Blog Uses

There are endless ways to incorporate student blogging in the foreign language classroom!  Three ways that I can envision using blogging in my own classroom along with the standards these uses would meet are described below!
1. I can post a cultural type photograph and ask the students to write about personal reactions and/or answer though provoking questions about the picture.  This activity can be used to introduce a "cultural" type unit in order to see what the students already know about a particular topic, introduce or conclude an in class oral discussion, or assess students about something they have learned about a Spanish-speaking culture or country. It is a good way to integrate cultural awareness, technology, and writing/reading in the target language!
The Corresponding New York State Modern Language Standards:

Standard 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication.

READING & WRITING

·         write short notes, uncomplicated personal and business letters, brief journals, and short reports

Standard 2: Students will develop cross-cultural skills and understandings.

·         exhibit more comprehensive knowledge of cultural traits and patterns

·         draw comparisons between societies

2. I can post links to current events/news from Spanish websites, magazines, and newspapers and ask students to express their opinions about the topics raised, reflect on what the articles meant to them, ask questions about what they read, summarize the information, or find examples of specific grammar topics/tenses they are learning about in class in the article.  The possibilities of using links to real world Spanish news are never ending.  It enables students to connect to the language in a realistic and meaningful way while integrating culture education and reading/writing in the target language! These activities could be done as a group or individually. 

The Corresponding New York State Modern Language Standards:

Standard 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication.

READING & WRITING

·         read and comprehend materials written for native speakers when the topic and language are familiar

·         read simple materials independently, but may have to guess at meanings of longer or more complex material

·         write short notes, uncomplicated personal and business letters, brief journals, and short reports

·         write in the target language in a manner that articulates similarities and differences in cultural behaviors

Standard 2: Students will develop cross-cultural skills and understandings.

·         compose short, informal notes and messages to exchange information with members of the target culture

·         understand how words, body language, rituals, and social interactions influence communication

3. I can have students write about topics using newly learned vocabulary words and/or tenses.  At times I can give students freedom in what they can write about while including certain information/grammar and other times I can ask them to write about specific topics while using information learned in class.  It gives me the opportunity to assign "homework" that doesn't seem like "homework" while reinforcing what is learned in class.

The Corresponding New York State Modern Language Standards:

Standard 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication.

READING & WRITING

·         write short notes, uncomplicated personal and business letters, brief journals, and short reports

·         read simple materials independently, but may have to guess at meanings of longer or more complex material

·         draw on a broad range of learned vocabulary, idioms, and structures, including the full range of time frames, as well as language acquired through independent reading

·         use culturally appropriate learned vocabulary and structures associated with a broad range of topics, and structures such as simple and complex sentences to communicate through the full range of time frames

Resources:

Richardson, Will.  (2010) 3rd edition. Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.  California: Corwin.