Blog Write

Show Me the Content!

Good morning Web Writers!  Today we will continue focusing on your ideas and content! Since you have already proofread your work and graded yourself using last week's rubric.  I would like for you to exchange papers with a neighbor.  Grade your peer on their ideas and content.  Use the questions to help you:

1. Does the post make sense?
2. Does he/she seem like an expert on the topic?
3. Did he/she include interesting details not everyone would think of?
4. Will he/she be able to answer my questions about this topic?
5. Once I started reading it, did I want to stop?

Use the answers to the questions to help your classmate improve his/her writing.  After you have proofread each other's work, continue posting.  Remember to finish your post from last week.  Answer all of your new comments and feel free to comment to other blogs. 

Following Up

Due to the 5th grade writing assessment, our session started late so we didn't have much time to post to our blogs.  However, your readers will be in left in suspense as they read the first part of your post! 

I must give kudos to Graciela once again!  Her introduction to A Delicious Story was outstanding! 

What would you do if you woke up one morning and found out that the world was made of candy? Of course, you would be shocked but excited. If you are a person who loves candy and sweets you'll love my story even better!

She started out with a question to entice her readers.  Graciela then finished up her story with lots of details, descriptive vocabulary, and dialogue.  Her ideas and content was so good that her story came alive as we read it outloud.  Way to go Graciela!

We got an excellent writing tip from our devoted reader, Brownwyn G.  She said we should think of our writing as a body.

Also, the reader can tell when the beginning and end are tight and the middle is flabby (for lack of a better word). Think of your writing as like a body. Your beginning is the head, and the end is the feet. That leaves a whole middle full of arms, legs, stomach, private parts, et cetera.

Remember to concentrate on the ideas and content in your post for next week.  Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does my post make sense?
2. Do I seem like an expert on the topic?
3. Have I included interesting details not everyone would think of?
4. Will I be able to answer the reader's questions about this topic?
5. Once my readers start reading my post, will they be able to stop?

I can't wait until next week! 

Traits to Improve Posts

Last week, we began focusing on the Six Traits of Writing Model and how it can help you improve your writing.  You will use the Six Traits to help you understand what is working well and what needs to be improved in your writing.

Let's review the Six Traits before we begin:

1. Ideas/Content
2. Word Choice
3. Conventions
4. Voice
5. Sentence Fluency
6. Organization

Today, we are going to focus on the ideas and content you include in your writing.  In each post on your blog, you have a message for the readers.  The ideas in your writing is your message.  Make sure your ideas are fresh, original, and come from your experience.  Will your post hold the readers' attention all the way through?  If so, you have lots of ideas that make your writing interesting.  Use lots of supporting details to enrich your main idea.  Show your readers how you respond to life and to people. 

I love the advice from this teacher as she describes what writers should do:

• Narrow the topic to something specific
• Use fresh and original ideas
• Write from experience
• Show insight in the writing
• Make the main idea stand out
• Use supporting details
• Stay in control of the topic
• Develop the topic in an entertaining way

One thing I would like to add is to make sure you have a beginning, middle, and end!

Blogging with the Legislatures!

Zachary and Jose-Juan did an outstanding job representing the Web Writers and JHH Tuesday Night at Georgia State University's Leadership Appreciation Night.  Everyone was so impressed with our weblogs.  They were most impressed with the fact that elementary students CAN blog and blog so well! 

Zachary and Jose-Juan worked on laptops as the legislatures and guests walked around from booth to booth.  Occasionally, someone would stop to look over their shoulders.  They even taught several onlookers how to comment to our posts.  Toward the end of the evening, Mrs. Davis pulled Zachary and Jose-Juan aside and interviewed them. Let's listen to their podcast!

It was an exciting evening with good food, nice goodie bags, and free caricatures! 

Blogging with Visitors!

Our blogging session went great!  We were all so excited to get a surprise visit from Mrs. Davis (GSU) and Ms. Williams (ITS Coordinator from the County Office)! I know they were so impressed by your hard work and great blogging skills.  Mrs. Davis had some really good advice to give us all.  One thing we really need to work on include our thought-provoking questions at the end of our posts.  Remember to avoid using yes or no questions.  Use the Bloom's Taxonomy words to help guide you. 

Mrs. Davis also showed us some really good tips from last year's group.  These tips should help you in composing next week's post on your New Year's Resolutions for Writing.  We will go over these tips in more detail when time permits.

You all did a good job at your first attempt at really blogging.  We went over the blogging process that we will refer to in each session:

1. Read
2. Think about what you are reading.
3. Make connections about what you are reading and what you are thinking.
4. You may decide to write about what you are reading and even do some linking as you go!

We will continue working on the process of blogging in each session!

Lastly, we are so excited about Jose-Juan and Zachary representing us at Georgia State's Leadership Appreciation Night Tuesday night!  We know they will do a great job, and I know their experience will lead to a great post!

Starting 2006 Off Right with Blogs!

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

Just like most of you Monday morning, I was dragging in as my body was in shock from waking up so early.  The two weeks off of sleeping in and enjoying family and friends really spoiled me.  My attitude was quickly uplifted as I started reading my email messages (I always check my email first when I get to school).

I received an email from Cara Bafile, a freelance writer for Education World.  Our weblogs were featured on their website in an article titled Writing with Weblogs!  This article was exactly what I needed to motivate me into a promising 2006!  I am so fortunate to have such a great group of students to work with!

Bafile sums my feelings exactly when she states:

The blogging experience has convinced Meeler that even elementary level students can participate successfully in blogging. She believes that every student has a voice that can be heard through the instant publication of a post, and that everyone can learn something from the different voices of children.

You all have proven to me that elementary students can blog!  I have learned so much from reading your posts and working with you.  Your voices are being heard and I am so proud of each of you!

Today we will dive right back in to blogging!  Go check out your comments and get ready to compose a new post!