Class+Blogs

= = media type="custom" key="10966072"

**Why have a class blog?**

 * To share learning with parents, the community, and the world
 * To make connections with other classrooms around the world
 * Authentic audience
 * Teaching tool for the skills students will need when they start their own blogs
 * Motivation to read and write
 * Writing skills in context
 * Commenting skills
 * Reflection
 * Collaboration
 * Global Awareness
 * Modeling of Digital Citizenship and Cyber Safety

Blogging Guidelines Example

 * Students will only be identified by their first names.
 * Posts written by students are checked by before they are published on the blog.
 * Posts will not include personal details about students such as addresses and family information.
 * All comments submitted have to be approved by ___ before they are included on the blog.
 * All students must have parental permission to post on the blog and to have their photo published on the blog.
 * Parents who leave comments are asked to use their first name only so as not to identify their child
 * Proof-read your comments carefully. Students should have a family member check for spelling mistakes before submitting a comment.
 * All students must abide by the blogging rules that we have established as a class.

Blogging Permission

 * Share with parents your purpose for having a blog
 * Be specific about what information will be shared
 * Let parents know your role and how you will moderate information and comments

Getting Started

 * Choose a blogging platform. Here is a very helpful document created by Kathy Cassidy that may help you choose. Kathy has also created another list of blogs sorted by platform.
 * Create your blogging guidelines
 * Teach your students how to write posts and quality comments through class posts
 * Share the blog with parents and encourage them to sign-up to receive new post notifications
 * Visit the blogs of other classes and make connections. Class Blog List

Teaching Commenting Skills
This is a great visual of Mrs. Yollis' guidelines for writing quality comments.

Mrs. Yollis and her students also made this fantastic video about quality comments: media type="custom" key="10810368"

Fun Widgets

 * ==[|Library Thing]==
 * ==[|Clocks]==
 * ==[|ClustrMaps]==
 * ==[|Countdown Widget]==
 * ==[|Font Generator]==
 * ==[|Glitter Text]==
 * ==[|Pets]==