In this blog entry, I am reviewing some blogs I have come in contact with that have inspired me. Quality blogs are unique, error-free, and demonstrate passion for the subject (Sannino, 2011). Some sites, such as Sunny Days in Second Grade and Teach 123 are cute and contain neat child-friendly resources images. Kleinspiration has been developed by a very experienced award-winning teacher who offers a professional appearance in the blog. Although simple in appearance, The 1:1 Classroom is appealing due to its content with regards to uses for technology to news related to education. Again. Although these four blogs are appealing for different reasons and appearances, and may not contain exactly the same content or views of the content, a wide variety of experiences, personal opinions, or classroom activities can inform any teacher or teacher-to-be for the education of the young population within it.
Thus, my reviews of four teacher blogs:
Blog Title/ Website |
Grade/ Age Levels |
Learning Activities |
Organization of Materials |
Classroom Arrangement |
Classroom Plans |
Summary |
Mostly third grade ideas are found here, but other elementary grades are addressed, including kindergarten and their assessments. |
Information about websites for instruction and manipulatives is included. Information about assessments for many age groups is informative. His addition of www.themathfacts.com and the argument for how it aids math teachers is impactful. |
“Things it took 10 years to learn…” provides the use rubber cement to hang posters (making perfect sense when your walls are cinder blocks). Purging materials that are not in use to have a clean, organized classroom. I would not place student name tags on the front of the desk as I want the key tools for student use. |
There is no clear explanation for classroom physical arrangement, but "Grouping Across Grade Levels" addresses how students class placement/grouping for effective instruction as teachers can only differentiate to a certain degree. |
Examination of recess as a subject in which students can receive some instruction for improvement is an interesting concept as students receive some social development from the free play and require information about the games they choose to play. Lessons may be expanded to include student interests. |
Mr. Pullen, an experienced educator, offers ideas on professional development, technology within the classroom, recent political and educational news-worthy developments, and reviews of texts for student learning. Mentions are made of ideas, such as morning meetings, and assessments related to early childhood education. |
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Sunny Days in Second Grade http://sunnydaysinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/ |
Although this teacher is currently a second grade teacher and the teacher resources may be aimed at this age, other ideas are inclusive for early childhood classes. |
Back-to-school activities in which students learn more about each other, curriculum-linked teaching resources she produces , with a link for each resource to the Teachers Pay Teachers store are clearly displayed. |
Denise shared pictures of her classroom arrangement, how to best organize the numerous materials with which teachers may teach, and the location of organizational printables. She detailed the location of certain things within the classroom for purchase and demonstrates a class décor theme. |
She even addresses how the use of tables is better for her than desks for student work spaces. How motivating! |
Labels on the right side of the page pointto information about Common Core, centers, holiday activities, writing, technology use and read-aloud opportunities. She even offers a video about her favorite planner, Plan.Teach.Live. by A Modern Teacher. |
This bright, sunny blog includes much interesting information. I was most impressed by the number of pictures she included of multiple years’ classroom arrangements with clear details about how I could reproduce some elements. She creates child-friendly materials in multiple grade levels or differentiation. |
Michelle focuses on the primary (K-3rd grade) classrooms in her postings and teacher created materials. |
Lessons are provided through connection to the Teachers Pay Teachers store with child-friendly designed materials. Substitute Plans are even included in the TPT store! Some ideas are posted for increasing literacy. |
This blog offers clear directions for organization of student work and ensuring that all students achieve the mastery needed through completion of all assignments. Her ideas of highlighting names on sheets for each assignments as a way of tracking student work is neat as it can be displayed within the classroom to keep all on the same page. |
Ideas of physical arrangement of the classroom are not clearly apparent, but there is focus on the social development of children and classroom discipline. Motivation of students to produce quality work is included as a key component of class discipline. |
Michelle provides information about communication tools for teachers like a speeding ticket for rushing through work, a slip to get more pencils from home, etc. Messages for various grade levels reduces teacher planning time. |
Although initially interested in the teacher-created materials, I found the materials provided for teacher organization and student motivation were compelling. Simplified methods of communicating with students and parents about student needs are also worth consideration to help teachers focus on student learning. |
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Erin Klein, an award winning educator, has created a blog covering ideas for classrooms in all grade levels, including primary grades. |
One unique blog post for cooperative learning encourages Class Dojo Groups and Kagan Structures. Technological resources are also introduced or reviewed, such as Spelling City, Quizalize, IXL, and TenMarks. |
One blog detailed how Erin Klein offered a 2015 webinar about classroom organization in which students would learn best, but there is no clear recording to aid teachers in obtaining the information. |
One blog, written with Tom Murray, compares traditional classrooms with cemeteries. Through a link, you can access free download about classroom design for today’s students. Klein posted nine ideas and pictures to prevent the traditional classroom. |
Resources to help teachers plan cooperative learning lessons, the use of interactive white boards and tablets in lessons and professional developmental opportunities and educational meetings can also be found here. Improving parental involvement and five tips to prevent teacher burn-out are included. |
This comprehensive and detailed blog site, powered by a very active and award winning teacher, offers not only reviews of educational technology and programs, but also leads teachers to educational opportunities for their development as well as elements providing teachers tools for lessons and lesson planning. |
Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://learnersdictionary.com/definition/blog
Sannino, G. (2011, March 30). Top 3 Characteristics of a High Quality Blog, Totally Simplified. Retrieved from http://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/high-quality-blog.html
There are some other blogs I am following:
http://www.stepinto2ndgrade.com/ This wonderful site has many strong teacher resources, including a writing boot camp, lesson set up for primary grades. Child-friendly materials! http://moffattgirls.blogspot.com/ This wonderful site links to more teacher resources, including wonderful summer packets and leveled readers for guided reading. Check it out! |