Blogging

**Blogging**

**Content** This can be a way to journal or reflect while practicing writing skills.

**Grade Level** This strategy can be used from upper elementary grades up through high school.

**Curriculum Standards** These standards reflect ones appropriate for a sixth grade classroom in WV.
 * RLA.0.6.2.3 from a prompt, use the writing process to develop a composition that contains specific relevant details and transitions.
 * RLA.0.6.2.6 edit one's own composition as well as the writing of others to correct error in organization, content, usage, mechanics, and spelling.

**Description of Practices** Blogging allows students to use technology to write and journal in a safe environment. Teachers should always make sure to monitor the site you use and the student's account to make sure that students are writing in an appropriate way. It can also be used for many different writing assignments. This is a great opportunity for students to respond back and forth to each other. They can peer review their own work as well as help each other think in different ways. Students can respond with questions or food for thought in order to think critically. Here are a few different ways to incorporate blogging.
 * Daily journal prompts
 * Picture prompts
 * Steps for a research paper
 * Daily behavior reflection
 * Free writing
 * Practice for standardized prompts

**Implementation Considerations** Blogging is typically seen as independent work in the classroom, but students can have support from the educator. If a group project is occurring, however, students can work in pairs as long as their create the writing together. Rules need to be set for appropriate writing. It might be a good idea to practice the writing on paper first and then transfer onto the computer to ensure that work is appropriate for school and could be used as another way to edit work. These blogs can also be used across content areas, not simply just to practice writing. Lastly, teachers can choose to have the students blog be private with just the teacher to ensure privacy with writing or it can be a group blog where anyone in the class can read. **Example** Here are a few examples of different blogs that teachers and students have created in their classroom [|Classroom blog examples]

**Citation** Abidin, M., Pour-Mohammadi, M., & Hamid, F. (2011). Blogging: promoting peer collaboration in writing. //International Journal Of Business, Humanities & Technology//, //1//(3), 98-105.