baker

Session Name**:Blogging in the 2nd Grade Classroom** Presenter Name(s):Sindy Baker with Kevin Jarrett School or District: Northfield Community School, Atlantic County, Northfield, NJ 08225 Email:sbaker@ncs-nj.org

About this session:

 * We can post writing samples, edit, and revise, right on the Blog.
 * It's very exciting to have friends and family leave comments about our writing on the Blog.
 * We have had "visitors" checking out our classroom Blog from all over the world!
 * Please feel free to visit our 2nd Grade Writer's Blog and leave a comment or two!
 * Come visit me and I'll get you started on this wonderful journey!
 * Blog link: []

The Basics:

 * What you need first is **__an understanding of what you want your students to know and be able to do via the blog__** (develop writing skills; collaborate with others; write for a global audience; learn online etiquette; connect with parents and other family at home; etc.) - even general goals will help.
 * Get permission from your administration (and consider permission forms for the families)
 * Choose a blogging platform:
 * for a standalone class blog, kidblog.org is the absolute best. It's easy to use, powerful, has all the features you would ever need, and it's free. It is powered by Wordpress, the world's most popular blogging software.
 * Wordpress.com and edublogs.org offer free Wordpress blogs, but with advertising.
 * More sophisticated districts will want to install their own blogging server (as we have in Northfield) powered by a system like Wordpress(free download).
 * Build the blog:
 * Create accounts for the student users (so they may log in and comment as well as create their own posts.)
 * Set the blog so that comments require approval by you (moderation) before they appear.
 * Make your first few blog posts to show the students how it's done. Show them the difference between commenting and post writing.
 * Come up with your first blogging assignment and let the students amaze you!
 * Get up to speed with the process of moderating (approving) posts and comments.
 * Once it's running:
 * Promote your blog! Parents will LOVE seeing their kids work online (so will the students!)
 * Be prepared to visit the blog every day to review and approve comments, posts, etc.
 * Enjoy!

Articles on Blogging / Reference Material

 * 14 Steps to Meaningful Student Blogging

NJ State Common Core Curriculum Content Standards
English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grade 2

**Text Types and Purposes**

 * W.2.1. Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., //because//, //and//, //also//) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
 * W.2.2. Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
 * W.2.3. Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.

Production and Distribution of Writing

 * W.2.5. With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing.
 * W.2.6. With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

 * W.2.7. Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).
 * W.2.8. Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.