Just wanted to let everyone know that I sent out a mass e-mail to your parents updating them on the class and blogging.
I have pasted it below in case you wanted to read it as well. I was going to e-mail it to you as students as well, but decided it was pretty much old news to you.
Hope you are having a restful weekend.
Dear Parents of Literature 12 students,
I want to bring you up to date on what we are doing in Literature 12. We have completed the first term, and I am very proud of the work that your sons and daughters are doing in this class. Their work and contributions to class discussion show that they are willing to invest in their learning and in the texts we are reading together, as well as think and respond critically about both.
I want to share the following information so that you can keep in contact with what we are doing for class:
The Homepage:
The Literature 12 homepage is a place where students and parents can check in to see what is going on in class. It is also a resource where students can get study notes, course updates, assignments if they miss a class, and vocabulary that they are responsible for on the Provincial Exam.
The homepage address is:
http://dcsenglish.edublogs.org/
You may notice that the format of this homepage is different from regular webpages. This is because it is done in a weblog, or ‘blog’ format. If you would like to learn more about this format, I would suggest you read one of the first ‘posts’ to the homepage entitled “What is a Blog?” The address is:
http://dcsenglish.edublogs.org/2005/10/24/what-is-a-blog/
We have also set up a ‘team blog’ where students post responses to the texts we are encountering in the course.
The team blog can be reached from the homepage by clicking on the link entitled “The Lit. Team Blog,” or, you can access it at the following address:
http://herot.learnerblogs.org/
Please note that students post their responses and comments anonymously on this blog, and that they have been instructed to never use their full names when interacting on these sites.
I am very excited about using this technology in the classroom, especially when I read comments that your son/daughter leaves. The reading I have done on this topic also indicates that students invest more thought and effort in their writing when it is put on a blog, as it is open to a wider audience of readers. It is not always a smooth experience, but I believe the benefits far outweigh any technical difficulties we encounter as we learn together.
I enjoy teaching this class, and learning what your children have to say. Their comments often amaze me, as they reflect deep thought and deep learning.
Hopefully this will continue as we experience more literature together.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any comments or questions.
Thank you for your time, and for investing in your child’s education.
Sincerely,
James M. Nelson
