Blogging in the Classroom

Blogging can be used in the classroom in a number of ways (this post will overlap information with the previous post). A blog post could be used to set up a discussion: the topic or question is posed by the teacher, then the students in that class would discuss or answer in the comments section. The next time the class meets, the teacher can pull up the blog post and bring up some key points or issues addressed by the students. It could also be used to post homework assignments and project them on the Smart board during class, and they could go back to the blog after class if needed. A music teacher could also have all of the students create a blog in which they journal their practice experiences, and have a requirement for a certain amount of entries a week. The goal would be to prompt students to practice, but it would also help them organize what they are practicing and learning in the process, and help them see the progress they've made over the course of the semester or year. The students could also use it to post homework assignments, such as research on a composer, instrument or musical piece. They could also use it to post new or interesting music that they have discovered, and share it with the class.

To be honest, the fact that this would be used in a music class is limiting to the possibilities of using a blog. Music is a hands-on endeavor, unless you are researching information, and I don't know how else to use a blog in the classroom itself. I really like the idea of using it as a journal, but even then I would probably have them type them up and email them, or use d2l. Plus, some students may not be comfortable blogging, or may want to use a different social network, and it could get tricky. I would keep an open mind to using a blog in the classroom, or having the students use one, but I don't think that would be my first choice at this point in time.

Blogging for Parents and Students

I've never thought of this before, but I could see having a blog site as being of some use to a teacher. For students, you could have entries about the lesson you had that day and have students comment on what they learned. It could be used as a means to post notes for the day, so that students who missed class can catch up, or can review on the blog site. It can also be a means of keeping students informed with class news or any last minute reminders. Of course, you could post homework assignments on the blog as well. However, there may be some drawbacks. The student would have to constantly be checking back to the blog, and if they forget, that could be detrimental to their grade. I also don't see this tying into music at all, because the nature of the subject is hands-on. I wouldn't use this for the students, because outside of the class it wouldn't be as useful to me as other means of technology or communication. Because of this, I would rather use it for the parents.

I think the blog is a great way to keep parents in the loop. They could check the site once or twice a week for updates on their child's class and what is being learned in that class. You could post class expectations, future concert and field trip events, composer biographies of the people the students learn about, or post overviews of the lesson that week. I think that could be a great way of keeping parents in the loop and reminding them of upcoming events, concerts, or field trips. You could also post for help if you needed volunteers for chaperones or ushers for concerts, or ask if anyone has old instruments to donate. You could also inform the parents of upcoming conferences. If I had to do a blog, I would rather utilize it for the parents instead of the students.

Why teaching?

Teaching wasn't something that had occurred to me growing up as an occupation option. In fact, I had no interest in becoming a teacher until I was a senior in high school. My ideas for what I wanted to do ranged from pharmacy to veterinarian to dental hygienist, but my passion had always been music. I knew better than to go for a performance major (no offense to any performance majors, it's just so hard to get a job in that field-too competitive). As much as I believed music education to be important even then, I didn't want to just be a boring music teacher either. Until someone told me about music therapy, I didn't think music was an option.


Music therapy is a relatively new field, and it grows and develops more each year. It sparked my interest, and I decided I wanted to go to school for that degree. However, at the time, the school I had decided on only had music education, so I decided to start with that.


I hate to put it this way, but I think I grew into my major. When I first started, I didn't really give too much thought toward teaching because it seemed so far away. But I feel I've matured a lot since my freshman year, and with every field experience and placement I love it more and more. Plus, I get to blend teaching with therapy- I'm currently leading a music therapy group at the Saint Peter's Regional Treatment Center, where I get to both teach music and offer it as a coping strategy for those that need it. I want to become a teacher and make sure that my students learn as much as they possibly can in the time I have with them. I believe that teachers need to want to be in the field for the kids and not for selfish reasons. I believe that music is a crucial part of education and needs to be included in the curriculum. I have become as passionate about the teaching aspect of music as I was about the performance and healing aspects of it, and these three things drive me to finish my major and get out into the world with my degree.