2/4/16 This afternoon we had our first session of STI’s Digital Writing Workshop. What did we do to set the stage? BLOGGING! First we looked at some mentor texts and blog favorites. Then, we discussed the features of a blog that make this the genre unique. Finally, we set up our edublog accounts and posted!
Hello BLOG WORLD! I’m here!
I am thinking about the genre of blogging as a focus of study with elementary students. We can begin by following the blog of someone we are interested in before they create their own. When students do begin to create their own blogs the writing will be familiar. In many ways the writing process of blogging would be similar as it is with print text brainstorm, develop ideas, come up with new ideas, revise, revise, revise.
In today’s session the question that teachers had was, How do we get student generated blogs up and running and what would they blog about?
Blogs are a form of social media that allow readers and writers to connect across time and location and share ideas, interest, and opinions with other readers and writers. We just need a vision for what they might craft.
So What can we blog about?
App reviews, book reviews, Narratives – serial novels, hobbies, vacations, territories, archiving and sharing booklists , reviews, and recommendations, or we can have students can use a blog as a writer’s notebook and teachers can use it as conferring tool through comments. We can even have students collaborate and set up dual voice blogs: two authors post and comment on one another’s ideas within the same blog. A couple of good examples are the blogs from Ziemke and Muhtaris https://innovateigniteinspire.wordpress.com/about/ or Two Writing Teachers https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/
hey sue see you tomorrow grrrrrr
I’m excited to start blogging! Thanks for a great class!
The first session was exciting and a bit overwhelming. There is so much to learn and teach to my students. I’m thinking that I will begin slowly, but I must not be afraid of giving it a try.
I agree, Celeste. However, once we move past the technical piece, the real work with students has to begin with creating a safe space for student voice. In order to do so we have to prepare our students for blogging with key ideas including: studying the genre, digital citizenship, digital identity, developing a profile, creating a posting.
I have a blog page and posted a question. Thanks!!!
For some, blogging requires a writer to take a leap of faith. But having that forum to show your thoughts and wonderings to a public audience can offer validation for your thinking and thrilling possibilities for connecting to other learners and writers. This will be fun!
With that leap of faith comes some careful planning. Troy Hicks posted a series of short videos on his blog that show how an upper grade teacher, Dawn, introduced the idea of publishing online. Dawn helps the students think about digital citizenship and when to post writing pieces online that are still in a rough draft (thinking) form as compared to more polished, final pieces.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ7yGkFO4fk&index=1&list=PLHbIy7wkcx21NMnlwl3XoZmM2e9amf5Ur
This is slightly overwhelming, but I am excited to start blogging.
I know how you feel, Emily. There is a lot to do to get started. I spent a little time thinking about digital identity and how I wanted my page and profile to appear. The good thing is we always have an “edit” button 🙂
Sue- I love the idea of teaching blogging as a genre in itself.
Like any other genre, it requires knowledge of the structure and elements
of the writing/ reading. Teaching students how to blog requires the same instruction as teaching any other genre.
I completely agree, Beth. The best way to go about the study with our students in to find really good mentor texts that will support the understanding of blogging as a genre and the written craft.