Let the Blogging Begin!

Dear Families, Your child’s blog is now live! So what does that mean? It means that your child has started contributing to his/her positive digital footprint. It means that your child now has a space where s/he can collaborate with others – like you - to share learning, ask questions, solve problems and learn. So what does that mean for you? It means that now you can engage in more meaningful conversations about learning with your child anywhere, anytime!

We will continue to share our learning as a class on our Busy Bees class blog, but now you and your child can continue those conversations about learning on his/her individual student blog.

Below is information about how to access your child’s blog. Please note: You do not need to log in to your child’s blog to leave a comment.

OPTION #1 ACCESSING YOUR CHILD’S BLOG TO COMMENT Visit our Busy Bees Class Blog - http://edublog.amdsb.ca/cassell Scroll down until you see the list of Class Blogs on the right hand side. Click on your child’s blog.

OPTION #2 ACCESSING YOUR CHILD’S BLOG TO COMMENT You can also access your child’s blog by using their individual blog URL’s. I have attached your child’ blog URL (web address) inside the front cover of his/her planner. Open an internet browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc) and type in your chil’d blog URL in the address bar.

Once you arrive at your child’s blog, you can read about his/her learning and leave a comment. I would like to encourage you, as well as your extended family - Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and family friends, to visit your child’s blog regularly to comment and ask questions. When making a comment please consider sharing something you liked about your child’s post, and then ask your child a question to continue the conversation. INTRODUCTION TO COMMENTS AND WRITING COMMENTS

Blogging is much more than writing posts; comments are important part of blogging.

ABOUT COMMENTS

Comments allow your readers to add feedback to your posts and pages. Comments extend the conversation beyond your blog post allowing your readers to interact with you and each other.

It’s amazing how even just a few comments can make student realise they are writing for a global audience — for many is incredibly motivating.

Comments are an important part of both the readers and blogger’s learning process. By default, comments are enabled on all newly created blogs, and a comment form will appear at the bottom of posts and pages where readers can respond to what you’ve written.

Approved comments are displayed under the individual post or page. You just click on the post title to read the comments.

By default, the first comment by a new commenter is moderated and their subsequent comments are immediately published on all newly created blogs. Below is an example of a post with comments.

HOW TO LEAVE A COMMENT

To leave a comment on a post just:

1. Click on the post title or the “comment” link at the top or at the bottom of the post.

The comment link may say something like “3 comments”, “Comments (0)” or even “No Comments”.

2. Scroll down the page to the comment form or click on Reply (to reply to a specific comment).

3. Enter your name and email address – your email address is hidden and only the blogger sees it.

If you are logged into your Edublogs account you won’t need to add these details.

4. Write your comment.

5. Enter the anti-spam word.

6. Select the ‘Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail‘ if you want to be notified by email to comments by other readers. 7. Now click ‘Submit Comment’.

COMMENTING TIPS Most readers are reluctant commenters, not because of lack of time, but because they feel uncomfortable leaving comments. Please check out this blog post about commenting for more information: http://edublog.amdsb.ca/collab/2014/10/23/why-comments-are-important/ WRITING A BLOG POST AT HOME In order for your child to write a post, s/he must first Log In to his/her blog.

LOGGING IN TO YOUR CHILD’S BLOG USING A PC OR MAC 1. Access your child’s blog using one of the options outlined above. Click on the Log In tab in the top left hand corner of the of the black menu bar.

2. Type in your username and password (attached inside the front cover of your child’s

planner)

You will then arrive at your child’s Blog Dashboard - the control panel of his/ her blog.

3. Once you arrive at your child’s Blog Dashboard, your first step is to make sure you are looking at your child’s blog. If you do not see your child’s name in the top black menu bar, hover your cursor over My Sites, and select your child’s blog from the drop down menu. WRITING A BLOG POST USING A PC OR MAC

ABOUT POSTS Posts are where you’ll publish your main content such as what’s been happening in class. assignment information, homework, documents, and more.

They are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order with the most recent post at the top of the page. By default, your home page is your blog post page and this is where you’ll see your new posts published.

Every newly created blog has the same default lay out with posts displayed on its front page (‘Home’) with a ‘Hello World’ post and an ‘Sample’ page.

                 

COMPONENTS OF A POST If you look closely at a post you will see it is normally made up of:

1. Post Title – tells the reader what the post is about. A great post title grabs readers attention and is more likely to encourage them to read your post.

2. Date published – all post display the date a post was published. You’ll normally see this displayed at the top of the post.

3. Written by – most themes display the name of the post author. Your username is automatically displayed unless you’ve changed your display name.

4. Your post content – this is the main information that you want to share or reflect on with your readers

5. Comments – all themes have a link to comments. This is where your readers can click to write a comment in response to your post. Comments allow students, and other readers, to engage in discussions, share their thoughts and connect with your class blog.

6. Tags - are used to help readers locate posts on your blog. Tags are more like the index at the back of the book and explode the topic into a million bits.

7. Categories - are used to help readers locate posts on your blog. Categories are often used like chapters of a book; they provide a general overview of the topics you blog about.

PUBLISHING A NEW POST

Publishing a new post is as simple as:

1. Go to Posts > Add New.

2. Give your post a title and add your content in the large writing space provided.

3. Add your tags and categories.

4. When you have finished writing click Publish. You can preview your post before publishing by following these instructions.

               

EDITING A POST To edit or delete a post go to Posts > All Posts and click on the Edit link under the post title you want to edit.

When your child’s post is complete, ask your child to use his/her Writer’s Checklist to revise and edit the post.

LOGGING IN TO YOUR CHILD’S BLOG USING AN ANDROID OR IOS DEVICE The best way to blog using an iPad, iPhone or iPod is to use the Edublogs App (available in the iTunes store for free)

This App lets you manage and update your Edublog right from your iOS device!

This App works with: - Any device that is running iOS version 6 or greater. - Any Edublogs.org blog (free, upgraded and Pro blog) or Edublogs Campus

blogs (AMDSB has a Campus license). Download the Edublogs App here

STAR WRITER’S CHECKLIST

I used a capital letter to begin each sentence.

I used a capital letter for names, places, and the word“I”. (Mrs. Cassell)

My printing is neat. I left finger spaces between words.

I used punctuation to end each sentence. (. ! ?)

I s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out the sounds of new words.

LOGGING IN USING THE EDUBLOGS APP

1. Launch the App.

2. Add your username, password and blog URL then tap Sign In.

3. You’re now ready to start! Refer to Edublogs for iOS help for more information about using the Edublogs App.

WRITING A BLOG POST USING THE EDUBLOGS APP 1. Ask you child to log in to his/her blog. Touch the Show/Hide menu icon.

1. Tap on the ‘+’ sign on Posts.

2. Add your post title and content.

3. Tap on Post Settings icon.

4. Add your categories and tags then tap Back. 5. Tap on Publish or follow these instructions to save as a draft.

HAPPY BLOGGING! If you have any questions, please send me a message using Class Messenger!