International Blog Use

Teachers, even internationally, are using blogs in their classrooms also. Ms. Tarasevich is a 9th grade teacher, at Abanskaya School, from Russia. The students use this blog (http://welcometoaban.blogspot.com) to post their traditions and pictures and invite people from other cultures to comment and share their traditions and way of life. I think this blog is not only good for the students, but also for the teachers because it takes them into the life of others around the world. This can be very helpful in showing that we all have more in common than we think such as some photos of summer on their blog and how they celebrate Easter.

Ms. Kimberly Brown is a 6th and 7th grade teacher, at Haultain Community School, from Canada. Like many American blogs used in the classroom, Ms. B's class is given assignments and then post them to the blog. Ms. B also interacts the parents, at schoolnotes.com, by posting the assignments, it requirements and due date under the 'classroom and homework information' tab on her blog. You may view this blog here.

Although it seems like we're a world apart from those living in other parts of the world, we are closer than we think by the use of this technology.

Teachers Using Blogs in the Classroom

Will Richardson is a New Jersey school teacher, at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, that teaches journalism and literature. Richardson implements blogs daily in both his journalism and literature classes. Getting students to post their work as blogs allows them to not only edit and critique the fellow classmate's work but to also become aware of their audience and the way other view their work. Blogs allow the students to interact with each other, providing constructive criticisms and compliments. In Richardson's classrooms, students can really help out a fellow student that may not be up to par with their paper and they may even get productive ideas themselves.

Mrs. Thorp is a retired third-grade teacher that really wants to pass on her knowledge to parents and fellow teachers. This blog is truly amazing: http://mrsthorp.com/ . On her blog, Mrs. Thorp provides many links available to parents such as, help your child to be a good speller; helping your child to learn to read new words; what can parents do to help their child's teacher. This blog is a really good one for parents that want to be more involved with their child's learning at this crucial age. They may not know how or where to start, and this blog is a great place to start.

ACCESS

ACCESS, short for Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide, is yet another wonderful program offered to Alabama teachers, faculty, students, and their parents. ACCESS reaches out to students by offering them the opportunity to take elective, Advanced Placement, and other on-line courses not offered in their schools. Students may take a wide variety of classes ranging from chemistry to foreign languages. They are even offered tools such as an interactive on-line chemistry lab. Through ACCES, teachers and faculty are given the opportunity to infiltrate the use of technology and help many students across the state of Alabama by inviting their knowledge, expertise, and desire to help. Again, parents are not left out of the equation. They, too, have the ability to view the courses and course descriptions offered to their child/children along with a helpful guide.

I was, once again, impressed with the websites and tools Alabama has to offer its students, faculty, and parents. ACCESS is great for students, and parents, that want to take their education a step farther, and I, again, definitely plan to incorporate this website into my classroom in the future and into my home as a parent.

ALEX

Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) is an educational website created for the residents of Alabama. ALEX gives teachers and faculty many useful resources such as the Course of Study tab including, but not limited to, web links pertaining to the choice of study, lesson plans designed down to the grade level, study guides, and interesting activities and ways to implement them in the classroom. Teachers and faculty can converse with each other about lessons plans and teaching techniques/strategies. Students can also take full advantage of this website by exploring the web links tab, reviewing lesson plans and helpful ways to study. They can even take an on-line course, such as a foreign language or an art, that is not offered in their school as a course of study. But this website is not only helpful and useful for teachers, faculty, and students, but also for the parents. Parents who want to get more involved with their children's learning hands-on. They, too, can explore web links and review and implement study guides or lesson plans and other resources.

I was completely naive to the abbreviation ALEX before completing this blog. Looking over the ALEX website for this blog, I found myself becoming extremely interested and amazed at this wonderful website. Its user-friendly site is so helpful for students, faculty, teachers, parents, everyone. I will be sure to keep a close eye on this website as I plan to use it when I begin teaching. I am proud that Alabama has such a great program.