Blogging in the Classroom

Blogging can be a useful tool in the classroom and by using it responsibly and teaching my students how to use it can add a great technology element to the classroom. Today, technology is moving forward quite quickly and as a teacher, I can move forward with it, using it as a tool to motivate my students and enhance their learning.
One idea how to use blogging in my classroom that I love is creating a class page accessible to students and to parents that talks about all the things we are doing in the classroom. On the blog, I can have the topics and concepts we are currently discussing and learning about in class so parents are updated on the material their children are learning. Also I can have an additional resource link that I can post other links to some really great resources that parents can use at home to review what their kids are learning at school. There are some really great resources online (games and virtual manipulatives) that kids can have fun with and still learn academic concepts.
Also another way I can use blogs is for my students writing. With an older age group like fourth or fifth grade, I could use blogs as a way for my students to publish their writing. Students find a lot of success in their writing when they can publish what they write and by publishing on a blog, this allows their peers and possibly their parents log on, read, and comment on their writing. It would be a great way to do peer reviewing and maybe get some ideas from each other that wouldn't take too much time in class.
Also I think having a classroom blog would just be a fun way for students to learn about the great things that technology can offer and teach them how to use it responsibly. As a class, we could design the blog, discuss things we want to post on it, and allow everyone the chance to say what they want. It could be a great and fun way to connect together as a class.
I think that using blogs in the classroom could be a great tool when used appropriately. As a teacher, I need to keep up with my students and use technology in a good way instead of fighting against it.