#2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. We chat every Tuesday night at 8 pm EST using #2ndaryELA. We'd love for you to join us!
Hi! I’m Kelli from Tennesse. I just began a blog over the summer https://t.co/nYXev2RCev I have only posted twice, but I am working on it. 😊 I am excited about the topic tonight. #2ndaryela
I don't use blogging in the classroom, but we are a 1:1 school, so I may use it in the future. I introduce digital citizenship with various lessons related to research and online discussion at the start of the year #2ndaryela
A1 I haven't used blogging in the classroom before. I've wanted to for the last couple of years, but Google Sites are blocked by our district. :( #2ndaryELA
Yes! I love their suggestions for citing Creative Commons licensed works. I stress this over MLA's because it includes links back to the original work, author, and requires CC license. #2ndaryela
This will be the first year I try blogging with my 7th and 8th graders. Thankfully they have taken a tech class to learn typing and digital citizenship. I have already talked to the tech teacher to hopefully work together on this. #2ndaryELA
A1 contd For example, they sign a computer care contract and we go over how to academically discuss things online. I also start with most stuff done in Google classroom, so it scares them that I can see revision history and keep track of it all #2ndaryela
A2 I allow my dual enrollment juniors to blog on any topic, as long as they use our class norms of a Cc licensed image, an engaging title, and tags. All they need to do is turn a link into me 1x a week. They also comment on each others' blogs. #2ndaryELA
A2: Blogs can be about ANYTHING the student is passionate about - just like with us. I love sharing w/them how to categorize them, so they feel they have more of a choice - not just blogging for ME. The audience could be ANYone. #2ndaryELA
A2 I love the idea of blogging because students can choose their topics and feel like they have an audience. It is also a way to show off their work and make them feel proud of something we worked on and created in class #2ndaryela
Every student has their own blog. They turn in links to their completed posts, and we have a "blog roll" for every student to see each other's site. I have a model blog, but I don't host their work. #2ndaryela
A3 My blogs are totally anonymous to the blogging community. Only I and the student know their username, and I try to only comment positive feedback on their blogs. Writing suggestions and other potentially neg. feedback I post on Google Classroom privately. #2ndaryELA
I think it would help students learn and write about their passions. I believe it would really help students that are introverts feel like they have a voice about a topic. #2ndaryela
Q3- Creating a safe environment w/in the classroom first, prior to beginning the blogging journey. Set definite parameters where students have a clear understanding of what is/isn't allowed.
#2ndaryELA
Just checking to see if you had any other ideas. I tell them it helps suggest additional posts for readers if they categorize and that tags help searching. #2ndaryela
A3: I ask Ss : what do you need from me, yourself, or your peers to be successful in this class? I get pretty similar answers, but it helps those who would be rude or disrespectful to see that their peers need safety and are worried about judgements #2ndaryela
This is the most exciting part for me, imagining how much those introverted students will branch out if they just have the platform and push #2ndaryela
We did do some "how do you find what to write about?" kinds of work before beginning to blog. I found that if they felt free to post about their passions, the writing was pretty engaging to read. #2ndaryela
A4 So many ways to tie into writing. Using a blog to journal from the POV of a character, to create a writing portfolio, to free write on a topic before developing an argument piece #2ndaryELA
A4: I think blogging helps us stay cognizant of providing that choice in the classroom - we don't need 82 essays of the same thing. I think it helps us plan for better, more authentic and relevant writing lessons. #2ndaryela
And I comment on each and every blog post they turn in. With 78 Ss this year, it's a lot, but it really builds deep connections. It's worth it! #2ndaryela
A4: One of my goals this year is to focus on online discussions since it is a pretty standard college requirement. So, I hope to add on to that by having them use their blogs as the context for discussions #2ndaryela
A4 contd I am also looking forward to blogs adding to just the bulk of writing that I want my students to experience and complete, not just academic writing, but making writing relevant and real for them. #2ndaryela
Since my Composition 1 is so heavy in the required academic writing, I feel blogs are a chance for them to take a breath and realize that writing is enjoyable. #2ndaryela
A5 I love blogging challenges to expand my students' audience! Edu blogs has a great one at :https://t.co/8sTDPy9RgU 2x a year. I also love #NaBloPoMo in November. #2ndaryELA
A5:
Connect w/ELA Ts via Twitter, Voxer, whatever. Also share with families of students, and ask the families to share. Quadblogging is helpful, too! #2ndaryela
We are still working through citizenship, but blogs should be up and running towards the end of next week, if someone wants to exchange blog lists. #2ndaryela
