What have I learned?

So far, this blogging class has taught me the potential that blogs can serve in the regular classroom. I definitely want to use blogs in my theatre classroom this fall as a way to collaborate and communicate. Perhaps I could use it to communicate to my students while on maternity leave as well. :-)

Starting this blog was easier than I thought and I appreciated learning from how other teachers used blogs. For example, http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/ is a great constantly updated source of information that can help teachers read and discuss current ways technology can be used in the classroom. After doing a general search I found a student's blog about his theatre class at http://theaterclassblog.blogspot.com/. Although this was a student's blog, the entries he have are reflections of what was learned or discussed in class, which mirrors the kind of reflections I'd like to see as comments on my class blog.

I want my blog to be an extension of the classroom where students can reflect more in depth of what we talk about. It can also be a place for students to discuss different ideas while in the comfort of their home, which they may not otherwise feel comfortable to talk about or have an opportunity to discuss.

I definitely want to use this blog in my classroom as an extension of what's discussed in class and hopefully find some other cool blog features, like the avatar, to enhance it even more.

What to learn? Why blog?

When I signed up for the online blogging class, I wanted to learn how blogs can be used in the classroom. I knew blogs were used for publishing online journals, but I'm curious how I can collaborate with other coworkers as well as make blogs a part of the grading process of my classroom. I see potential in encouraging collaboration among my students as they apply concepts taught in class in a unique online format.

So why am I blogging? I intend this blog to be a way for me to encourage collaboration in the classroom. I want to post thoughts and begin conversations online that apply what we're learning in class. This blog also will be used to post current theatre events and auditions so all students can be up-to-date on the local theatre scene.

Who am I?

Welcome to my blog! I'm Mrs. Kathy Hobbs, the head theatre director at Chisholm Trail Middle School and here's some facts about me:

• I grew up in the DFW area, and graduated from Allen High School (the 5A state football champs of 2008).
• In middle school, I started to like theatre, but I had to audition for three plays before I received my first role which didn't have a single line, and my scene only lasted a minute.
• My senior year in high school I played my favorite acting role: Alice in "You Can't Take it With You."
• I majored in Theatre Education and minored in English Teaching.
• In 2004, I moved to Killeen, TX to teach at Audie Murphy Middle School the first year it opened.
• In 2008, I began teaching at Chisholm Trail Middle School where I directed "Into the Woods" and "M*A*S*H."
• Mark Allen, my son, will be three August 28th, which is the same day I'm due to have my second child, Lily Marie.
• I love teaching to others and learning what they have to teach me!