Using Blogging in the Classroom

As a new teacher, I am always open to all ideas that help enhance my teaching pedagogy without completely abandonning proven methods. I must admit that I haven't had much training in using the Internet as a source of interaction and communication with my ELL students, but I have enjoyed reading through Will Richardson's book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Using the blogging environment can be used as a supplement to enhance traditional reading and writing techniques. Some advantages include:

• Allowing a shared space to allow teacher/student interaction and facilitating through reading and writing, refection, and analysis. (Even after the bell rings at 3).
• Expanding the walls of a traditional classroom environment, where students can create, experiment, own, collaborate, and enjoy writing with other teachers, professionals, and students around the world.
• Providing all students with a voice in the classroom community as opposed to traditional classroom settings, where some might be too shy to express themselves.
• Blogs serve as a great motivator, inviting students to recognize that the relevance of their work doesn't have to end after the due date. The way they view their assignments can dramatically shift towards the positive inclusion of technology they already enjoy.
• Using the Internet and blogging also teaches our students new literacies that they will need to know in our ever-growing society.
• Blogs can also connect parents with their child's education.

Obviously, there are several advantages that blogs enhance teaching methodology. I could set up a classroom blogging site that includes instructional video's, assignments, and at home English practice with my students and their parents. However, I would like to have some more ideas or perhaps lesson ideas of how I could use blogging with beginning English language learners....