Blogging in Room 110

When I think about blogging in my classroom, my emotions range from excitement to extreme fear. The excitement stems from the endless possibilities that blogs can offer my students: writing assignments, lesson reflections, discussions... Then the fear sets in. Since I teach fifth grade, I worry, 'Will my students be able to maturely handle the public domain? Will their writing reflect what they know or will it be an embarrassment (grammar, content, etc.)?' Please tell me these emotions are normal.

Some ideas I am considering...

• We are beginning our science unit study of ecosystems. I would like to see a blog become a tool for my students to reflect on the week's content. "What have you learned this week about ecosystems? Be sure to include two new vocabulary words in your post."
• In writing, we are practicing expository writing (descriptive). Instead of everyone reading their papers in front of the class [no time!], a blog post would be a great way to share their composition about their favorite pet. Students could choose which papers to read and leave comments about what they liked and maybe one suggestion to make it better.
• Our school has used guided reading groups (small group instruction) for third through fifth grade. Guided reading groups and workstations/centers have been more focused on the primary grades, but I have enjoyed getting to know my students as readers. This time allows for "technology" workstations, so each student has a chance on the computer for reading comprehension/grammar games at least once a week. With this "extra" time, another way my students could use blogs is by reflecting on a text -- I would like to specifically try an editorial piece. Could they post their opinion in an intelligent fashion?

My worries could certainly be put to rest with encouraging instruction and high expectations. Most likely, the majority of my students would latch onto this new and exciting technology to enhance their learning.