Why a Blog?

       A question I asked my students this year was: "Who read your writing last year?" The number one answer was - "My teacher."  Just to make sure, I followed up asking, "Did you share any of your writing with your parents? Did they see your work or writer's notebook?" The answer from most all of them was a resounding "No."  Their notebooks never made it home, and eventually ended up in the garbage.  Aside from peer-editing, the teacher was the #1 reader for all of the students.  What if the teacher was truly just a guide assisting students to reach their desired audience?  Who

      Over the years I have noticed a pattern in education - if students don't find meaning and purpose in their work they won't buy in. If they don't see the "why" behind their work, they won't become as passionate in what they create. If they don't become as passionate about what they are creating, they will merely become students who are compliant and bored. When it comes to writing, many students struggle with the purpose beyond the grade. We have heard many questions from students in regards to writing:

"How many points is this worth?"

"How long does it have to be?"

"Is it long enough?"

"When is it due?"

"Is this good enough?" 

"What is my grade?"

"What am I supposed to write about?"

Students are asking the wrong questions when it comes to writing.

What if instead of asking these questions listed about students asked different questions: 

"Who is going to read this?"

"How can I creatively share my thinking with my peers?"

"How can I get more people to read my work?"

"What are some ways I could improve my writing?"

"Are there other writers in my class that creatively share their thoughts in which I can learn something from?"

"How I can effectively communicate my thoughts is words and visuals?" 

"How many people have read my writing?"

"Is there a way my writing can bring change in this world?"

What if these were the types of questions students asked? What kinds of writers could they become?

What if instead of feeling like they are just compiling to a teacher's "orders", they see writing as an opportunity to share their own thoughts and possibly change the thoughts of others?

A blog is that very tool we hope that allow students to no only express their thinking, but to share it with the world!  Our hope is that through blogging, students see a new way of communicating with their peers, teacher, parents, and the world!  This will also be a way to see the progression of their writing from the start of the school year to the end.  

Here is a website that gives 34 reasons of Why You Should Blog.