Most of you are probably very familiar with learning online. After all, information is easily accessible on the web, and in most cases – free. It’s not surprising that there are plenty of blogs dedicated to online education, focusing on school children. These websites are also known as classroom blogs.
You might think that these blogs are only beneficial for students, however, that’s not true. Both educators and parents can read classroom blogs to gather new ideas and inspiration, as well as tips and tricks for educating their kids.
In this article, I’ll talk about the best classroom blogs in 2019. Let’s get to it!
New Ways of Learning
With information being so accessible online, new ways of learning have formed to complement or even replace traditional techniques.
Besides classroom blogs, there are other ways to learn online. Some examples are online courses, niche platforms, forums, tutorials, and YouTube channels. All of these techniques have the same goal – to educate people online.
Easy access to education gives lots of benefits. Students can upload and download materials without time and location restrictions. They can also discuss problems together without having to meet up. If there are questions, students can directly message the teacher.
Of course, teachers also benefit from classroom bloggers. Teachers do not need to waste time printing and copying handouts, as they can be easily uploaded online. They can also create online quizzes and tests!
What if you’re not a student or a teacher? Don’t worry, because e-learning has no restrictions. Everybody can learn online, from elementary kids to grandparents.
Top 8 Classroom Blogs Teachers and Students Should Know of
You can start your e-learning adventure by checking out the best classroom blogs in 2019:
1. The Innovative Educator
Lisa Nielsen started as a librarian before becoming a public school teacher. In 2008, she launched The Innovative Educator. Nielsen believes that the old school classroom learning is boring and doesn’t interest kids enough. This reason alone encouraged her to build a website dedicated to innovative learning.
Everything about The Innovative Educator is related to progressive learning. In her blog, you will find topics such as education summits, PowerPoint presentations, eSports, and other digital learning-related topics.
The blog also covers humanitarian topics such as disability, minorities, and Accessibility Awareness Day.
The Good
- Innovative topics ‒ the topics can help educators to become more creative and understand their students better.
- Thorough articles ‒ the articles are high-quality and very detailed.
The Bad
- Lack of categories ‒ there are no categories for the articles. Readers have to go through all the articles for the specific topics they need.
The Verdict
The Innovative Educator is perfect for those who want to mingle in digital education. The blog has lots of tips that will help you to grasp a better understanding of certain topics. You might even become an expert digital educator, thanks to this classroom blog!
2. Learning is Messy
Are you into STEM-related topics (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) but find traditional learning annoying? Learning is Messy will change your mind.
Brian Crosby, the founder of Learning is Messy, has been an upper-elementary teacher for more than thirty years. Because of Crosby’s experience, the blog mostly covers STEM topics.
However, there is more in Learning is Messy than mere educational posts. Many of the blog’s posts contain STEM projects educators can use in their classes. The projects are designed to be “messy” so that students can learn by themselves. Mistakes are also encouraged in the learning process.
Besides projects, Crosby also posts STEM-related events such as paper submissions and teacher conferences.
The Good
- Hands-on learning ‒ the blog encourages students to learn through the process, giving students a first-hand experience on STEM-related matters.
- Environment-friendly ‒ many of Crosby’s projects are related to raising awareness about environmental issues.
The Bad
- Complicated technical terms ‒ students or educators who are not interested in STEM will find many topics hard to understand.
The Verdict
Learning is Messy is an excellent option for those who prefer learning by completing practical tasks. However, since the blog focuses on STEM, people who are not interested in the topic won’t find it useful.
3. The Tech Savvy Educator
The Tech Savvy Educator is another classroom blog that helps educators to integrate technology into their classes.
Ben Rimes, the classroom blogger, specializes in education technology. He pours his years of experience to his blog.
What makes this blog different from the rest is their categories. The blog covers a variety of topics, from science to languages and arts. All posts are neatly categorized for better user experience. Each category has tips and tricks to merge technology with that specific subject.
The articles are written in a very simple and straightforward manner, with witty jokes to lighten the mood. Thus, you won’t get bored while reading and won’t have any issues understanding the topics.
The Good
- All subjects in one ‒ the blog has every subject needed for high-schoolers.
- Proper categorization ‒ the subjects can be accessed easily from the homepage.
The Bad
- Irregular updates ‒ the blog has no specific schedule for new content. The updates are either once or twice a month. Once, Ben didn’t update the blog for eight months!
The Verdict
This blog has a robust number of various topics, which will prove useful both for students and teachers. With great user experience, this is one of the best blogs on this list.
4. Edudemic
Edudemic was founded in 2010 for tech-related news on education. The classroom blogger also offers other topics – social media, tools for learning, and guides for educators in the form of “How To.”
However, Edudemic’s highlight is its Online College Report section, where the blog covers college rankings and their majors.
The goal of the Online College Report is to prevent students from being scammed or choosing the wrong institution for higher education. The ranking system is very useful for future students when making one of the biggest decisions in their life.
The Good
- College guide ‒ Edudemic offers a service that helps students to find the perfect college for them.
