The Power of Blogging

In a world as globally connected as ours, the power of words produced and published by any and all who desire their voice to be heard is only a click away. While blogs take many different shapes, sizes, and styles, the ability to communicate with audiences instantly on a large scale cannot be overlooked in its importance in education.

So, just what is blogging?

How can blogging be used to promote professional growth? 
Many educators struggle with the professional development opportunities available to them. Regardless of the good intentions, positive initiatives, and well thought-out plans, many educators feel that professional development that is orchestrated for them is not at all designed to meet their individual needs. Utilizing blogs developed by professionals across the globe can boost teacher access to targeted and purposeful reading and can ultimately lead to better personalized professional development driven by the teacher.

When first beginning my own journey into the world of blogs, I wish that I had had access to what I know now. Here is what I have learned that I hope will be as beneficial to you as it would have been to me:

• Avoid becoming overwhelmed. Not every blog that I follow must be read in its entirety or as often as it is posted. Meaningful interaction with professional reading is about finding the resources and articles that will be most beneficial and focusing on them.
• Set aside time to browse your blogs. Even 30 minutes once or twice a week will keep you interested and invigorated as a teacher. With everything that is demanded of teachers, we need to make time just for us that is geared toward exactly what we need. 
• Don't be afraid to explore. Many of the best bloggers link to other blogs and resources which are often extremely relevant and useful. 
• Devise a system for keeping what you love. Tools like Google Keep and Diigo are fantastic for helping you to bookmark and save what is most meaningful to you!
• Realize that not everything you read is immediately applicable to your classroom or will fit neatly into your current philosophies. 
• Don't be afraid to challenge your thinking, but don't stay isolated either. Many bloggers are fantastic about responding to reader commentary and welcome the chance to further support their audiences!

Recommended blogs for educators of all levels and backgrounds:

• Free Technology Tools for Teachers
• Dangerously Irrelevant
• Mind Shift
• Teach Thought

How can blogging be used in the classroom? 
Blogs have endless potential in the classroom. From using blogs to share classroom newsletters to allowing students to create their own online portfolio through a blog, there is no end to how this tool can shape the classroom.

In my own classroom, the use of student blogs has allowed me to:

1. See my students meet the CCSS anchor standards 4, 5, and 6 under "Production and Distribution of Writing" in authentic and meaningful ways. 
2. Monitor the growth of my students over the course of the year with regard to their writing structure, style, and voice. 
3. Encourage my students to publicize and promote their learning in order to create a more positive digital footprint. 

When introducing the concept of blogging to students, there are several important factors to remember: 

1. Teach students to "THINK" before they post. 
2. Collect and monitor student blogs if students are each creating their own individual blogs 



Original idea and picture credits: Edutopia.org

1. Note: using a Google Form like this one that students complete by entering their name and blog address helps to build a quick-reference guide for teachers that makes the blogs incredibly easy to access!
3. Encourage parents to follow their student's blogs 
1. Note: an e-mail home from the student with their teacher copied in to share their blog is easy to accomplish and provides teachers with documentation that the blogs have been shared!

Here are some of my top student blogs: 

• Makaylee's Phoenix Fire Blog
• Matt's Learning Life
• Thoughts By Allyson
• The Daily Nut with BoxierSquirrel
• Thoughts of Seth

What is the best way to manage all of these blogs? 

Click here to sign up for your own Feedly account!

The best way to manage the influx of blogs you may find of interest to you is to utilize an RSS organizer such as Feedly. Apps such as this can be added to your Chrome browser, synced to  your Apple or Android devices, and puts the power of blogs at your fingertips. 

I have included a picture of my personal Feedly organization system. This system allows me to view all of my student blogs by hour (an incredibly powerful tool for grading) and organizes my personal and professional readings into categories that mean the most to me.