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.

The sixth grade is working on their own private blogs using a site called kidblogs.  One of the topics they are discussing right now is whether celebrities have a responsibility to be good role models or not.  The following commercial is here to give them a specific example to which they can relate the question.  Feel free to write in and give the kids your opinions about this... you may inspire some discussions on their blogs!

The fifth grade is making bookprints...kind of like a fingerprint, it tells about who you are.  Ms. Cole found bookprints on the scholastic.com website.  Here's the link to the site: 

https://my.scholastic.com/sps_my_account/accmgmt/FlashLogin.jsp?finalSuccessURL=http://youarewhatyouread.scholastic.com/kids/home/loginUser
 
Sign yourself up and make your own bookprint, then look for Ms. Cole and me or hunt for our childhood alter-ego logins too (crazycanoe & loopyknitter).  Have fun reading about what books other people chose. 

Hey people, this is a link to the wordle that the Pelican Library students made about television versus books.  What do you think?  Is it the same thing to watch a movie for two hours as it is to read a book for two hours.
Pelican School Library Wordle

Woo hoo, here's our Internet Safety Rap!  Thank you so much to Joseph Foster, All-American point guard for the OIT Hustlin' Owls, for helping us out on our rap.  You all did a great job!  Be sure to send the link to your friends and family so they can let us know what they learned from our video.  Nice work.   

(It takes a little while for the rap movie to load, but once it does you don't have to wait for buffering.  Just click the triangle, then walk away, get a drink of water and come back to enjoy the show!)

How cool is this?!?!

Here's a little preview while you wait for our video.  These are some excerpts from our "celebrity rapper," Joseph!

We're working this week on the finishing touches for our Internet Safety rap.  Until then, here are the lyrics the kids and I came up with...


Online Safety Rap

This is our Internet Rap…

We’re gonna take some time,   To share a little rhyme…

So when you’re on the ‘net,   You won’t regret.

Now pull up a seat,  And listen to the beat

 

First thing to be aware, you need to think before you share:

 

Be careful what you put online, it won’t come off anytime

Giving out personal info isn’t fine, when you are online

Be careful what you put online, someone might be 49.

 

Second thing is tact, you gotta think before you act:

 

If you show respect, people won’t reject.

Make sure what you say is true, you don’t want people turning on you

Don’t steal, fo’ real;

If you didn’t make it, check before you take it.

Think before you post; be careful what you boast.

Don’t be rude, ‘cause you’re in a bad mood.

If you wouldn’t say it to your mother, don’t say it to another

 

Third thing to know, is where you can go:

 

If it’s a college site,  it is probably right.

Remember of course, to always check your source.

If the site is from a college,  you’ll get more knowledge.

Click “about us” to know it’s true,  or you might not have a clue

Cuz, just because they show it, doesn’t mean they know it.

So, check 3 sources, when you need resources

Here’s a tip for you, check 3 sources to know it’s true

Take a look at this cool site for writing your own book.  I haven't spent much time on it yet, but it looks like it has lots of potential.  I'm hoping we can spend some time writing and sharing our stories!    http://www.epubbud.com/

Before we spend time on the Internet, it's important that we understand how to be safe and appropriate in that environment.  So, we've been learning about how to be safe online.  First, we watched YouTube clips about online safety (see post from earlier this year) and had great discussions about what that means to us.  Then we created a list of what we know about safe online behavior.  

Now, we are taking that list and turning it into a rap.  We spent our half hour this week writing rhymes for using in our rap.  It's been great fun listening to the kids make the rhymes and helping to come up with a final product we're excited about.


Next week we will have a "celebrity" guest rapper to help us with our Online Safety Rap (we need a catchy title for it!).

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.