- What types of things would you want to see on your child's teacher's blog?
- How would you feel about seeing pictures of your child on the blog?
- What types of things could you care less about seeing on the blog?
- Would you like using a blog as a means of communication?
- If not, what type of communication would be better?
- Should I discontinue the blog each year and create a new one?
As I'm starting to gear up for the upcoming school year, these questions will help drive me in setting up my classroom blog. Thank you in advance for providing input!
I would want to see what is happening at school. Something I did was my weekly newsletter on my blog, and printed it for those students that did not have internet access at home. I also enjoyed posting fun stuff that happened on there. I liked doing a student of the week activity on there as well. I think that if you want to post pictures that you would want to send out permission slips so that parents knew what their students would be posted on. If some parents said no, then just make sure not to post their pictures on there. Otherwise, with permission I definitely think it is okay. I always do a different blog each year. I think it is nice because that way each class has their own blog. You can do fun stuff with the name of it as well. I think you could use the blog as much as you would like to. I would just tell parents that information about certain activities would be posted to make sure that they check it at least weekly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about the permission slip for pictures. I know there are some parents that are very against their child's pictures being posted so I will be sure to get that ready. I love that you have already done this and have such a great ideas. I usually do a Student of the Week in the classroom, but posting it on the blog will help the parents get to know the students as well. I definitely will need to print off the posts for the week and send some home with my kiddos. Even if they parents don't look at it, they will know it's important. Thanks for the suggestions!
DeleteAs a parent of a 3rd grader (last year) I would have loved more communication from my child's teacher. Updates on upcoming assignments, what they're working on in math, science, etc. I would have even loved to see pictures of activities in class. I think a blog is a great idea, for tech savvy people. Personally, I would have probably forgotten to read it. I liked the emails that my other daughter's teacher sent. That being said, maybe you could send out an e-mail each time you post with a link for those parents who don't have RSS feeds. :)
ReplyDeleteThe email is a great idea! I wonder if there is a option on Blogger that sends an automatic email each week? I'll have to research!
DeleteI think a blog for communication to parents is great. You can send an occasional "check out the blog" email, and/or have a link to the blog in your email signature, even when you're emailing something else.
ReplyDeleteAs a parent I'd have no problem with pictures of my kid, but as a teacher thus far I've skewed towards taking pictures that happen to have no faces in them. Some people who see my pictures are a little disappointed sometimes, but it was just a bet-hedging thing against the 1 out of 100 parents who might freak out and go to the district. I'm considering a syllabus-addendum thing that might say "By default I'm going to assume you're ok with pictures, unless the parent sends me a note to the contrary".
As far as content, I'd picture something like "we're about to do this great project..." so they can understand what they're kids gonna be doing, and then a "hey we did this great project" with a summary and some pictures...not a summary of every little quiz and what they had for lunch.
Thanks for the welcomed advice! I like the idea of giving "big" ideas or events instead of small things. As a parent and professional, I don't really have time to read a detailed email everyday. I appreciate your comment about pictures. The disclaimer idea is great! Thank you!
DeleteI think a blog for parents is a great idea. In our beginning of the year paperwork, there's a general photo release that parents sign that allows photos to be published - not sure how your district does it, but you might not even need separate permission slips (though they're a good idea anyway).
ReplyDeleteCourtney, I can tell you that for the class blog I create a new one each summer. But that is largely due to the fact I have my students as contributors to the class blog. Whereas, I've maintained my virtual schooling blog for over 10 years now - and with the exception of a move from Blogger to WordPress - it has been the same one at the same location.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your suggestions!
DeleteCourtney, I'm assuming your school has a website and that you also have a webpage for your class (most schools and teachers at this point do). That said, your school would probably encourage you to use your school webpage for updates, postings, homework, announcements, etc., so that parents have one common place to go--the official school website--for those things. I think your blog (which I would definitely link from my class webpage) could serve as a place for you to go into more detail and reflection regarding class projects, initiatives, etc. You could also have a parent Q-and-A on the blog, and it could also serve as a place to feature exemplary student work.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, I've thought about using a Google Site and then linking the blog. Thank you!
DeleteAs a parent, I would LOVE to see pictures of things happening in class, as long as you had permission from all parents.
ReplyDelete