At the moment, I’m working on getting approval for my next blogging idea. You see, I’ve finally figured out how to blog while I’m at work. I suppose this makes me money indirectly, since I get paid to be at work, but anyway…
Previously, I’ve dismissed the idea, because I didn’t think the concepts behind business blogs applied to schools. I was wrong. Here is what Entrepreneur.com has to say about it:
A blog allows your business to engage with current and potential customers in a direct, informal, no-pressure way.
I thought this didn’t apply to me because I don’t have any customers, at least not in the traditional sense. Then it dawned on me…the students are my customers. Duh!
I began to consider what services I could provide to them by creating a class blog, and came up with the following:
1. A way to connect with classmates who they will no longer be in touch with when they return to their regular school. Students who want to have their pictures on the site can put them up. This will make the site popular, as opposed to one of those teacher sites that sit on their district’s server with no friends.
2. A more comfortable way to contact me and let me know if things aren’t going well in their classes after they return.
3. Information on addiction. I found some great videos about the ill effects of meth that I can embed. Really gross, gory stuff. They’ll love it.
4. Information on abuse. I can provide direct links to Child Protective Services.
5. Information on what to do in a family financial crisis. Many of my students are more financially responsible than the adults in the home. Links to social services can help them to help their families and in turn, themselves.
6. Links to, and excerpts from articles written by ex-gangbangers about how to be successful outside of gang culture.
7. Contact information for lawmakers. I always encourage my students to use their voices and be politically active. This is a quick and easy way to accomplish this. I will also include a legislative calender.
8. An opportunity for students to express themselves publicly using correct grammar, spelling, etc. Writing for a blog will be much more relevant than many of the writing assignments in the textbook are.
9. A way for students to show off their artwork and other projects that they are proud of.
This is pretty much a brainstorm post. If anyone can think of any additions to this blog that would benefit “at-risk” students, do let me know! Just keep in mind that marketing and recruiting for my alternative school are definitely not goals! 
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I like this idea a lot! I would read it, in fact, though I’m not in your class.
I think this is a great idea. Kids are really tuned to technology and it could be a great way to interact and teach them some skills outside of the classroom. Better they are on your blog than somewhere they could get into trouble.
Its a good idea, but i would probably make it a complete seperate blog for your students. Not sure howkids parents will react if they get sent to a blog with strip poker and semptember shots. Even if it is just inoccent fun.
Another benefit: If the kids are willing to sign thier blog entries, this gives them something they can put on thier resumes. Good writing on topics of interest to all can help them show themselves to be contributors to society. Good thing that – especially when looking for jobs.
As the parent of a (now grown) special needs kid, I think the student blog you are suggesting is a great idea. All kids need to know someone is there to listen to them, but these kids need it even more.
Very cool idea! Great brainstorming too!
Your own perspective on the local social problems. It is a touch and go subject because you probably would be stretching it by posting political/religious views to students but being a teacher in a troubled school allows you the opportunity to voice out to your students what you think about the problems in their area and how everyone can be a part of the solution.
This goes with the gang problems you mentioned but I am sure that is just one of many problems the kids at your school face. You could even go so far as to use it as a medium to organize events for a better school environment (if you want to go that far).
Great IDEA!
I think this a great idea, Michelle. I’m going to forward it to some teacher friends who work with at-risk kids (currently – I used to) and hopefully they’ll be able to give you some feedback.
I hope that your school approves it, I think blogging could be so therapeutic for kids in this position; and, had actually contemplated approaching one of the programs which I used to work for in SF to see if they’d be interested in me teaching a “new media” class in their after school program this spring. Mebee running it like a school newspaper.
Awesome, as always.
Kate
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