Break Into Blogging Teaching Locally. Sharing Globally. Flattening the Classroom Walls. Shawn Avery and Geri O'Reilly Silver Lake Regional School District Irene Kistler 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 o Only for educators o Free 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 o Free for everyone o Only need a Google account o Limited security WordPress o Free o Limited security due to being open for all to use

Engage Students Parent Communication Global Connections Authentic Student Writing Why Blog?

Engage Students Parent Communication Global Connections Authentic Student Writing A Quality Comment

Authentic Student Writing Blogging gives students an audience: an authentic reason to write! Teaching “Quality Commenting” is key!“Quality Commenting” 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!

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Authentic Student Writing Engage Students Parent Communication Global Connections Share With OthersLearn From Others

GlobalConnections 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.

GlobalConnections 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?Is our buddy class okay?

Engage Students Parent Communication Authentic Student Writing Global Connections Share WorkShare Events

Parent Communication 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.Family Blogging Month

Authentic Student Writing Global Connections Parent Communication Engage Students Includes ALL Share Links Web 2.0 Tools

Engage Students Media Upload--Teach Creative Commons Web 2.0 Tools 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.

Check them out! Great Blogs

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Great Blogs to Visit Mrs. Yollis' Classroom 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. Mr. Salsich's Class Blog 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 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 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.

Blogging Livebinder

Let’s Get Posting!

Any Questions? You can get in touch with Irene at Thanks!