Making Connections

     It is important to promote the connection between students, parents, and the outside world. One way to do this is through the use of blogs in the classroom. Blogging with your students and involving parents helps to strengthen the connection between home and school (Morris, 2011). But before you can create such a connection, it is imperative that those involved have the support and training to utilize the blog. This not only includes the students in your classroom, but also their parents who will be accessing the blog outside of the classroom. Topics to include in parent training are (Morris, 2011):

• blog terms or "jargon"
• how to subscribe to receive updates through email
• how to leave a comment and also to reply to one
• how to navigate the blog, including categories and pages
• how to do a "search" on the blog to find what they need
• how to extend their learning of the blogging community to outside of the school

     By giving students and parents a solid foundation on how to navigate a blog and use it effectively, learning can take place at a greater rate, with more success, and more participation amongst students and parents. As an educator you are providing a window for parents into the ongoings of your classroom (Morris, 2011). In turn, once all of these learners feel comfortable blogging, extending your blog to other teachers, groups, agencies, schools, etc, helps to generate new conversations and ideas that may not otherwise take place. The ways the group can explore the world is infinite and priceless!

Morris, K. (2011, March 20). Student Blogging Activity 4 (Beginner)-Helping Parents 
     Connect With Your Class Blog. Retrieved February 23, 2018, from https://teacher
     challenge.edublogs.org/student-blogging-activity-4-beginner-helping-parents-connect-
     with-your-class-blog/