Thursday, March 10, 2016

Blogging with 3rd Graders - Better than I Ever Imagined!!

As they arrived in my classroom today, they read this Morning Message:
     Dear 3rd Graders, 
               You will be leaving early today and I will be spending the afternoon teaching teachers                about blogging. I need your help. Please complete this sentence on the index card at your seat - 
     I like blogging because_____________. 
                                                                        Thank you,   
                                                                               Mrs. Donnelly

Backstory - I introduced the idea of blogging to my students on February 29th (10 days ago) and today, our class of 23 students, one teacher, the librarian, the Principal and the school-based sub (a total of 27) have posted small moment stories and taken time to make "positive comments to keep the writer writing". As I check the total posts and comments on the dashboard right now, it reads:
POSTS - 111
COMMENTS - 733
Yes, those are both 3-digit numbers and not a typo. My kids LOVE having a place to write their stories that their peers can read. They also LOVE giving comments.

How do I know?
This is what was written on the index cards:

  • I like blogging because when someone comments on your small moment, it really encourages you to keep writing.
  • I like to blog because I can tell stories about what I'm doing when I'm not in school!!
  •  I like blogging because I like share what I'm doing every week.
  • I like to blog because I like to read story and comment.
  • On Kidblog my favorite thing is expressing my comments. When I asked why, the response was: Because I like making people want to feel good about their stories and making them write more.
  • I like to blog because you can tell a story of something that happened to you. If it is sad or happy or anything. Also because you got to see the comments that people give you to keep you writing.
  • I like posting and commenting. I also like just reading a blog.
  • I love to blog because you get to share moments of your life with students.
  • I like to blog because -comments -making stories -commenting on other people
  • I like to blog because you can tell people about your life and you tell people without meeting them.
  • I like to blog because you can say how you liked their story and you can write stories and you can blog about whatever you want whenever you want! I love blogging.
  • I like to blog because commenting on everyones interesting stories and then writing one of your won and reading all your comments
  • I like blogging because your brain is learning and also your friends read it. It's like you're a real writer.
  • What I like about blogging - writing stories  - leaving comments  - I like to read other people's stories
  • I love to blog because I like writing and hearing other people's comments on my story. I also like that I can look at other people's stories and comment on them. I also like that I can see the teachers' stories too, I (heart-shape) blogging!!!
  • I like to blog because you can add comments and the photos are cool.
  • What I love about Kidblog is that I can share things about my life out loud.
  • I like to blog because I like sharing my stories about what I am doing. I also like seeing what other people are doing and comment on stories.
  • I like to blog because you get to see other people's hard work and you can comment on it.
  • I like blogging because it is fun and is a good place to privately share your experiences.
  • I like to blog because you can tell people cool stories that happened to you without having to say it so many times for everybody to hear it because you just write it once and everyone can hear it.
  • I like that you get to comment on people.
  • I like that you can share what you do outside of school.
Once the kiddos left today, as a staff we had time to grow professionally. I volunteered to share why I like to blog and how the 3rd graders were doing with this new tool - Kidblog. A few colleagues chose to join me for a discussion where the first thing I did was share the index cards! 

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Special thanks to Kathleen Sokolowski who shared a presentation she did on WHY BLOGGING HERE.  Reading through her powerpoint and even borrowing a slide, inspired me to create the things in this folder:    My Blogging Folder
It contains the powerpoint I share today with my staff that tells My Blogging Story and the powerpoint I used to teach the 3rd graders about blogging. It also includes 2 handouts I sent home to the parents as an introduction to Kidblog and the March Writing Challenged inspired by TwoWritingTeachers! Thank you so, so much!
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17 comments:

  1. I am glad your students are enjoying blogging so much- it is such a great way for them to express themselves (as their comments show). Keep up the great work!

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  2. I am glad your students are enjoying blogging so much- it is such a great way for them to express themselves (as their comments show). Keep up the great work!

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  3. So rewarding - for you AND for the students AND the teachers. You get an A+ today! This will keep you smiling for a while!!

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  4. So much power in hearing the kids' voices on blogging. This really speaks to the point that choice creates joy for the task at hand. Would it be possible for you to make your file public? Right now it requires permission to access it. I would love for teachers I work with to get bitten by the blogging bug.

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    1. Thanks for asking as I thought I had.
      I just changed the setting.
      Please let me know if you still can't get in. I'm new to all things Google!!

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  5. Love hearing your students reaction to blogging. They are so social it is a perfect outlet to grow writers.

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  6. Clearly, your kids have caught the blogging spirit - thanks to you, their teacher!

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  7. Clearly, your kids have caught the blogging spirit - thanks to you, their teacher!

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  8. What smart students and smart teacher! I love this post and all the reasons kids enjoy blogging. It's so important to give kids the time and space to write and share in a community. Thank you for this post, Sally, and for the kind shout-out too!

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  9. I love the kid who like blogging to share their stories "out loud."
    This post is a real inspiration. congrats on all that participation and on the rippling-out effect it creates.

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    1. "rippling-out effect" is the perfect way to describe this!!
      I also find it fascinating that they think of writing and posting as sharing out loud!!

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  10. I love the kid who like blogging to share their stories "out loud."
    This post is a real inspiration. congrats on all that participation and on the rippling-out effect it creates.

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  11. I enjoyed reading your students responses. I liked that you asked them to help you with the presentation - that made it very purposeful for them. The best part was seeing myself, a first time blogger, in their responses.

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    1. I love that you mention you see yourself in their responses!!
      And so glad you joined this challenge and are a blogger now.
      Keep writing!!

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  12. I enjoyed reading your students responses. I liked that you asked them to help you with the presentation - that made it very purposeful for them. The best part was seeing myself, a first time blogger, in their responses.

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  13. So cool! I love that blogging provides an immediate place for students (and us!) to publish and share our work. Super happy for you and your kids.

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  14. Wow! What a testament to the importance of voice and choice! You have empowered your students for a lifetime!

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