Writing websites

Engage students in writing with online activities and the chance to see their own work online.

Scholastic.com's Writing with Writers offers writing lessons on a variety of genres and the chance for kids to publish online.

Two poetry websites, Giggle Poetry, and Poetry for Kids, offer funny poems to read and rate, and lessons on writing from well-known poets.

East of the Web has short stories in a flavor for adults and kids. You can read and rate the stories and then comment on them. Comments are anonymous and published for all to see.

You could create an online publishing repository with Scribd. Since anyone can publish and there are all sorts of subjects, I would recommend creating a group for your professional contacts, students, or school. Then parents or other members of the community could read student's writing online.

Uses of blogs

There are many ways that blogs are used in education. Here are a few examples:

• Teachers using blogs - Bob Sprankle used his blog to write a poem using personification.

• Students using blogs - Bob Sprankle's students wrote their own poems on their blogs.

• Class blogs - Will Richardson's class used a blog to study a novel they were reading and the author joined in the discussion! - Another class writing blog

• Principals using blogs - Tim Lauer shares professional development thoughts with his staff and offers school updates.

How could you use blogs as a professional tool?