1. Maria Michalakos
2nd Grade Teacher
Wescott School- District 30
mmichalakos@district30.org
Reaching Your
Students Through
Blogging

2. Quick Survey About Us
About Me
Feedback- http://wallwisher.com/wall/Torch-MM

3. My experience…
Blogging amateur
Google site/ student portfolios

4. Why have a blog?
To showcase student work.
To communicate with parents “window
into our classroom.”
To publish student writing.
To reflect on and spotlight student
learning and achievements.
To increase social interactions within
the classroom and school community.
To collect student data.
The possibilities are endless!

5. Benefits
Motivates students, especially those who
otherwise might not become participants
in classrooms.
Excellent opportunities for students to
read and write.
Effective forums for collaboration and
discussion.
Every student has an equal opportunity to
share their thoughts and opinions.
It’s a digital portfolio! Since it is being
published for the world, students want to
produce their best work.

6. Successes Seen this Past Year
Because of our blog, my first graders
are now
 Independent bloggers.
 Confident on the internet.
 Aware of “quality writing.”
 Enthusiastic about sharing their thoughts and
ideas with the world.
 Capable of writing incredible things!
For the first time EVER I have kept in contact with most of
my class over the summer.

7. No Experience Necessary!
Quickly created
Easily maintained
Convenient
Accessible anywhere

8. Choose a kid-friendly theme
Should be user friendly and easy to
navigate.
Not too busy (especially for primary
students).
Colors are fun!
Themes can be changed at any time
 Caution: students will have to re-learn how to
navigate.

9. Make it exciting!
User Avatars Lego person
Widgets- widgetbox.com
 Countdown, pets, weather
Data Collection

10. They will keep coming back…
Student artwork/writing
Spring Word Clouds
Presiden't Day Google Presentation
Pictures/videos of students
Snow Dance
Traffic Ticker
• Clustrmaps.com

11. The success of your blog is in your hands…
Show enthusiasm
 Your attitude is contagious. Visit often with your class.
Explore the web
 Don’t be afraid to borrow ideas!
Show dedication
 Sick Day
 Celebrity Substitute

12. Let’s take a look…
Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom Blog
Mrs. Quigley's Classroom Blog
Mrs. Harju's Classroom Blog
Ms. Ross' 5th Grade
Ms. Lund's Classroom Blog
Feedback- http://wallwisher.com/wall/Torch-MM

13. Common Mistakes
Your blog is your garden…
Minimal activity
• Moderation
– Appropriate comments
– New bloggers
• Posts
• Replies

14. Leaving Comments
Teach students how to leave appropriate
comments
• Model
• Practice
• Evaluate
Set guidelines for acceptable and
unacceptable comments.
• Allow students to help you decipher between the two.
Teach students how to be specific and
productive with their comments.

15. Publicize!
 You can spend tons of time on it and have the best
blog, but without readers—it’s a waste!
 Email everyone you know
 Encourage parents to subscribe to RSS feed or
Google reader.
 Be specific—don’t be afraid to ask for exactly what
you want. Email the direct link.

16. My Plans for This Year
Assign a weekly “guest blogger.”
Encourage more feedback from parents
Use Tags and Categories
Try to get other team members
involved.

17. Common Complaints (I have heard)
Students can’t log on.
Too many students for one teacher to
help.
Students can’t type.
Not enough computers.
Other thoughts on possible difficulties
or obstacles??

18. Questions? Comments?