We’ve been experimenting with blogging as a way for students to explore their interests. What started as a 1-kid thing grew into regular requests for students to create their own blogs and to take leadership roles in the classroom. From book reviews to piano recordings and coding tutorials, these kids are surprising.
One student explored a favorite hobby as she developed a blog critiquing literature of her choice. It’s no longer just a review site, it has grown into something new and amazing. It’s branched into the class dynamics, as represented through a “Bone” book study (organized by the blog’s author) and conversations that seamlessly cross the boundary between online and in-person.
In class, conversations celebrating poetry led to a student requesting to share his work online. Mr. Personification (Now Mr. Calculator for his upcoming math blog) has inspired his classmates to share their poetry and to celebrate the written word.
Another author has travelled to Vietnam. She’s taken time out of her travels and exploration with family to blog her stories, answer kids’ questions, and to engage in online conversations. To increase her readership she’s thrown up some pictures of a “prize” she picked up last week in a farmers market in Ho Chi Min.
Conversations and collaboration are what led yet another student to learn how to code (his game is embedded below). In the third grade, this kid has mastered loops and conditional statements. He’s taught (as a “Coding Club Assistant”), shared, questioned, and improved as a video game designer. He’s now an accomplished programmer, as shown by his outstanding fighting game.
What did we learn today?
We learned that students have a creative urge, an intrinsic motivation to be challenged, and an open mind to try the impossible… We just need to set up the right tools and to facilitate their ideas.
Mike and Amanda are part of the third grade team at Evergreen School in Area 5. Mike can be found Tweeting at @mik_enzie and collaborating with an outstanding 3rd grade team at teamevergreen.weebly.com
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Purpose: Each player has 5 lives. Hit your opponent with your fireball to win!
Red: a - left s - duck d- right w - jump g - fireball Blue: left arrow - left right arrow - right down arrow - duck up arrow - jump n - fireball |