Blogging with Boudreau!

Hello Everyone

Some of you advanced techies may already be using blogs in you schools, however, I am new to blogging and wanted to share my experience.

I wanted to get away from the several hours it takes to make a formal newsletter and the costs associated with paper usage. Teachers were also making classroom newsletters with the same disadvantages being time and cost.

My goal was to increase communication and increase efficiencies. When the WEPVPA blog was created, I inquired into making a school blog. In a one hour visit with Doug Sadler, I had a beautifully functioning blog for myself and one for staff....and here's the great news...if you know how to send messages/email through the BBS then you can blog...literally.

When you get set up, it will be created in a way that you really don't need to access the blogging program. You literally send "your blog" a message from the BBS and your message is posted to your site. You just blogged. It's that simple.

You can send pictures and messages to parents instantly instead if compiling information for a month. As an addition to or in place of synervoice, you can send a message. It can be done from your phones, iPads, or desktop and it doesn't matter if you are using Apple or PC or if you choose to go between both. Parents can subscribe to your blog and be notified immediately when a new message is posted.

Both the teacher blog and my admin blog have been running for a week. To date we are well over 500 hits on each site. PARENTS ARE READING IT!

One savvy teacher instructed parents that when she blogs each week there will be a hidden treasure word that can be recorded in the child's agenda. The teacher will then hold a draw for a prize for the child all because the parent is reading her blog. Cool!

I have attached the addresses for the teacher and admin blog for you to look at. It really has saved time and money while increasing communication. There are so many more advantages...too many to list here...but consider your school, the community and if this would work. It's really a great tool.

http://stafinews.blogspot.ca/

http://staficorner.blogspot.ca/

Lisa Boudreau

Principal St. Anne FI