Getting Started with a WordPress Class Lesson Blog

Get Started with a Great
WordPress Class Site

© 2014 Erik Bean, Ed.D. & Emily Waszak
More Info? CommonCoreLessonPlans.com

Available from These
Book Sellers:

© 2014 Erik Bean, Ed.D. & Emily Waszak
More Info? CommonCoreLessonPlans.com

WordPress for Student Writing Projects
Your students are adept in using social
media for pleasure. Here’s a way to
harness those skills for learning!
Why this book is unique:
• Includes lessons in argumentative
essay writing, thesis generation, and
quality sources.

Author Erik Bean, Ed.D.

• Contains rubrics tied to Common Core writing strand numbers. (Big time saver).
• Appendix of "Operationalized" Common Core Writing Standard explanations
so requirements are easier to follow. (Another time saver).
• Rubrics can be used to grade most any writing lessons regardless of the standard.
• Writing lessons can be transferable to most any blog sites.

Designed to Accompany the New 2014 Book: WordPress for Student Writing Projects
Published by Brigantine Media/Compass Publishing, St. Johnsbury, VT

Using Social Media Lessons
 Some faculty are reluctant to use social media in the classroom either because

their district may not allow it or they do not understand how to best incorporate
it. This lesson plan uses WordPress and features teacher tested steps to get your
class channel up and running. While no social network is 100 percent safe, their
use can help retain student attention, improve writing, and critical thinking skills.
Feel free to share your experiences here.
 Did you know most of what the CC Writing Standards require have already been

in practice by districts? The key has been how to best capture and document the
processes to demonstrate each student rigorously meets the guidelines.
Regardless, the standards call for integrating technology into the classroom. This
requirement is where some districts and faculty are uncertain how to proceed.
 Compared to non-public platforms like Blackboard and Edmodo, teachers report

higher lesson attentive levels since students knew their parents and others in the
classroom could more readily view their work in and out of class.

WordPress for Student Writing Projects
Connect with the authors via several
social networking sites:


BlogFellows.WordPress.com
Model Essay Draft Collaboration Site


WordPress Dashboard Backend
1). First create the
main alphabetical
parent landing
pages A-C by adding
a new page and
labeling as such.
2). Then add new
subordinate pages
based on your
roster by first name
and last initial. Be
sure to apply the
appropriate parent
under “Page
Attributes” in the
right column by
using the dropdown menu.

3). Add an “About/Tips” page that will stand alone.
Then repeat this process for all main parent alphabetical
student landing pages, D-F, G-I, J-L, M-O, P-R, S-U, V-Z

Creating Parent & Subordinate Pages
4). Take your roster of
all available A-C first
names and add them to
the page content in
edit mode. 5). Highlight
the top name then
select the link icon to
embed a hyperlink to
that student’s
respective page.
6). Now click “Or link to existing content.” Find the first student you earlier created a page and
link to it. Be sure to check the box indicating “Open link in separate window/tab.” Finally, click
“Update.” 7). Repeat this process for all main alphabetical landing parent and subordinate
student pages through Z.
ADDING ESSAY DRAFTS: As the site owner, only you will have access to adding the essay
drafts. When you receive them electronically based on class due date, open each one on your
desktop. Highlight all essay text and while in WordPress edit mode on the pertinent student’s
page, paste text. Repeat for all students. Allow 30 minutes for a class of twenty.

Add Widgets to Suit Your Class

Widgets are found under “Appearance.” Customize these to report which student
commented last or most frequently. Use these to report which student page has the
most traffic or to create a complete site map of every student page as shown at
BlogFellows.WordPress.com. Widgets are shown on all pages except home.


Quality Cohort Discussion: Hero Essay
1.

Did the student select a contemporary hero for which much published
material exists?

2.

Did the student effectively develop a thesis with two of the most prominent hero
personality traits melding them to his or her most important societal contribution?

3.

Did the student use an authoritative third person voice?

4.

Did the student include and attribute the hero’s background

5.

Did the student define and defend the hero’s personality traits?

6.

Did the student defend the hero’s most important societal contribution?

7.

Did the student effectively summarize the essay?


Contributing to Comments
•

Encourage
quality
commenting by
visibly posting
your own
remarks.

•

Encourage
students to pick
at least two
student essays
as well as two
peer feedback
postings to
analyze. If time
permits, allow
them to analyze
more.


Draft Evaluations/Assessments

Sample of Common Core tied rubric that can be used to evaluate the essay draft.
Another rubric (not shown) also applied to Common Core Writing Standards, is used
to evaluate rigorous peer essay analysis collaboration, peer feedback, and visibility.


Draft Evaluations/Assessments

Rubrics can be sent back to students electronically, posted to the student’s
electronic gradebook, or printed for individual distribution.


Questions?


Getting Started with a WordPress Class Lesson Blog

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