Now This Is Engagement
Anyone who has been reading my latest blogs know that I am in the early stages of blogging with my students. I just have to share this with anyone who is skeptical about blogging in schools. I have two students that all year I have been on their case to pay attention, hand in work on time, participate in group discussions, etc. Since we have started blogging as a class these two students have gone above and beyond what I ever expected from any of my students. They are providing meaningful connections to the blog prompts, encouraging and challenging other posts and are so insanely engaged in learning that it takes my freakin’ breath away. I am not going to tell you who they are, but read our class blog and I have no doubt that you will find maturity and depth far beyond the average grade seven student. Trust me!
rdrunner replied:
The link didn’t connect to your class blog. Your post was so exciting – hope you can fix it so we can see.
Cindy
March 14, 2008 at 5:00 am. Permalink.
angiebalkwill replied:
@rdrunner –All fixed – thanks for letting me know the link wasn’t working.
March 14, 2008 at 5:08 am. Permalink.
Alec Couros replied:
Nice work Angela. It is great to see the comments from students. This is coming along quite well!
March 14, 2008 at 8:19 pm. Permalink.
Kimberly Brown replied:
This is awesome. I’m going to do a Holocaust unit next fall and want to use some of your ideas. Hope that’s okay.
March 15, 2008 at 3:42 am. Permalink.
angiebalkwill replied:
@Kimberly Brown – Please use anything that you feel would suit the needs of your learners. I cannot express the engagement and high level thinking that I am getting from my students. They are craving the opportunities that I have presented thus far and have now begun to look for additional ways to expand and showcase their knowledge. They all have gmail and I have also created a Google Group where we toss around opinions, ideas and tips for one another.
March 15, 2008 at 8:42 pm. Permalink.
Leah Dewhurst replied:
You could definately see the higher level of thinking from some of the students. I like how some took the power of water to be typhoons/hurricanes, while others took the power of water to making canyons, carving out mountains to even electricity. Its neat to see that one picture could have so many responses.
You could also see some of the students making connections to self (ie. christmas vacation.)
I wonder what my second graders would say about that picture?
March 18, 2008 at 12:51 am. Permalink.
Shaun loeppky replied:
I cannot express how blown away I am about your blog and student response! Fantastic job!
March 18, 2008 at 1:13 am. Permalink.
angiebalkwill replied:
@Shaun loeppky – I am also so impressed with my students and their desire for blogging. Thank you so much for the post – I will pass your comment on to the kids!!
March 18, 2008 at 4:49 pm. Permalink.
Ken Meredith replied:
Angie,
The motivation level of the students must be sky high. That, combined with the audience effect seem to be making this a very meaningful learning experience for the students.
March 18, 2008 at 6:35 pm. Permalink.
Dean Miezianko replied:
Angie, I really like the interactive map of Europe. Its addictive. I’ll be borrowing this for our Grade 7-8 teacher. Thanks for posting that. I’m also very impressed with the interaction with the kids. That is something that I need to do a better job with my students.
March 19, 2008 at 1:29 am. Permalink.
angiebalkwill replied:
@Dean Miezianko – I love the interactive maps and so do many of the students. The students have exceeded my expectations so now I have to move them to the next level in their thinking – keep checking back to see their progress.
March 19, 2008 at 4:41 am. Permalink.