Inspiration for the next generation
On today’s posts the fifth graders at BlogWrite discussed their recent podcasting experience where they gave their suggestions and insights on blogging to second graders.
I love Jason’s title for his blog post, Inspiration for the next generation. I know he won’t mind if I borrow it. Now he’s a fifth grader talking to second graders. (short generation span there but it’s all in the eye of the beholder). Also, see these inspirations: Angel, Diana, Derrick, Marisela, Jadae, and Graciela.
Now this is the part that excites me the most about blogging - when students talk about the process and what they felt and learned. Here are some of musings from these young bloggers:
- details are the gold in your story
- how learning improves on a second try
- experiencing a range of emotions and moving from being nervous, embarassed, shy to gaining conficence
- a step-by-step analysis of the process
- how it helps knowing what to expect
- how important motivation is
- how to make your writing “pop-out”
- doing something more difficult than you are accustomed to
Everytime students blog about the process these postings can lead us in directions to really improve our teaching and learning. The students are leading us. That’s why it is so important to have them blogging about the process. I really believe this is the way we can begin to open the eyes of others. The stories that are not being told are the ones from our students. We have to help them with the kind of reflective thinking that is required. It’s not that they can’t do it, They just haven’t been given many opportunities to do just that. This networked learning is so valuable and it can be the spark to really foster change. We have to raise our expectations of our kids. We have to give them opportunities. They will rise to the occasion. We need their voices.