A Metablogical Post

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but blogger has definitely been drawing in more and more students...even ones who don't take classes that require blogging. When I introduced my class to the blog this semester, nearly all of them already had an account. Last semester most of my students had blank personal blogs, but this semester many of them have started posting their writing. Reading their philosophies and their fiction has impressed and humbled me...it's also helped me get to know them. I used to hold my students at quite a distance, but so much of what we've been implementing from technology team has allowed/forced me to remember that my students actually exist outside of school. They're almost like people that way.

Anyway, I do think that the better I know my students, the better teacher I'll be. My boyfriend, who also teaches high school English, often peaks over my shoulder as I'm reading my students' blog comments--he's fascinated by how comfortable with each other we've all become on the blog (he's also waiting somewhat impatiently for his turn to use the computer). I've discovered that my students are funny, talented, sweet, obnoxious, and opinionated, and that they can use their powers for good or evil. Mostly good, though.