Dan’s 5th class blog

Starting with this award-winning blog, this is an example of how one can start off with a simple idea and make it grow into something special.  This blog started in September 1st 2011 with some interactive scavenger hunts for Dan’s pupils before growing into an online account of everything that goes on in the classroom.  No doubt on the back of the Junior Spider’s success, Dan’s class are going to continue blogging this year.

Michael’s 3rd & 4th class blog

Michael is a teacher in my school and in three months has created an amazing resource for his class with his school blog.  Michael is a whizz with Adobe Fireworks and he creates great animations to help his class (and their parents) learn different concepts.  He also blogs about what’s going on in the classroom, which again gives parents the opportunity to see what their children are learning in class.  Recently, a number of his pupils have started adding their own articles and this blog is shaping up to be a wonderful resource.

Mr. Mitchell’s Class Blog

This Sligo-based teacher started his class blog back in February so is on to his second set of children in his class.  It is amazing to see the number of projects there.  The first one, in February, focused on the Maori people, and there are ideas in these articles to inspire any teacher.  Mr. Mitchell is experimenting with Web 2.0 apps like Wallwisher, Audioboo and Twitter and it looks like 2012 is going to be another award-winning year for him and his lucky class.

Miss Mernagh’s Blog

Launched on the 1st January 2011, Miss Mernagh’s Blog is a gigantic resource for early year’s teachers and parents.  Miss Mernagh shares how she makes resources and how she uses them in her classroom.  She also shares ideas for teaching early learning concepts.  Already featured in the Irish Examiner and Times newspapers, Miss Mernagh has a large following.  One can only assume that this blog is going to get bigger and better.  If you’re a teacher of infants, this is by far the best place to start getting ideas.

A Crucial Week in the Life of an NQT

Started in July 2011, this is a fantastic blog for any newly qualified teacher (NQT).  Going by the name, “Baggy_Trousers”, this NQT shares her own experiences of the classroom and shares the types of things she does to prepare for the dreaded “dip” (probationary year).  One can see this teacher growing in confidence as the months have rolled on and it will be interesting to see the direction this blog will go as this teacher’s year progresses.

Irish Teacher Blogs

To round things up, Nigel Lane, (who has been blogging for more than a year or he’d be on this list), has come up with the Irish Teacher Blogs Project, which essentially aggregates every Irish teacher’s blog into one site.  It’s been running for a few months now and rather than simply listing random blog posts from around the country, Nigel sets regular challenges for us.  Teachers have been challenged to comment on another teacher’s blog or to share their favourite blog.  Nigel also “spotlights” some of his contributors, which is a nice touch.  I see big things for this web site in 2012.

As I said, if you started a blog in 2011 and want to add it to the comments below, please do.  I think we’re going to see a number of new blogs popping up in the next couple of months.  Some will ask why should they set up a blog; why would I put my class up on the Internet?  For me, it’s all about sharing.  If you read some of the blogs above, you’ll definitely become inspired in your own classroom.  Why not inspire others yourself!

One of these principals has done something amazing.  Fintan McCutcheon, the principal of Balbriggan ETNS runs a “principal blog”.  Every so often he writes articles about things that interest him in his school and in his community.  For example, Fintan discusses how his school uses his pupils in decision making around hiring teachers and reasons why they offer after-school clubs.  Effectively, he has opened up his own vision of education to the world.  So, what is the effect of this?

Fintan explained that he is now engaged in really interesting discussions at the school gates with parents who have read his blog.  Even the postman reads his thoughts and chats to him about them.  In fact, some of his posts give perspectives of issues that are difficult to find elsewhere.  For example, Fintan explains the differences between Educate Together schools and the new VEC primary schools being piloted.  It’s very hard to find this information on the Internet and Fintan has found himself engaged in more interesting conversations as a result, especially as a new VEC school is opening in September in Balbriggan.

However, perhaps poignantly, the death of Toyosi Shittabey earlier this year, has opened Balbriggan Educate Together to a wider community.  Although only 3 people publicly commented on the blog, Fintan said he has been approached in person by many many people he has never had the opportunity to speak with before.  It has opened up his own school community in a massive way.

I would love to start up a principal blog in my own school.  I am inspired by what Fintan has achieved with broadcasting his own thoughts and involving the wider community in his school and his town.  It would be great to see other principals doing this.

To read Fintan’s blog visit: http://balbrigganetns.wordpress.com