Blogging

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__Blogmeister__
I use [|Class Blogmeister] Read the [|instructions] on how to set up an account and post articles. [|Blogmeister] support group on Yahoo has lots of helpful information and is easy to join.

[|Susan DeGolier] [|Luke Hostetler] [|Chip Bergeron] [|Stephanie Dethlefs] [|Lin Miltenberger] [|Molly McGraw] [|Tom Caldwell] [|Patsy De Castro] [|Dana Beatty] [|Carolyn Hinshaw] [|Nikki Johnson][|Tracy Shaw and Mrs. Cushman] [|Brian MacNevin] [|Ken Russell][|Penny Jewett]
 * Blogs!**

Blogs Under Construction!
[|John Schick] [|Denisa Anderson][|Carol Beebe][|Margaret Engle][|Amy Lawson]

__What do blogs look like in elementary classrooms?__
===[|Here] is one example, [|here] is another, and [|here] is another!===

Rubic from Barbara Dieu[[file:Rubric.doc]]
The big difference in the types of blog providers is the teacher's ability to edit and provide feedback to writers! Wiki choices [|here]

__**Troubleshooting**__ User name must be exact, if students use initials and don't include periods, they will not be able to login. Keep passwords simple. I use the same password assigned to students at school. There are three places to approve comments and articles. The first is your email. Click review article and it brings you right to the control panel screen for the individual blogger. Another place to approve articles and comments is via the online approval tool. Once you login to your blog the link to the approval tool is on the tool bar. Finally, you can go to class panel>choose a class>class roster and see an entire class at once. This is my favorite place to manage articles and comments. Sometimes students write and article and they think it has disappeared. If they did not **check the request publishing box** along with the save box, the article will be stored as "still editing." Students can save articles and publish them at a later date. When they do submit an article for publishing it will have a ? until it is approved or sent back for revision and/or editing. *'s indicate an article has been successfully published. Another reason articles seem to disappear is because every now and then a student will forget to title their article. It is more difficult to track without a title! If a student submits work that needs more attention, I make comments via the class roster and save the article without publishing. Students will see "pending evaluation" next to their blog article instead of a question mark. Comments can't be sent back for editing but they can be edited by the teacher, do this via the class panel screen. I only edit comments for a few students who need the support. For all other students, I let comments through with mistakes and use these as teaching opportunities. I do not require a classroom password because all comments and articles come through me first. Family members who submit comments must simply add a relationship to their name, for instance, Dana's grandmother Ms. Smith After you login you can change the template by clicking on the arrows at the top of the screen. To add a **description** of yourself go to the control panel and type one in. Students will not see their descriptions after they hit submit because teachers need to approve them. Go to class panel>choose a class>then class roster. You will see all student work; articles, comments, and descriptions. Choose edit to view and approve descriptions. Students can add images without teacher approval!!! I am very clear about my expectations regarding pictures. They must be approved by me and any violation of this policy results in loss of blogging priveledges. I have not had any issues so far. No last names. Ever. Period. No email addresses either. Students want to leave email addresses on their comments but it is a safety issue as student email addresses include last names. To change passwords go to the control panel>choose a class>class roster>edit This is the place to delete articles, approve descriptions, and view pending work.
 * Login issues**
 * Approving articles and comments**
 * Sending work back for revision and editing**
 * Editing comments**
 * Security**
 * Templates**
 * Descriptions**
 * Images!**
 * Names and Email Addresses**
 * Passwords**

Blogging is really a big conversation. Focus on how to build a community that wants to participate in a conversation. Parents, community members, fellow teachers, other classrooms, [|principals!,] ASK these folks to join the conversation.