Blogging in the Classroom

This guide is designed to support your use of blogs in the classroom and for community outreach. If you are new to blogs, please consider starting at the beginning and working your way through. You may also jump to a section or resource at any time. In order to experience all activities, you will need Acrobat Reader and Adobe Flash Player and internal or external speakers. A recording of a 2-hour online class on Blogging in the Classroom is also available by clicking here.

What is a Blog?

View the Presentation: What is a Blog?

 Example Blogs

• In the Loop
• KidsBookBlog
• Passionately Curious
• Counselor’s Corner
• Mr. Mayo
• Just Thinking
• Valley Reads
• Grade12 Writer’s Craft
• Huffenglish
• Dy/Dan
• Mark’s Edtechblog

Article: 7 Things You Should Know About Blogs
from Educause

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Planning a Blog

Good planning is your first step to success! Before you begin creating your blog, you must have an idea of how you want it to be used. Take the time to write a mission statement for your blog.

Example Mission Statements:

• I want to use the blog to communicate with the parents and families of the students in the my classroom.
• I want to use the blog to enrich the writing skills of my students by having them post comments to topics related to our study.
• I want to use my blog to support my curriculum by providing study aids, support links and sample work to my students.

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Parts of a Blog

View the Presentation: Parts of a Blog

Major Blog Hosting Sites

• EduBlogs
• Blogger
• WordPress

 

 

 

 

 

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Creating a Blog

 Step-by-step Process Using Edublogs

1. Create a blog
2. Design Your blog
3. Editing Your Blog
4. Make and Edit a Post
5. Create a Category
6. Add a Link
7. Add a Photo
8. Comment on a Post
9. Create a Static Page

Additional Tutorials

• Creating an Edublogs Blog: Video Tutorials
• A Blog about Creating a Blog on Edublogs
• Creating a Blog with Blogger: Video Tutorial (YouTube)
• Blogger Tour
• WordPress: Tutorials

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Sample Integration Lesson Plan

• History - Social Science Example:
  • Blogging your way through the Scientific Revolution
• Important consideration when using blogs with students

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Additional Online Resources

• 2-hour online class on Blogging in the Classroom
• Blogging? It's Elementary, My Dear Watson! from Edublogs
• Blogs in Education by techteachers.com
• Weblogg-ed a blog about educational blogging
• Educational Blogging article from EduCause