Transcript Break_Into_Blogging

Break Into Blogging
Teaching Locally. Sharing Globally.
Flattening the Classroom Walls.
Shawn Avery and Geri O'Reilly
Irene Kistler
Silver Lake Regional School District
Northeast Independent School District
What is a Blog?
The term "blog" refers to a "web log."
•It's an online journal to which you can add different types of media.
•Posts are chronological.
•There are many different hosts and blog designs.
You will notice a variety of blogging platforms among flat classrooms.
•Edublogs
oOnly for educators
oFree and Pro versions
Free version gives limited storage space and puts an ad for Edublog at the top of the page
Pro version gives lots of storage space and student accounts
•Blogger
oFree for everyone
oOnly need a Google account
oLimited security
•WordPress
oFree
Why Blog?
Authentic Student Writing
Parent Communication
Global Connections
Engage
Students
Global Connections
Authentic Student Writing
A Quality Comment
Engage
Students
Parent Communication
•
Blogging gives students an audience: an authentic reason to write!
•
Teaching “Quality Commenting” is key!
1. Letter Format (optional, but best practice)
2. Two to Three Content Sentences
3. Start with a compliment!
4. Details must match the Main Idea!
•
As they write more, their skills continue to grow.
•
They will FINALLY capitalize “I” in their sentences!
Authentic Student Writing
6
Authentic Student
Writing
Global Connections
Engage
Students
Parent Communication
Share With Others
Learn From Others
• Students connect with kids and schools around the
world.
• We have a blog roll to easily locate other classes and
student blogs...which leads to their blog rolls...and so on
and so on and so on.
• Students immediately notice the similarities and
differences between their everyday life and the life of
students in other states and on other continents. They
COMPARE, EVALUATE and JUDGE.
• Firsthand experience, not secondhand knowledge.
Global
Connections
• Post a world map.
• Mark San Antonio, Texas.
• String out to countries and continents:
North, South, East, West
Hemisphere
Continent
Country Name and Flag
Seasons
Time Zones
• Christchurch, New Zealand: Is our buddy class okay?
Global
Connections
Authentic Student
Writing
Parent Communication
Global Connections
Share Work
Share Events
Engage
Students
• Parents love seeing their child's work
published. Families feel like they’re part of what's
happening in the class.
• Family Blogging Month: Parents, other family, and
friends participate in a contest. The top three bloggers
earn their own blog. This helps to build student
confidence.
Parent
Communication
Authentic Student
Writing
Global Connections
Parent
Communication
Engage
Students
Web 2.0 Tools
Share Links
Includes ALL
• With a blog, you can embed different types of media, such
as pictures and videos. This gives new opportunities for
students to create and share projects.
• Blogging also gives a showcase to Web 2.0 tools. As
students complete projects, they can be embedded into
posts.
Media Upload--Teach Creative
Commons
Engage Students
Web 2.0 Tools
Check them out!
Great Blogs
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Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog
Mr. Salsich's Class Blog
Mrs. Yollis teaches third grade just outside of Los
Angeles, California. Last year she was first
runner up in the Edublog Awards for her class
blog and received a Lifetime Achievement Award
for the work that she has done with blogging.
Mrs. Salsich also teaches third grade but in
Stonington, Connecticut. He was also
nominated for an Edublog Award this year. He
does an amazing job of engaging students
through the use of his blog.
Great Blogs to Visit
Billings Beta
2KM and 2KJ
Billings is middle school in Seattle Washington. It
won the award for Best Class Blog last year. It's a
great example of a blog kept with older
students. As students grow, so does their skills
with technology. This blog shows that!
2KM and 2KJ is an example of an international
blog. It is based out of Leopold, Australia
(Victoria). They have made amazing
connections with schools from all over the
world, showing the true potential of a class
blog.
Great Blogs to Visit
Blogging Livebinder
Let’s Get Posting!
Any Questions?
You can get in touch with Irene at
[email protected]
Thanks!