Kim’s Ventures in Educational Technology

The past week I have come across different edubloggers talking about a fifth graders who writes a phenomenal blog. In a short amount of time the blog had received over 30,000 hits and is still growing today. Even though I have worked with fifth graders a number of years, I still find myself in awe and inspired by the outstanding work students do with and about technology. I find May of every school year to be bittersweet, as I am sure most educators do. The approach of summer and the end of another school year means helping fifth graders transition to middle school as sixth graders. We hand the students off to the middle schools and hope for the best. The author of the the “Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference” blog, Laura, I am sure will no doubt be successful in sixth grade and in any venture she undertakes.

In her blog, she shares how why she created her blog and is dedicated to helping those in need:

In December of 2007, I decided that the best way to remember my grandpa during the holiday season would be by living my life like he did, by making a difference and being a leader. I decided to honor my grandfather’s memory by trying to make a difference every day for twenty five days. I wanted to be able to do little things, like kids my age typically do, instead of HUGE things that are sometimes hard for kids like me. I decided to write about my adventures here, and I also created a challenge.

I challenged everyone who read my blog to TRY to do something every single day during the holiday season to make a SMALL difference in his or her world. I explained that whoever made the “most difference” in December would win a $25.00 donation to the charity of his or her choice on Christmas night. I SAVED ALL OF MY ALLOWANCE ($25) FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, AND I WAS REALLY SURPRISED AND EXCITED WHEN SEVERAL PEOPLE GENEROUSLY OFFERED TO MATCH MY DONATION (OR MORE)!

You can continue reading the post to see who matched her donation and learn about her monthly donation contest to the charity of the reader’s choice. She is doing extraordinary things for readers around the world that would not be possible without the use of this technology communication tool.

I am quite certain that her fifth grade teacher is filled with pride over her accomplishments. Probably more proud than the blogger’s parents! I know I would be knowing that I had that type of impact and made such a difference in a young person’s life. As an educator that is our ultimate reward, paychecks of the heart.

After you check out this fifth grader’s blog ask yourself, “Am I smarter than a fifth grader?” In some instances, the answer may be ‘No!’.

No, I am not impersonating Joan Rivers but I do want to reflect upon the importance of developing a conversation in a blog. As shared in Vicki Davis’ blog, “The Cool Cat Teacher Blog“, the development of a two way conversation is key to building a successful blog. In the post, “How to Comment Like a King or Queen”:

“Commenting has truly been the fuel that has fired readership for my blog and opportunity for me. It is also part of being a responsible blogger in general. If one is an expert, I guess they may just want to keep their “wisdom” on their own blog, but the true conversation participants are those who contribute to the discussion wherever the blog posting is.”

Davis continues to discuss appropriate ways to leave a comment on someone’s blog. Make it meaningful and relevant to the posting and let the blog’s author know that you get them, understand and can relate to whatever the author was sharing. A dialogue or conversation will spark up and give each author additional content to read, reflect and write.

Blogging enables you to create relationships with ‘neighbors’, blog authors that write about postings on your blog, and become part of the bigger picture – making a difference in the life of a reader or yourself via a post your wrote or an especially moving comment left on your blog that significantly impacts you.Leaving comments does not need to be a daunting task when responding to a post on the ’superedubloggers’ blog. Meaningful comments are always welcome, appreciated and necessary to spark the educational discourse that we are seeking to change and make a difference, leaving our imprint upon the world, one blog at a time.

This is my second attempt at a personal/professional blog and think I am finally coming into my own and understanding what makes a successful blogger. By no means do I think that I am in the same ‘weight class’ as the uber bloggers, but the fact that I have readers subscribed and hits on my blog’s clustermap is a huge accomplishment for me. Although there are many factors that make a blog a success, one of those factors is reading other blogs and posting reflections about what you have read.

In the eArticle written by Dean Shareski entitled, “Student and Teacher Blogs that Succeed“, the paragraph illustrates this point beautifully.

Blogging is mostly about reading

Blogging is way more about reading than it is writing. Many teachers don’t see this at first. Most classrooms provide a good balance of traditional reading and writing opportunities. Teachers recognize that in order to be a good writer you have to read good writing. Yet when it comes to blogging, most want to write immediately and sit back and wait for the world to pay attention. It won’t happen. Provide as much time for your students to read blogs as write. If you decide you want to blog or have your students blog, don’t feel badly about spending a few weeks or even months reading blogs. Look for exemplary work. Look for blogs that you relate to. Find blogs that have a different perspective on things you’re interested in Talk with your students about the blogs they enjoy. Before you write a post, be sure you are responding to something you’ve seen, read or heard.

I can definitely testify that following this suggestion will prove to you and your readers the truth of those sentiments. The more blogs I read, I am able to see how successful blogs are structured, created, and promoted. I can ask questions or clarification of points presented in blogs by the ’superbloggers’ and have been willing to leave an encouraging comment in return. As exciting as it is to see the red dots grow on my blog’s cluster map, utilizing tools of this type that are purposeful and aesthetically pleasing can be gleaned from other bloggers.

What I have discovered is that most bloggers don’t post their reflections, thoughts and viewpoints for fame or notoriety. Most bloggers share their reflections in an effort to explore and refine the craft of teaching through the reflection process. As educators sharing best practices and thoughts about classroom strategies that work or don’t work true enlightenment occurs in a way that is not possible without taking a moment to reflect upon our teaching practices. Without reading literature, periodicals or blogs, professional growth will stagnate – just as the progress or success of your blog without posting your reflections of your lessons, activities or readings of literature or periodicals.