Emerging Blog Stars

So far, I've been assigning topics for kids to write about on their blogs. These are things that we have been discussing in class and I've been giving them specific topics because I want them to have some structure for their blogging and something to think more deeply about. I also want them to get used to using their blogs as a learning tool, as a space where they write, think, and reflect; not just for telling us about their favourite television show (although if they want to post about that, they can do that too!). We have been talking about linking to outside sites to provide readers with deeper and further information. We have figured out the technical pieces of inserting pictures into a post.

After we truly get rolling with Bloglines accounts (coming soon!) and have ideas about other bloggers they can connect with, I will be easing off on the required types of posts. I will still want them to write about ideas we are discussing in class and I will be providing them with guidelines ("I want you to write something this week on the process you are going through as you create your social studies project,") rather then the very specific assigned pieces of writing I am getting from them now ("Tell how a mood can be created in a visual text").

Several of the kids understand online formatting, placing in pictures and links, and generally thinking about their readers already. Some of these posts are truly amazing and are worth a few moments of your already over - burdened attention span.

Emerging stars.

technorati tags:classrooms, blogging, edublogs

Comments

[Brandi Caldwell]

Great work. These kids really are getting the idea. I think they demonstrate mature, curriculum driven blogging. I am piloting a class to do their own posts this nine weeks. It is scary stuff. Your students make it look easy. Thanks.