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.

A Wiki class: Using Blogs and Wikis in the classroom.

School starts September 2

August 2008—First Day: Connections. We welcome our new 9th graders to SFHS. The best thing about the new school year for everyone, not just for students, is that we all have an opportunity to begin anew, to reinvent ourselves.

Here are some suggested ways to start fresh and have a great year:

• have a more postive attitude
• be kind to others, always, in thoughts, words, and actions
• keep the school clean (pick up after yourself)
• study hard; actually use your brain
• eat right; get enough sleep (like eight hours EACH night)