“What am I doing that will help me succeed?”- Tasha Eurich
Via Flickr Creative Commons Ian Sane “Freedom” https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
I love how the Ted Talk above helps remind us that when it comes to coaching or improvement, that sometimes focusing on JUST one element at a time is the most important thing to do. An actionable step forward is better than an indeterminate amount of time guessing where to put our feet.
My ‘one thing,’ is to provide a better menu of blog post prompts for my students. That step is part of what I hope will be a journey towards a more authentic blogging community at my school. I want my students to see themselves as writers and thinkers, and their blogs as important tools for their trade. Thus far, their blogs have been a place for work and reflection. I’d like to see more autonomy in posting, more freedom and flexibility in what is being shared.
Via Creative Commons on Flickr Aphrodite’s “Although you are far”
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
So here’s the part where I ask for your help: I’m looking for a few great prompts. While students will not be limited to these prompts, I want them to see the prompts as a series of diving platforms.
Please take a look at my list as it currently stands. I’m looking for great corners of the web to point our writers to–anything that will beget more creativity is welcome. I would appreciate any ideas fed in as a comment below. Additionally, if you have an approach you are proud of, or if you have an obstacle you want to talk about, please see this post as a diving board into discussing which catalysts work, and which curbs jump out at you, the facilitator. Thanks in advance!
Via Creative Commons on Flickr Michelle Gow “Untitled” https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
Hey Tricia,
Wow. I would have loved to be in your class in High School. The bar is set very high: your students’ writing skills and creativity are definitely stretched by this list.
My first thought is to direct them to waitbutwhy.com, (awesomely well-researched blog on a wide variety of topics). I particularly like the existential crisis posts:
The Fermi Paradox
The AI Revolution (Part 1 & 2)
How to Chose Your Life Partner (Part 1& 2)
Ask what their personal beliefs and/or reflections are on each topic.
Tricia – those are some seriously awesome blogging prompts. I don’t see any of your students saying “What should I blog about…?” Some other ideas…
Adding to number 26 – my partner uses cartoons from Zen Pencils https://zenpencils.com/ a lot in his secondary English class, maybe you’ve heard of it already. The artist creates drawings and comics, illustrating famous and not-so-famous quotes. His students love it.
Maybe your foodie students could blog about a recipe they or their family member has made, and tell others how to replicate it.
They could write a satirical post pretending to be their favorite athlete/celebrity/book character/etc.
Hope I can read some of their posts!
Holly and Tara,
Thank you SO much, these are the exact type of wonderful ideas I was fishing for. I really appreciate your suggestions (and I’m sure my students will too!)
I have found this site (https://www.wouldyourathermath.com/) to be useful for student blog ideas. I’ve asked students to choose a side and blog about it.