- Tools for the classroom ‒ the edublog gives tips to integrate real-life tools (iPads, comic books, games) to the curriculum.
The Bad
- Outdated ‒ despite its useful content, Edudemic stopped updating its content in 2018, making some of its information invalid.
The Verdict
Edudemic is best for educators and upper high school students. Educators benefit from its tips and tricks, while students benefit from its unique college ranking system. However, you should re-check their content to make sure it’s still valid today.
5. Cool Cat Teacher
Vicki Davis founded the blog twelve years ago. Don’t let the years trick you, as the blog is still active today.
Being an experienced educator, Davis covers various subjects, from health to mathematics, including technology and STEM-related topics. She also delves in essential issues such as school policies and parental tips.
However, the highlight of Cool Cat Teacher is the podcast. Davis hosts a 10-minute podcast meant to help other teachers and discusses various useful topics.
Cool Cat Teacher also has a store that sells digital books for teaching. The store provides paid workshops and certificates for teachers.
The Good
- Social media-friendly ‒ the classroom blogger has all social media platforms connected to her blog. From Facebook to Pinterest, all is there. Moreover, all the platforms are active!
- Variety of grade levels ‒ Cool Cat Teacher has content for all grades, from elementary school to college.
The Bad
- Teacher-only topics ‒ students won’t enjoy the blog, as most of them consist of tips for teachers.
The Verdict
Teachers who need new class activities and resources should check out Cool Cat Teacher. The topics are unique, and your students will love them.
6. Free Technology for Teachers
Richard Bryne had a dream to give free resources for teachers. The idea came true in the form of his classroom blog – Free Technology for Teachers.
Most of the content in Bryne’s blog is free. The only paid feature is the Amazon affiliate link at the bottom of the website.
The topics are covered in various formats. You’ll find reviews, articles, tutorials, and videos. The blog has a newsletter you can subscribe, which provides direct contact to Bryne.
The Good
- Detailed tutorials ‒ visitors can learn how to use free resources from Bryne’s tutorials.
- Education videos ‒ the tutorials are in the form of videos, making it perfect for visual learners.
The Bad
- Advertisements ‒ there are Amazon affiliate links at the bottom of the blog.
The Verdict
If you want free tools for your classes, Bryne’s blog is the right place for you. His edublog is also a good option for those who prefer to learn things via videos.
7. My Paperless Classroom
My Paperless Classroom is a is Teacher’s Cast’s blog, which is a professional service that helps educators build their digital learning platforms such as podcasts and websites.
Since Teacher’s Cast emphasizes on digital learning, most of the articles on its blog are related to classroom management.
However, some articles cover real-life class activities. Most of the events are project-based, where students have to create something out of raw materials.
The Good
- Podcast for teacher training ‒ Jeff Bradbury created a free podcast for instructional technology coaches (another term for educators who use technology in their curriculum).
- Active social media ‒ Teacher’s Cast has several active social media accounts that show new updates on Jeff Bradbury’s content.
The Bad
- Limited content ‒ since the edublog is not the main focus of Teacher’s Cast, you won’t find lots of articles in My Paperless Classroom.
The Verdict
If you’re planning to create an education website or a podcast, you can use Jeff Bradbury’s service to start. However, you need to remember that it will cost some money.
Check out My Paperless Classroom to read free educational articles. However, don’t expect that they will have everything you need.
8. The Thesis Whisperer
The Thesis Whisperer is an edublog, with a neatly categorized interface for better user experience.
Most of The Thesis Whisperer content focuses on Ph.D. education such as article writing, correct paragraph structure, and brainstorming. The blog also gives some tips regarding dissertation writing.
Besides writing tips, the blog writer also recommends some real-life tips such as Shut Up and Write to encourage healthy writing habits.
Since the blog has been around since 2010, it has tons of guest posts by professionals.
The Good
- Guest posts ‒ there are lots of guests posts, giving readers different perspectives on Ph.D. related topics. Some of the guest’s authors even have podcasts!
- Encouraging posts ‒ the posts geared toward two goals – to sharpen your academic writing skills and find useful Ph.D. resources.
The Bad
- Advanced language level ‒ the content is written in academic English, so non-native speakers with lower skills might struggle with this classroom blog.
The Verdict
This classroom blog is perfect for students and Ph.D. candidates, as it focuses its content on useful writing tips and building academic skills.
That’s a Wrap!
Classroom blogs are a great way to access educational material online. You don’t have to only rely on books and traditional learning techniques, to educate yourself or your students.
To start your e-learning, here are classroom bloggers you can visit:
- The Innovative Educator ‒ gives tips to integrate technology with the curriculum.
- Learning is Messy ‒ emphasizes on learning-by-doing.
- The Tech Savvy Educator ‒ easy access to all the materials through detailed categories.
- Edudemic ‒ great college ranking system.
- Cool Cat Teacher ‒ has materials for all grade levels.
- Free Technology for Teachers ‒ free resources with useful tutorials.
- My Paperless Classroom ‒ various real-life projects for your class’ activities.
- The Thesis Whisperer ‒ great to enhance your academic writing skills.
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