It's Just How We (Blog)Roll...

[Kristi Meeuwse]

“Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen.”-Willa Cather

This week, I stepped into the world of blogging on the iPads with my kindergartners. Through KidBlog students can blog in a safe and secure way. The website states “Kidblog’s simple, yet powerful tools allow students to publish posts and participate in discussions within a secure classroom blogging community. Teachers maintain complete control over student blogs.

“ What could kindergarten students possibly have to say in a blog? Seriously? Have you been in a kindergarten classroom? They ALWAYS have something to share. This forum allows them to share as much and as often as they like. Blogging supports writing and reading skills as well as digital literacy.

I showed my students this blog and then talked with them about what they might want to share on their own. We brainstormed different ideas and then off they went making lists on their iPads of possible blogging topics. I posted to the class and then had them read and respond to my post first. Then I had them write their own posts. Next, I had them choose some of their classmates posts to read and respond. This all happened in one day! Since then, each day, they are asking me if they can please write in their blogs. My next step is to connect with a first grade class in our building and become Blogging Buddies.

Obviously, I am monitoring all posts and comments. I am also posting on the blog site and responding to their blogs. This modeling is important. The students get excited when they see I have responded to their blog.

Blogging is allowing my students to bring their own voice alive in the classroom and construct their own learning. It gives them an important sense of being a writer. After all, we are what we think we are.

iTeach With iPads

[Kristi Meeuwse]

Sam,

The KidBlog site is where they write and edit.  It is all self-contained. I put a link to the blog on their home screen.  They just tap and log in, then choose to read posts or write.  It's very simple and easy.

[Sam Gliksman]

Thanks for the post Kristi. Are they using Safari to edit Kidblogs posts or is there a specific app the students use for writing and editing posts?