Ways to use a blog-

Since I'm pretty much new to creating a blog, I feel it is very similar to having my own web page at school where you first post facts about yourself (where you went to school, how many years you've been teaching, etc) and it's a place where you can list beneficial websites, the week's homework assignments, and important up coming events for the students and parents to see. Since this is how I use my personal web page at school, I would continue to use my personal blog in the same manner. According to the readings this week, I have been using my personal web page as a class portal.

Through this week's reading however, I have also learned that the students can use blogs to interact with one another. I find this to be similar to facebook. I could give the students a topic to write about and their peers could read it and respond and make comments about it. Since I teach middle school students PE/health, I could give them a topic about the repercussions of taking drugs. This read/write web opens up all sorts of new possibilities.

Blogs are also convenient because, if a student is missing a worksheet or a handout, I wouldn't need to go digging through my files for it. I could tell the student to print it off from the blog. Blogs are beneficial in regards to keeping everything together in one spot. Students are less likely to misplace their work because it is now placed in a file on their blog. Their work is more organized and students are able to see the progress they had made throughout the year. I also like the idea of using a blog as a diary and having students summarize what was taught for that week. This kind of creates the students to reflect on what was being taught. Teachers could look at their students blog and provide feedback to their thoughts.

Blogs can enhance a lesson because they can provide critical and analytical thinking amongst the students. It's also a tool to provide exposure to new information and allows for collaboration as well as solitary reflection.

My name is Rob Fitzpatrick. I am currently teaching PE/health for middle school students at a private school in Macon, GA. I also coach varsity football, basketball, and I am the head baseball coach.

I am married with three boys. My two oldest boys are also very much into sports and I help coach their teams as well. My wife is also a teacher. She teaches second grade in a public school.

When I'm not teaching/coaching, I like to spend my time fishing on my bass boat and hunting.

I am not an expert in technology but wantted to become more proficient in it since I know it is here to stay. Technology is our futue and I want to learn more on how I can use it in my classrooms so that my classrooms ar more engaging and better enriched.