots of time on the computer as is -- so why not use a blog that gives them a fun way to interact outside of the classroom with their teacher and their fellow students. This would also be a great way for parents to see what is going on in their child's classroom through out each week.