Using Blogs to Motivate Writers

21st Century readers/writers need to…

Develop proficiency with the tools of technology Design/share information to meet a variety of

purposes Manage, analyze, synthesize multiple streams

of information Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by

various environments

-National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

misskimchee.blogspot.com

Take some time to explore the website

You will receive usernames/passwords

Let’s try an assignment! We will post a “powerful” picture and write our thoughts on it. If time allows, we will respond on each other’s blogs.

Apply it!

How can you use this to enhance your instruction?

OR What lesson can you give on the blog?

RULE: Let’s be positive! I’ll teach you trouble-shooting techniques after we brainstorm =)

Trouble-shooting

Bring a USB drive Bring extra paper Hold onto students’ usernames/passwords Stay calm in case the website malfunctions. Tell

students that losing work is a part of education. You can even have students type and save their

assignment on Microsoft Word, then copy/paste their writing onto their blog

Can’t see yourself using blogs in the classroom just yet?

Use it yourself! Get to know the functions and capabilities yourself first.

Check out my wine blog: goodlvino.blogspot.com

Inspriation: when given “writing time” during the WP, I found myself continually describing wine and food, and it is something I have continued.