Blogging

Essential Practices Highlighted: = Gradual Release of Responsibility, Success Criteria, Differentiated Instruction = = = = ** What is a BLOG? ** =

[[image:Screen Shot 2012-09-25 at 2.34.37 PM.png width="169" height="130" link="@http://www.commoncraft.com/blogs"]] Common Craft Video introduction to Blogs - How they work and why they matter
** Reasons to blog ** Here is an example of a class blog: []
 * Communicate with families
 * Kids learn appropriate social media skills
 * Have students experience success (differentiated instruction) by using different tools (recording audio vs writing)
 * Motivates students, especially reluctant writers
 * Provides an authentic audience
 * Vehicle for sending home links to online activities
 * Metacognition
 * Read this blog post for more ideas

Gradual Release:
Progressing through steps for learning a language: Listening / Speaking / Reading / Writing

and do: Modelled / Shared Reading - whole group using data projector, laptop and whiteboard or SMART Board to annotate Guided Reading - small groups at a horseshoe table with laptops Independent Reading - desktops, laptops or handheld devices Gradual Release: Modelled / Shared Writing - using the "dashboard" of blog platform projected to the class (Guided) Partner Writing - students seem more comfortable to start writing in pairs or small groups (at this stage the students can write a post to be posted on the teacher's account or, depending on the age of the students and the comfort level of the teacher, can be given [|access as a contributor] to the class blog Independent Writing - using desktops, laptops or app (if using Edublogs) on handheld devices
 * Listening/Viewing ** - discuss what a blog is, watch videos (activate/develop background knowledge)
 * Speaking ** - reflect on blogging videos, discuss purpose of having a class blog (encourage "buy in")
 * Reading ** - visit other class blogs or blogs of interest ,
 * Writing ** - have students progress from writing Comments to later writing Posts (using class created **success criteria**)



** Success Criteria: **
-develop the success criteria as a class by observing models of class blog comments -watch videos or follow suggestions from other teachers then repeat the process with students to create success criteria for blog posts

** Differentiated Instruction: **
Throughout the writing process, blogs can be a tool that "levels the playing field" for students. Here are some suggestions to differentiate the task throughout the various stages:


 * Plan ** - can use paper/pencil, word processor, work space on blogging platform (with Word Q) or online graphic organizer
 * Draft ** - use the "new post" space in the dashboard or students can use an audio recorder on a hand held device or use the Dragon Dictation app to expand on their ideas
 * Revise ** - have students refer to class created success criteria, read their work aloud to a partner who can't see the text, have it "read" to them (Kurzweil, Mac Speech)
 * Edit ** - use an editing checklist developed by the class, be sure to use spell check in blog dashboard (OR avoid this stage if the student has opted to do an audio recording instead of a written blog post)
 * Publish ** - submit to the teacher for review - teacher approves all work and can make final edits before the actual publishing to the internet

For more details on the step-by-step basics of setting up a blog visit: Blogging With Your Class Other resources: [|65 Ideas for Class Blog Posts] Blogging With Students