Reflective Blog #1

We were assigned a project to visit 6 different blogs and give our views, critiques, and a general description about each one. Here are my six visits and a few words about each one.

Classroom Blogs

I first visited "The Greatest Middle School Blog in the World.: http://moranmustangs.org

This site is an eighth grade class in Connecticut. The site invites you to join them for projects, however it seems to be especially for the last few months, a vehicle for the teacher to get information to the students. This is not a bad idea, but not terrible interesting unless you are in the class. One feature I did like was the link to the "Lunch Time Leaders Podcast" this is a podcast of interviews from a wide range of people including the Governor of Connecticut and Musician George Rowe. I also liked the live traffic feed that lets you know who is visiting. 

The layout had no pop. I was expecting a little more from a group of eighth graders, however maybe the teacher designed the layout because there are links to individual blogs for the students. Overall, I think the graphics could of had a little more pop. Check out the site for the podcast for sure.

I next went to Excellence and Imagination: http://mr-fisher.edublogs.org/

This blog hasn't been updated since June 15th, 2007. Therefore, I would not trust it for the Final Exam Schedule. However, there is an interesting project on this site. The International Teen Life Project. This link allows teens from around the world to come together and discuss issues while sharing these different perspectives through writing, videos, or audio. I very neat concept. I wonder what has gone on in the last three years.

Again the layout is kind of vanilla, but it has a kind of symmetry about it. I would give it a "B". Not a lot of color, but it is a clean layout. Check it out.

Educational Blogs 

My first visit in the educational blogs was to The Leaky Cauldron:
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/blogs/doris

This was a very interesting blog. The tag line is "The most trusted name in Potter" A whole site on Harry Potter. Well, not quite,  although the majority of the postings are about Harry Potter, or things that relate to Potter, there are a few different blogs. I especially was touch by a teacher that posted a blog about a 12 year old that killed himself on account of bullies. Very good.
The site is graphically exciting, there are some ads, but they are not unsightly or out of place.
Overall a very good blog, I recommend it.

Next I went to Teach 42  http://www.teach42.com
This is a very interesting blog with a variety of technology postings ranging from some 360 degree videos from Haiti. to  a very interesting post about how Twitter may be making blogging a thing of the past. I also like the post about how social media is "dumbing" down our writing skills. I have noticed that ever  since I started emailing.
I really like the way this blog is displayed, it has some great graphics, and some great widgets including a  map showing all the locations of the visitors.
Definitely drop in to Teach 42.

Teacher Blogs

My first stop in the teacher's blogs may have been my most enjoyable of the day. Doug Johnson's The Blue Skunk Blog. http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/?currentPage=2
This is a hilarious blog that is updated daily that includes insightful posts about reading  to his own commentary on his own life. I am guessing that the art work is produced by his child (Brady Johnson), but it is good and lively. In fact I am going to put a link to his blog on my site. So I recommend it.

So You Want To Teach
http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/
I had to check out this blog, and am I glad I did. There are many good posts about teaching, teaching aids, and just posts that can help anyone. there are posting about music festivals, posting about goal setting, weight loss, and finally how we show are students we love them. I really like the positive attitude and helpfulness of this blog.This music teacher really wants to get the word out there and spread hope to teachers.

I love the layout, the easy tabs at the top that take you to some great references, the ten most popular posts, and I really like all the art and photos. Check this blog out.