Little Kids... Big Potential opens with one of Mrs. Cassidy's students stating that they would rather write on their blog than write in their book because people see it and leave them comments. This statement describes how Mrs. Cassidy's teaching method is set up, very technology oriented. In Mrs. Cassidy's first, second, and third interview with Dr. Strange, she describes how technology is used in her classroom. According to Mrs. Cassidy, technology causes teachers to think in a different way. She started her different way of thinking when computers were placed in her classroom some years ago. Since then Mrs. Cassidy has made a lot of progress with incorporating technology into the classroom. Her students have their own blog page where they can write and it actually improves their writing skills. At the beginning of the school year Mrs. Cassidy sends out permission slips for the parents to sign stating that the students will be using the internet. She tells the parents that only their child's first name will be used and pictures will be used also but not associated with their name. Mrs. Cassidy stated that the parents really like the idea of using a blog because it is like an online portfolio where the parents can go view their child's progress. Mrs. Cassidy's first grade students also use skype as a part of their learning. Finally, Mrs. Cassidy stated that Personal Learning Networks are very important and all teachers need to be able to use technology.
What I learned from Mrs. Cassidy is how important it is to have technology in the classroom and how to include it in teaching. The technique I would use from Mrs. Cassidy is having my students blog. I like the idea of having it like an online portfolio for parents. The problem I could possibly encounter with the blogs would be getting all of the parents on board with their child using the internet. Hopefully with the permission slips and showing the parents progress students have made over the years would persuade them to allow their child to participate. The benefits of using Mrs. Cassidy's approach would be teaching the students something new and useful and hopefully I would be learning new things to teach them.
Hi Heather! I also want to use blogging in my future classroom! I think it is a great way to get the students excited about what they are writing since their posts are public and they get to use technology instead of pen and paper! I think students will be eager to get comments, which will motivate them to improve their blog posts.
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