New for AP teachers: AP English Connections, a blog. Check it out.

Teachers: start blogging

—(July 2008) It seems these days a lot of teachers are interested in bringing blogs into the classroom. I say, start today, but start by creating your own blog to fully understand what a blog can do.

I am a huge fan of blogging. Blogs are very easy for people to have a web presence (no need to know html), and are especially fabulous for teachers and students. Blogs can be free, too. Edublogs provides free blog space for teachers and gives great support in the classroom. Blogger has free blogs, too.

In my experience, when students publish their writing online, they take extra care in getting it right (revising, editing, even composing). They may even write more. More and more teens are writing in their own web spaces outside of school too. And, what's more, they share what they write with their peers (peer review). They instinctively use the Web to create their own communities (social networking).

The best thing about blogging is the fact that it can bring people together. Reading and commenting (the key part) on others' blogs creates shared experiences and understanding.

What to do this summer?

June 2008—English teachers, if you're not checking out Web English Teacher on a regular basis, you are missing one of the great resources out there. Students, you have to read at least one book this summer. And while you're at it, why not read two? ALA (American Library Association) has some good recommendations as does TeenReads. Why not visit your local library? Books can be like vacations, too!

As for me, I'll be reading, blogging, gardening, and thinking about the upcoming school year (but maybe not until August).