The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The Good and Bad- Learning Reflection -SM

Weblogging allows for students to interact with others in a positive manner.  Using literacy as a brigde, the students are able to post their views and opinions for thier peers to comment.  I can see how multiple opportunities for learning can be included in just this one assignment.

I think weblogging is a good ideas as long as their is enough time to do the postings.  This is an activity that I would only require students to do in class.  Assigning this as homework can create several problems.  The first one is some students may not have access to Internet at home, so you run into a problem with having some students do the work and some who cannot.  Another problem I see with weblogging outside the class is that it can consume so much of the students time that they will get to a point where they do not want to read and post about the book.  Believe me, I was there!  Make the readings of the book appropriate for the reader.  Stretching the book out over two months is not a good idea if the only thing the students must do is read and post.  This becomes tidious and is look upon as a hassle.  Instead, allow students to do hands-on, creative activities.  Some of these activities can be found on this posting page.

This is what I think CN

I wasn't interested in beginning this novel at first, but then I began to read and love it. I would like to share it with every class that I have. It has a wonderful connection to Social Studies and the colonial America. This helps live the time and the frustration as an outsider. Discussing this with others that are reading it too has help me see other view points of the words, passages, connections, and how to implement this novel.
I do more structure in making my entries. Maybe if by every Tuesday one posting had to be made I would do it. I tried to create a schedule for myself but it didn't work without the group doing the same also. Although, I must say that I have seen some great postings and comments.

A Plethora of Ideas

http://eduscapes.com/newbery/59a.html

     This is a wonderful resource website for teachers! The site provides ideas for lesson plans and units as well as Webquests. Additionally, the topics that The Witch of Blackbird Pond introduces are outlined in an easy to navigate manner. I found that this site considers our book appropriate for grades 6-9. As future elementary teachers, would you use this novel in your classrooms?