A Blogging Challenge

A few weeks ago I was new to the blogging world.  It now doesn't seem quite as foreign, and I am hoping to incorporate a classroom blog next year.  I see the added value of using it to create a digital footprint of what is going on in the classroom.  Everyone is so connected nowadays that I can see my parent's getting into it.  I recently shared three Animoto videos that I created with the families of my student's.  The appreciation and response was overwhelming rewarding.  I even received an email from an aunt of one of my student's that lives in Florida because the videos were shared with her.  It was such a powerful reminder of how technology can build on our student's learning experience in the classroom.  Now I just need to find out the best way to keep my student's digital footprint protected in order to make the experience the most valuable for my classroom community.

My ideas for blogging are endless.  However, one of my biggest challenge of blogging is timing.  Blogging more than once a week is definitely challenging in the life of a mother, student, teacher, and the many other hats I wear throughout the week.  I have managed to blog at least twice and sometimes three times a week, but it is not always the easiest.  I am an advocate of play, conversations, personal interactions, and not being "plugged in" as we say in my house.  So trying to be the best role model I can, I save blogging for late nights and interactions with my children for the daytime and evening.  I am hoping to find a happy medium as I move on with this blogging experience.  What is your biggest challenge of the blogging experience?

A Technological Inspiration

I recently finished reading Kathy Cassidy's new book,Connected from the Start: Global Learning in the Primary Grades.  Kathy Cassidy does an excellent job of inspiring classroom teachers to incorporate technology into the classroom.  Cassidy's language throughout the text helps teachers relate to the struggles and successes of integrating technology into everyday learning.  She even shares a multitude of up to date ways that she integrates technology into her first grade classroom.  I love her realistic and inspiring message of, "If I Can Do It, So Can You" (10).  

Check out Kathy Cassidy's Classroom Blog to see some of her uses of technology in action!

photo of Ms. Cassidy's Classroom Blog

I also enjoyed looking at her personal webpage, Primary Preoccupation.  Check it out for some great teaching ideas and resources!

photo of Kathy Cassidy's webpage

One Small Step...

Well, here I go!  This is my first blog entry, and I'm not sure where to begin.  I expect this to be an exciting adventure we will take together, and I hope you will help me along the way.  I am looking forward to share about my kindergarten students' yearly journey.  Stay tuned to learn more!