Blogging in the Classroom

Can we make literacy instruction more rigorous and relevant by incorporating blogs into our curriculum?  I believe the answer is yes and Denise Johnson's article, "Teaching With Authors' Blogs: Connections, Collaboration, Creativity", provides excellent evidence of the educational power of blogs.  As the title suggests, Johnson details the significant benefits gained by including authors' blogs in our literacy instruction.  Students have the opportunity to connect more deeply with literature when we introduce them to an author (their personality, experiences, and perspectives) via blog.  Students have the opportunity to collaborate directly with authors as well as a large global audience through live blogging events.  Students have the opportunity to be creative using authors' blogs as inspiration for their own writing and multimedia ideas. "Blogs promote critical and analytical thinking and allow students to create content in ways not possible in traditional paper-and-pencil environments" (Johnson, 2010, p. 172).  Finally, Johnson reminds educators that, in addition to sharing authors' blogs with students, they must also actively model responsible use of these online resources. 


Johnson, D. (2010). "Teaching with authors' blogs: Connections, collaboration, creativity". Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(3), p. 172-180.

http://www.reading.org/Publish.aspx?page=/publications/journals/jaal/v54/i3/abstracts/jaal-54-3-johnson.html&mode=redirect