Extending The Conversation

As an educator, it is our responsibility to ensure that our students are 21st century learners. However, the training must be offered by our school districts. The new technology and new literacies are constantly changing our lives and the way we think. If we have access to technology, then we can help to better prepare our students.

Blogs, Wikis, and Word Processors

As teachers, digital writing tools are a way for us to begin to build relationships or make some kind of personal connection with our students. Using these tools as a way to give feedback may even help students to evaluate their own progress. Digital writing tools such as blogs and wikis can help to improve a students writing because they are doing most of the talking. Conferencing with  students also improves the relationship between teacher and student, although, we often feel there is little or no time. Students can develop their own blog post and respond to their peers. However, modeling the kind of response you want them to make may be a good idea. This may be a way to help students become better writers and readers.   

Educator Critique

Laura Candler is the author of Laura's Voice. Laura is a classroom teacher and has spent years writing books and developing online lessons and printables. Her resources may appeal to upper elementary and middle school teachers. Candler's blog is mostly on educational issues and her readers are encouraged to respond to each message. She regularly uses her facebook account and twitter account to collaborate with her colleagues. She finds powerful teaching strategies and makes them easy to implement in a classroom. She includes active engagement strategies, interactive whiteboard use, and learning centers. all of these are "buzz" words in my district at this time.