Blogging in the Classroom

Deniece White

11/29/2014

The students will:

Understand how blogging will grow their
vocabulary and writing skills
Develop and understanding for others point
of view
Understand what it means to be engaged in a
concept that prompts a higher level of critical
thinking, thereby resulting in substantive
writing.
Understand collaborative learning
Deniece White

11/29/2014

 Lead the class in publishing a class blog with

individual user names and passwords
Use Microsoft Word, Publisher, etc., to complete the
blog by using simple word processing and invented
spellings with teacher assistance as needed
Students will be asked to imagine they are going to
write a blog entry for yesterdays class. What would
they include?
Teacher will write appropriate ideas on a blackboard,
whiteboard, or teacher computer (with a projector or
TV monitor attached).

Deniece White

11/29/2014

The students will be told that what is written could be

written as a blog entry, except they arent going to
write their own classroom blog
The students will be told their blog is going to be
written by their classroom pet hamster.
Students will then be asked to look back at the ideas
on the board and imagine how the pet hamster would
have written the blog entry.
For example, they will be asked to imagine if there
was a fire drill, the class hamster might write, All of
a sudden, a large siren sounded and everyone left the
room. I was scared and didnt know what was
happening, but they came back quickly and I knew
everything was okay.

Deniece White

11/29/2014

The students will understand by writing the blog from

the pets viewpoint, a number of issues will be
addressed:

Concerns over students online safety and privacy are

lessened because no names are identified since the
blog entries are signed by the pet hamster, e.g., The
Hamster
Upper elementary students can learn about point of
view
The focus is shifted from the mundane to the unique
by engaging students and hopefully prompting a
higher level of critical thinking, thereby resulting in
substantive writing.

Deniece White

11/29/2014

Understand how blogging will grow their

vocabulary and writing skills
Develop and understanding for others point of
view
Understand what it means to be engaged in a
concept that prompts a higher level of critical
thinking, thereby resulting in substantive writing.
Once the students understand how to write the
entries, the blog will be created. The students
will take turns daily posting to the blog with
guidance if needed.
Deniece White

11/29/2014

Students will view their blog daily, either on a

projector/TV monitor or on a classroom
computer
The URL will also be sent home so parents
can see the class blog created, along with a
letter to ensure parents that safety and
privacy issues have been addressed.
The teacher will use the blogger steps to
create the blog

Deniece White

11/29/2014

Invites parents into the classroom to see what

learning looks and sounds like
Reflects literacy in action
Promotes speaking and listening skills
Allows for repetition learning through
revisiting the post as needed
Integrated math through checking the visitor
count

Deniece White

11/29/2014

To ensure students understand the blogging

concept, they will silently write todays entry
from the viewpoint of their classroom pet
hamster.
After which each students work will be collected
and reviewed to ensure everyone understands the
assignment: (To write about the days events
from their journal through the eyes of their
classroom pet hamster.
Timely submit a written post
Use school appropriate language and subject
matter
Deniece White

11/29/2014

As an online collaborative tool, technology:

Allows the students to collaborate with each

other online
Provides for an integrated face-to-face online
classroom discussion

Deniece White

11/29/2014

10

 Students have more time to think, reflect, and

process ideas
Students learn from each others ideas
With modelling and support, students use higher
level skills
Anxiety during online discussion is decreased
Promotes higher participation in both online and
face-to-face discussions

Deniece White

11/29/2014

11

http://www.nwea.org/blog/2014/33-digitaltools-advancing-formative-assessmentclassroom/
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blogging-in21st-century-classroom-michelle-lampinen
http://www.readwritethink.org/professionaldevelopment/strategy-guides/teachingwith-blogs-30108.html

Deniece White

11/29/2014

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Deniece White

11/29/2014

13

Acceptance Use Policy (AUP)

The Johnson Public Schools supports the rights of students and staff to have reasonable access,
in school, to information formats, and believes it is paramount upon students and staff to use this
educational advantage in an appropriate and responsible manner.

I will only use the Internet when there is an adult in the room with me.
I will not give out any information about myself, my family, or my friends on the
Internet.
I will not speak to strangers on the Internet without my teachers permission.
I will tell my teachers and parents if anyone on the Internet asks personal questions about
me.
I will use only appropriate language when using the Internet.
I will tell my teacher if I see anything on the Internet that makes me uncomfortable.
I will not copy anything from the Internet and claim it is my work.
I will not publish any information to the internet without prior approval.
I have read and understand the above rules. I understand that if I break any of these rules,
I may lose the privilege of using the Internet and may have other consequences.

This user agreement will be renewed each academic year.

For Parents/Guardians

I have read the Johnson Public Schools District Contract for computer use with my child.
I understand that access is for educational purposes I accept responsibility for my childs
computer use.
I give permission for my childs name to appear on the student, class, school, and/or
district web pages should one be developed. I understand the school district will not
publish my home address or phone number.
I give permission for my childs photo to appear on the student, class, school, and/or
district web pages should one be developed.

Student signature / Date: _________________________

Parent signature/ Date:
11/29/2014

_________________________

Deniece White

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Deniece White

11/29/2014

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