Edublog

In order to guide students to become better writers, students need opportunities to write through low pressure outlets regarding content material. In Jeff Zwiers' book, Building Academic Language: Essential Practices for Content Classrooms (2008), he suggests using learning logs and journals for students to write about what they are learning. Students could respond to a teacher prompt, take a stance on a certain issue, apply what they've learned to real life contexts, compare, etc. By completing these informal writing logs, students are given time to reflect, think and organize their thoughts into sentences. It also gives them the opportunity to experiment with new language through a low-pressure activity.



An excellent tool students can use to write their logs and journal entries is a blog. A blog is a type of website that is updated regularly by an individual or group of users, such as the one you are currently reading now. Typically, each blog post is dated and is posted with the most recent post on top. Blogs can not only be used as a journal or a diary. There are some blogs that focus on specific hobbies, current events, animals, and much more.



So why use blogs instead of just a notebook and a pencil to record one's thoughts? Blogs can connect students with each other so that they can share opinions and ideas, and support each other with questions. In addition, the owner is able to present their writings to an audience if they (or the teacher) choose to do so. Blogs also allow users to post videos, music, and pictures relating to their topic, which isn't possible to do with just a pencil and notebook.

Writing in blogs can be an appropriate activity for ELLs of all levels. Beginning ELLs can post reflections with just a few sentences and include visuals such as pictures or videos. More advanced ELLs, on the other hand, may elaborate more in paragraph form.



Two of the most popular free blog hosting websites are Blogger and WordPress. Both services would meet the basic needs for a whole classroom wanting to blog; however, there is also a blogging platform that is specifically geared towards teachers and students called Edublog. One key difference that separates Edublog from Blogger and WordPress is its ability to provide a safe and secure environment for students. Unlike Blogger and WordPress, Edublog does not allow adult content. Additionally, it does not link to other blogs, whereas Blogger and Wordpress may expose users to random or other related blogs, some of which may be inappropriate for young users. Hence, using Edublogs with students may be more preferable in your classroom.


If you would like to see what an example of an Edublog would look, I created an account and wrote an example post at Ms. Dang's Journal.



Additionally, here are some examples of impressive Edublogs:

Student blog: Emily's Blog

Class blog: Billings Middle School Tech Blog

Teacher Blog: Teacher Tom


References
Zwiers, J. (2007). Building academic language: essential practices for content classrooms, grades 5-12. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Inc Pub.