Writing Blogs to Boost Engagement

To get my students writing more and thinking deeper about their writing, I am embarking on an experiment this quarter with my senior level Composition course. Over the last nine weeks of the year, my students and I will each choose a topic of personal interest and create blogs to explore those topics.

I learned about this passion blogging concept at last month's Write to Learn Conference in Osage Beach, MO in a presentation by Elisabeth Alkier (@elisabethalkier), a 7th grade teacher from St. Joseph, Missouri. Ms. Alkier and her students blog about the subjects they find most fascinating; her personal blog displays her love of Science-Fiction while her students chose an amazing range of topics for their blogs.

Elisabeth's students are demonstrating real-world writing skills and look like they are having a blast doing it. I want the same learning to happen in my classroom. With all the new initiatives I've implemented this year, I feel stretched to a breaking point. However, my seniors expressed interest in this new adventure when I shared it with them, so with their commitment, we are setting forth into the world of blogging.

Our Task

These "Passion Blogs" should demonstrate our understanding of our chosen subject. My passion in the Language Arts Classroom revolves around independent reading and authentic writing. In this blog I plan to explore everything I know about these subjects and seek out exciting opportunities to get my students reading, writing, and thinking in new and fascinating ways.

My next steps include creating a blogging community and getting my students to read and write about their passions. Check back often to see how my students take to this new opportunity.