Blogging: How to Teach and Promote Quality Writing

In my 31 years as an elementary educator, I have never seen a project more powerful for sharing classroom learning, making global connections,  and building a positive digital footprint for young students than having a classroom blog. I recommend every classroom teacher consider flattening the walls via blogging. There are so many benefits!

Educational blogging is also a fantastic way to teach and promote high standards for writing. Students want their writing to get published and educational blogging is a great way to leverage that interest.  


I have two educational blogs that I use in our learning. Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog is a public blog where classroom events and projects are published. The comment section is where the blog comes to life. Students and parents interact in this online community. 

My second blog is called Yollis' 365 Blog, and it is a public photo-of-the-day blog. Students, family members, and other classes throughout the world contribute photos and text. The digital images are used to inspire creative stories, spark  poetry entries, and share information about hobbies and interests. 

Below are TWO videos I've made to help teachers begin blogging with their students.  

1. This is a video made by Mrs. Yollis' students called How to Compose a Quality Comment!  It offers FIVE tips to help take comments to the next level! I use this video to teach students about content. 

2. This is a video made by Mrs. Yollis' students called Tips to Ensure Quality Blogging. It outlines the rules for participation in our classroom blogs and the agreements the students make when publishing on our blogs.

Do you have any questions about blogging for my students?

How has your writing improved through participation on the blog? 

Great Tips for Organization!

By Shane J.

A file box with folders is a great way to organize papers.
I use this system, and you should try it too.

First, I got a box. It is portable, and folders hang in it. Second, there are folders that can separate papers into different subjects. They hang from the black box. Last but not least, are the very important tabs. Their job is to let you know what is in each folder. For example, I have a tab for Math. Inside the Math folder are papers for the current chapter and papers I might need for the future. I even have sticky notes for upcoming tests! I can change or add tabs to my folders whenever I need to. Overall, my folder system has been very helpful, and I know it will be helpful for upper grade levels.

Do you think this system would work for you?

How do you stay on track?

Please leave a comment!

Blogging Tips for Teachers

This week I will be teaching a class about educational blogging at my school.

I created several informational pages on my website.

Please use the links below to gather information about setting up and maintaining an educational blog.

A few of my third grade students have started blogs! I hope they use these tips too!

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Why did I start an education blog and how does it benefit my students?

How did I set up the blog?

What do students write about?

How does a story get published on this blog?

How do you teach commenting skills?

What are the gadgets in the sidebar?


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Let me know if you have any questions!

How is your blog going?

Please leave a comment below.

How Does a Story Get Published on this Blog?

Mrs. Yollis' Class shared their award-winning blog at a School Board meeting.


We used the following post at the School Board presentation.
It shows the steps we take to get a story published.


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Step 1: Students organize the main ideas and details for a blog post.

Step 2: Students type their blog posts on their wireless AlphaSmart computers.

Step 3: Students get their stories checked by a student Fact Checker.


Step 4: Bloggers upload their stories to Mrs. Yollis' computer.

Step 5: Students add images and hyperlinks to enhance their posts.

Step 6: Students PUBLISH!


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Comments help keep the blog alive!

Ask Comment Kitty where to type a comment
or
scroll down to the bottom of every post and click on comments.



Our blog has: tutorials, travel posts, music, lesson summaries, and videos!

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We have educational blogging friends around the world!
See "Blogs We Follow" in our sidebar!


Here is a picture of one of Mrs. Yollis' bloggers commenting on another educational blog!



If you'd like to be notified when Mrs. Yollis' class
posts a story or if you'd like to follow our comments, we offer an RSS Feed in the sidebar.

Click here to learn about RSS.

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We hope you enjoyed our presentation! Please leave a comment!