A couple of days ago, Sarah asked about community building in the weblog, and I told her about what’s happening in J1. They really have gone beyond what I expected…posting primarily from home, after hours, weekends…and I’m starting to think that the weblog has had a positive effect in the way that they approach the class. They are thinking about ideas and stories. Like I said to Sarah, if I can now move it toward a more focused discussion of curriculum, I would really be in heaven. But I’ve purposely let it take it’s own direction, posting infrequently with some stories to read or questions to answer if they like. I’m not sure I want to get in there more. And I’m still struck by the difference in the two blogs…one filled with developed thoughts, the other with more of an IM conversation. One I feel is adding to the experience, the other possibly detracting.

Sarah responded: “Wow, there’s some exciting stuff going on in your classroom! It sounds like your kids have really developed some sense of ownership of the class blog, even without it being an integral part of the curriculum material. What sorts of subjects are the kids talking about, what generates the most excitement? How often do you jump into their conversations? It may be that having a space where they can express themselves freely is all that it takes to start growing the community! There’s a class blog here at Middlebury (Writing Across the Arts) that has developed an active sense of community, and I think that’s due in [large] part to the way the teacher has gotten involved. The students are responsible for leading certain discussions, then the teacher comments, highlights, and weaves them together in her class updates on the front page of the weblog. That seems like a great way to share good writing and participation, and to give the other students something to aspire to… And the teacher’s passionate and involved commentaries are a model for her students as well. Great stuff.

She’s right…the instructor is doing some neat things in terms of responding to her student’s posts in their weblogs. (Though for the life of me I can’t understand why Manilla doesn’t have a more user friendly interface.) Here’s one in particular. Maybe I should ask my kids to invite me into their own personal weblogs so that I can carry on a conversation with them there. Maybe they should invite each other. (I haven’t given them access to each other’s personal space, though they could find it without too much trouble.) Maybe I should point to good stuff happening in other people’s blogs from the class homepage. That certainly would provide the opportunity to build community. Would have to have a notifying option, however, because otherwise it would be really time consuming. (Check if p-machine does this.)And it’s easier when you only meet your students a couple of times a week. I’ve got kids every day for 45 days, that’s it. Makes it a bit more time intensive I think.

All of this is one of the reasons I’m doubting making yearbook a class…the time I have now frees me up to be such a better teacher. I don’t know what I would do with a full load. I know the days are longer, but it’s only for 135 days out of the year. The rest I’m off or done at 2:50 if I want to be. The time has allowed me to grow and think and plan and experiment so much. It’s given me such a great deal of energy and focus…look a this weblog! It’s one of my proudest accomplishments. And I am still so into this whole idea. In one way, I can’t wait for yearbook to be over so I can focus on this. In another, I know I’m going to miss the kids.