Westlake teacher finds blogging can boost writing skills for students

WESTLAKE -- The Westlake School District is finding that kids' literacy skills are flourishing when they blog.

Kathleen Bartos is the elementary technology specialist in the Westlake Schools, and is using podcasting and blogging to help her students meet Ohio Content Standards.

"We have to make school as interesting as playing Playstation, and I think we have," says Bartos. She is teaching her students how to produce podcasts and blog about stories they have read in class. It is all tied into the curriculum.

They also are using webcams to capture the life cycle of butterflies, tadpoles and chicks. That brings science to life for the students.

Bartos just won a $10,000 grant from Best Buy, she was the only teacher in Ohio to win. Now, she is competing for a $100,000 grant that will be announced in May.

She has just unveiled Tuesday what she calls "The Morgan and Lucy Show." It's a live webcast of her two beloved Dachshunds. Morgan is 9 years old and Lucy is 3. You can watch their antics by clicking on the link below.