Ms. Wiley\’s Class Blog

Alright guys….I know you’ve been asking for it, and I’ve finally created a place to ask questions, give suggestions and advice, etc. for the big project! Have at it!

Discuss the book! Discuss the short stories and poetry related to the book! Ask questions, give your opinion, pick your classmates’ brains!

Post Questions, Advice, and Woes related to your comma rules here.

Post your MLA questions, advice, and woes here.

Students and parents,

I hope that in the last four weeks of school, you have picked up on the fact that I love what I do. I love my students and genuinely care that they leave my class a little wiser than when they enter the door. I work hard to make the learning as interesting and fun as possible–sometimes that is easier said than done, but I do try.

All that to say that when I assign grades, it pains me to have zero after zero after zero. Please do not think I am uncaring when I do not accept late work. Please do not get upset when I tell you no. I am strict on my class guidelines and clear on my expectations.

Students, please, get your work done and in on time. I will bend over backward to help you be successful–I offer tutorials and am also available after hours and on weekends via e-mail. I can only do so much though. The responsibility for the work, ultimately, is on your shoulders.

There just is not a valid excuse for so many of you not to be turning in typed journals and vocabulary cards…these are two of the easiest assignments given in my class, and they are recurring assignments. Please do what you need to do to get the work in. If it’s an issue of your memory failing you, then check the website–I post your homework on it. If you can think of other ways that I can help you, please let me know.

Ultimately, however, the responsibility is yours, and you will have to be accountable for the grades you earn.

Thank you!

I have ALWAYS wanted to have a sort of interactive message board on my website, but it is a feature that, as of now, Teacher Web does not offer.

So, after some exploring online, I found edublogs, and I figured we could try it out.

Let me tell you what I envision/my goals for this site.

• A place where students can post questions, comments, concerns about homework and I can respond–thereby helping others who may have similar questions
• A place where parents can ask general questions or comments about the class
• A place where students can share their writing with one another and can ask for help, suggestions, feedback, etc.–and receive it
• A place where students can practice typing and writing skills
• A place where we can further enhance our relationships with one another
• A place where literature and writing can be discussed (an English teacher can dream, can’t she?)
• A place where students and parents can tell Ms. Wiley how great she is (an English teacher can dream, can’t she?)

Honestly, I could keep that list going and going and going. I feel that this medium has the potential to enhance the learning of my students–and me in ways that I cannot yet fathom.

So, my questions to you are:

• Parents, how do you feel about letting your students communicate with me and one another in this fashion?
• What guidelines would you like to see?
  • I have thought of some and welcome other thoughts and suggestions:
    • First name and last initial only–if that makes the parents and students feel more secure
    • school appropriate language at all times
    • respect individuals and institutions at all times
    • while some general conversation may occur, this is an educational blog; don’t use it as a diary or to make weekend plans
    • No inquiries about individual student progress–this isn’t the place for that

• Students, do you think this is a tool that would be helpful to you?
• Students, would you use it?
• Parents, would you use it?
• What would you like for it to include? What would be your goals for the blog?

I thank you all for your support and I thank you in advance for your feedback as I venture to add a little more technology to my classroom.