When we were newlyweds, we had two different sets of dishes. Each was for four place settings. Sam lamented the fact that if we had more than two friends over, we were forced to use mismatched plates. He feared that it made us look tacky. I (ever the optimist) said that it was hip and chic and very artsy to not always be matchy-matchy. This was seventeen years ago. If only I'd have written a magazine article about such a thing, I would have been the one getting credit for the brilliance of that idea instead of Whoever Did.
While I certainly cannot take credit for inventing the blog, I do feel like a trendsetter in the family. I discovered the joys of blogging over two years ago (Yeah! Go, me!) and have shared things with the world that I probably should never have. The kids think of the blog as one of Mommy's weird idiocyncricies. They also think of it as the family's tabloids. If they make a story, they're both elated and mortified. And they're just glad that I have a hobby that keeps me from making them clean their room regularly.
So Josh came home from school the other day and said that he needed to create a gmail account for school. I reminded him that he already has one, but he was insistent that he needed a second one. Okay, what for? He's making a blog for class.
Get. Out.
His teacher has yet to reveal what this blog will be used for, and any number of scenarios have been running through my head. There is the "this blog will be used for taking notes during class so that you have something to study from at home with no excuses" one and the "let's keep track of our science experiments here." But when he told me that it was his English teacher that is spearheading the project, my best guess is the "if I have kids write something every day it'll improve their writing skills and grammar" scenario. And I have to say, that would be brilliant of her. I approve.
Until this project is up and running, we are free to have fun with it. Josh, especially, is using it as a weapon of great force. Everything his sister does that is rather teen-girlish will be blogged about, so he says. He's holding this over her head with glee, but she could care less because "who will read it anyway." That was where I came in, because I am a loving and supportive mother that way. "Honey, everyone will read it. All his classmates will, and then share it with their siblings - some of whom will be in high school. And once it hits high school you know how it'll spread through the ranks. The teachers will all read because you can bet that some of the kids will be highly entertaining to read, and the high school teachers will want in on the action as well." The look of complete and utter horror on her face was all the thanks that I needed.
Too bad that things won't happen that way, because how good would it be?
But I do feel all good about myself because finally there is some type of school work that I know I can help the kids with. How embarrasing will it be if my sixth grader comes home as a brand new blogger and tells me how to make a whole new template design from scratch, using words like widgets and HTML?
11 comments:
How cool is that? I think that English teacher is a keeper. Want to trade her for one that uses the word 'conversating' often?
Interesting concept. And here's hoping he doesn't come home with all sorts of funky knowledge like that. I hate it when they know more than I do. ;) Mister Man's already passed me on dinosaurs. I can only guess what will be next!
Blogging: bringing families together one post at a time! How cool! I agree with Viv in the teacher being a keeper . . . the ones who are able to integrate the here-and-now in their lessons are the ones that truly impress me.
Sounds interesting. I can't wait to hear how the teacher is actually using the blogs. That could be a LOT to read if they blog every day! If your son comes home knowing more than you - exploit it and make him teach you!
My son has a blog this year for his English class too! It is his journal writing. Now no more "I don't have any paper or pencil" excuses!! I think it is a great idea too :)
Very cool! My oldest will be starting a blog this year or next. It would require me to share my computer more so I'm a little reluctant....
If he comes home completely understanding widgets and html, you need to pimp his services. Child labor rocks!
I'm like you, in that I started mine about two years ago (hmm, I think it's two years ago this Thursday, maybe I'll write something again) and my family say that they don't follow along with it, yet my wife complains that the blog is the only way she knows what is going on, well that and Facebook. I don't think so, otherwise I've been giving her a two-week silent treatment and that should never last that long.
I digress, again.
My oldest, said he was going to start a blog while he was away at school, to keep us, and his grandparents abreast of what he's doing, etc. Hasn't happened yet, and I am not holding my breath.
Benjy (#2) thinks they are stupid, as am I. Kids, you have to love them.
My oldest daughter has a blog, it's mostly cat pictures that she probably should give credit for using, but I think I am the only one that has read it, so far. :)
Now, my middle daughter wants me to help her set one up. She doesn't know what for, but of the kids I have mentioned, I think that she would excel at them. She knows how to tell a story and loves to read and write.
Look at that, I just hogged up all of your comment space. I do that too much, I think.
What was I saying again?
Oh jeeze, Karen. This is almost like handing them the keys to the car for the first time. ;-)
I have been trying to get my boys to blog for a while now, knowing it would strengthen their creative writing skills. (And quite possibly help pull Jock out of that quicksand black hole of "text speak"!)
Bug has recently started making noises about doing a guest post. But he says he's got to have "just the right thing to say".
That is SO cool. Kudos to the coolest teacher.
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