We are going to take a break from the blogging for a couple of weeks and do some good old fashioned story reading and face-to-face discussion in class.  We'll return to the world of blogging in January.  Until then, here are some of the helpful links to give us a better understanding of "the blog" when we return. 

First, is a video simply describing "blogs in plain english," no fancy talk, just plain english. 

Second, take a look at book reviews online (Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Scholastic.com, etc).  Look up a book you like or don't like, or are just curious about whether you would like... read the reviews and see what other people say about the book.  If it's a book you've read, think about whether you agree or disagree with specific things the people said in their reviews.  Did they address everything you thought they should?  Is there more you could add without ruining the book for people who haven't read it yet? 


Then, we'll discuss in January what are good rules of blogging "Netiquette," that is, how to write a great post.  We'll go beyond the discussion of how to be safe online and talk about what would make your writing great.  Until then, continue to play around with posts on kidblog and see what you can learn.  Try writing about something that matters to you.
 
Show your people how to leave a comment on our way cool Roosevelt Library website/blog.  Then go to the home page and have them sign in on the "contact" sheet so we can send them links to some of the great things you do with Mrs. de Vries.
 
Students are starting to take a look around the blog and begin making their first comments.  As they become more proficient, they will get greater freedom to author their own posts and potentially their own personal blogs.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Look at the focus!  I think it's pretty cool to see them hard at work and having fun.

 
I spent some more time with kidblogs and I think it will be great for us to use as students become more independent and proficient at blogging.  Until then, we will use our blog here to get our skills up.  Hopefully we will have some students who are able to move up to having their own blogs soon!
 
Some of you may have noticed that I've posted a feed for the fifth grade blog on the right side of this page.  Whenever we post to the fifth grade site it will also appear here.  Maybe we'll get comments on the fifth grade site this way?