Creating Bloggers: Next Step

I will blame Nancie Atwell if our blogging takes off.  I attended a workshop based her book, "Lessons That Change Writers" on Thursday November 10th which was presented by a colleague.  I was then re-reading Will Richardson's book on blogging over the weekend and I realized something.  The basic idea that reading good writing helps students be good writers.  So therefore, good blogging begets good blogging.  In order for my students to blog well they need to read good blogs.  So today we spent time reading over some good blogs.


Another thing I took from the Atwell workshop was a method to review blogs with students.  The idea is not original with Atwell.  So I am now having mini conferences with my students one blogger at a time.  We looked over their blogs and the comments they contributed on other people's blogs.  We talk about good writing form.    


Richardson's contribution is "start small".  I tend to jump in with two feet when really I should stick a toe in.  Anyway, Richardson talks about how we need to try it ourselves before you start blogging with your students.  So I am trying to do two things at once.  But I think we will prevail because I see the students blogs as long term.  We are going to blog all year.  So in the long term I am starting small.  


Stay tuned for more blogging steps from my class.  

  

Here the sites we looked over as a class: 



http://kidblog.org/MrsRippsClass/
http://areallydifferentplace.org/
http://34gblog.global2.vic.edu.au/
http://kidblog.org/ferrell/
http://mrcsclassblog.blogspot.com/p/digital-storytelling-tools.html



References:


Atwell, N. (2002). Lessons that change writers. Portsmouth, NH: Firsthand/Heinemann.

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful Web tools forclassrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.