Blog in the classroom

Because they create a meaningful context for students, blogs develop a taste and pride in writing by improving the quality of writing. Nancy Dubois, teacher at the Affluents school board, has been experimenting with educational blogging in the classroom for three years. She shared her experiments during a workshop offered as part of the AQUOPS conference.

The pleasure of writing

“To blog with your students, you have to love to write,” says the third-cycle teacher. I let myself be taken. I spoil myself every time I write the post announcing the next topic! Since the blog is a flexible tool, she adapts her projects according to the personality of her class and the inspiration of the moment. Thus, young bloggers explore different literary styles such as tale, the comic, the calligram, the critical, the legend or the opinion letter.

"It's more thefun than writing in class, ”says one of his students. It seems that he is not the only one to think so, since at the request of the Ministry of Education, a team of researchers from the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi looked into the educational virtues of the blog. Among the highlights of their literature review, we note that the use of the blog was appreciated and considered motivating by several groups of students.

The portrait of a school year

In September, the first note signed by his students was a invitation to meet parents at the start of the school year. This allows parents to break the ice and demystify this new pedagogical approach that will scare them less when it is integrated into homework and lessons. a bookmark is also given to them to invite them to consult the blog regularly.

In October or November, his students take another step into the blogosphere. Over the past few years, she has invited them to explore the world of legends or that ofcommunity action. “I like to vary my approaches and present the featured themes of personal way and original, she explains. It gives writing all its meaning ”.

Then, in December, the teacher lets herself be inspired by current events or the calendar. Obviously, the Christmas story is a must. "By integrating the blog into an activity that I was already used to doing, it lightens everything," she says. To vary the approach, his students produce sound files to tell their story or punctuate them usingillustrations. This year, his students also approached the opinion piece by blogging on the delicate topic ofintimidation. “Writing under a pseudonym allowed them to express themselves in peace,” she says. This allowed a student who tended to adopt inappropriate behaviors to take charge. In writing, he pledged not to bully others anymore. "

After the holidays, the students touch on the literary criticism by commenting on the youth novels of Patrick Sénécal. “When they know they will be read, the students engage in the process and put more emphasis on correcting their mistakes,” says the teacher. My students are impatiently awaiting the author's response! "

Combining poetry, visual arts and blogging is another project that was set in motion by Nancy Dubois. “It is in the form of calligrams that we wanted to publish the written poems, thus placing the plastic creations on the blog. Finally, to end the year on a high note, the students write a letter in which they project themselves into the future. This approach allows them to describe their school career and to appeal to their dreams and passions.

What do parents think?

After these three years of experimentation, the project is positive. "It brings pride to the children" and "It empowers them and introduces them to various topical subjects" indicated the parents in the survey sent by the teacher. Some even say that it would be nice to make tickets with their child more often.