[CPSLibraries] Student blogs / middle school

[Schaller, Rebecca A]

Oops! I forgot to send the url for the blog I was referring in the message below.   I found these two links using Google and Yahoo.  I'm sure other search engines would also give you lots of results.  
 
This is the one I forgot to mention.
 
 http://news.com.com/Blogging+101--Web+logs+go+to+school/2100-1032_3-5895779.html
 
I haven't had a chance to look at this one very thoroughly, but it has links to lots of educational blogs and Library and Librarian. They're listed on the right hand side of the page.
http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers
 
Becky

________________________________

From: cpslibraries-bounces at grenache.lib.uchicago.edu on behalf of Schaller, Rebecca A
Sent: Wed 6/13/2007 9:12 AM
To: Chicago Public Schools Librarians
Subject: RE: Student blogs / middle school


Carmen,  on  a website, only one person or group has the ability to add or modify it.  You have to have the password to do so.  On a blog, one person is the main blogger and writes the main entries. Others can than add to it in order to comment on it.  
 
For example,  you might have a class discussion on a novel. The teacher might  create a blog and call it the title of the book.  Then the teacher would write several discussion questions on the blog. The a student could then log in and read the questions.   He or she could then answer whatever questions they wanted.    Other students would then read not only the questions posed by the teacher but the comments from other students. They could either respond directly to the question or they could respond to the answers given by the other students.  They could agree, disagree, ask questions for clarification, compliment the poster of the message, etc.
 
A teacher might use it to introduce a topic and get students thinking about it before beginning the study.  For example, a science teacher might ask a question about alternative forms of energy before studying the unit. Then students could begin to explore their background knowledge to answer that question and read others responses.
 
How might it be used in the library?  I've just been brainstorming, but you might have a blog for each class.  Then members of the class might post about their favorite books.  Or you might have a blog for a certain group of books - maybe the 500s or books by a particular author.  Then students who were interested in that type of book could write about books they've read and see what others in their school have written about the book.
 
One nice advantage to blogs is that it is a relatively easy way for students to write with an audience who is more than just their teacher.
 
Here's a blog about blog entry about middle school students blogging.  You'll need to scroll down to the bottom of the second page to read the comments.  There were seventeen comments when I looked, but I didn't read most of them.
 
Hope that is clear.  If not, please write back.
 
Becky 

________________________________

From: cpslibraries-bounces at grenache.lib.uchicago.edu on behalf of Adams, Carmen M
Sent: Tue 6/12/2007 10:49 AM
To: Chicago Public Schools Librarians
Subject: RE: Student blogs / middle school


I am very interested in setting up a blog as someone else said, to cut down on reproducing.  I guess I really don't see the difference between and blog and a website.  I have already asked Lisa Perez and I am pretty sure professional development is coming.
 
Carmen Adams
 
 

________________________________

From: cpslibraries-bounces at grenache.lib.uchicago.edu on behalf of Myers, Paula R
Sent: Tue 6/12/2007 9:29 AM
To: Chicago Public Schools Librarians
Subject: RE: Student blogs / middle school


I am not currently using blogs with our middle or high school students, but I know that our new e-mail program, FirstClass, allows one to create and publish a blog online.  
 
Best,
Paula

________________________________

From: cpslibraries-bounces at grenache.lib.uchicago.edu on behalf of Wheatley, Mary E
Sent: Mon 6/11/2007 10:12 PM
To: Chicago Public Schools Librarians
Subject: Student blogs / middle school


 
Is anyone using blogs with their elementary or middle school students?  How?  Through with host?

Also, I am looking for some really great middle school units/lessons for next school year.  
 
Thank you in advance for any ideas or information.
 
M. Wheatley
Drummond Montessori Magnet
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