Get Bloggy With It!

This time of year is a great time to try new things. I mean, why not? The kids are a little (a lot) crazy and schedules are constantly changing for testing, assemblies, visitors, and programs. So why not try to add something new?!

I absolutely LOVED blogging with my 4th graders last year. The writing was authentic, engaging, and meaningful. They would write and write and write. They would respond to their peers appropriately, learn about each other on much more personal level, and they became more careful, thoughtful writers. I think I became a better teacher to these kids because they opened up about what they loved, feared, and looked forward to and they enjoyed doing it. Their blogs were little pieces of them that they allowed me and their classmates to be apart of.

SAD NEWS: Kidblogs is no longer free. As wonderful as it was I just cannot afford to pay a monthly fee for it.

HAPPY NEWS: I have found a new way for my 2nd graders to BLOG!! I think it's better than Kidblogs and it's FREE!! It's called Easyblog.

Seriously.....2 weeks before school is out. Oh, the luck!! No worries, we are going to write and work on our blogs until the very last day because they LOVE it.

Some of my kids are teaching us how to do math, one is telling us all about his paintball team, and others are sharing their excitement about moving this summer.

The app makes it easy for the kids to add video and pictures. There is a link that can be easily emailed to parents so that they can see and respond to their child's blog.

Of course, I respond to each child's blog post but when they get a response from a parent their little faces beam with pride and excitement.

I made some blog idea cards if you have a kiddo that needs help coming up with an idea of something to write about. You can pick them up here. I don't really think that you will need them but just in case...here you go. Cut them apart, place them on a ring, and put them in a place near the computers or iPads.

I am so excited to start this from the beginning of the school year next year.

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts, questions, and ideas.

Comments

Behavior that Makes Cents!

I've decided for this next school year to implement $$ into my behavior clip chart. Our school has certain colors and points that they want us to use and deduct from each child's conduct grade based on the child's color/conduct clip. So each year I jazz up my color chart BUT this year I'm implementing Coins.......get it???!!! Behavior that Makes Cents!! Okay.......this is how it will work in my classroom. Each day the students will stamp their behavior calendar with a coin stamp based on our color chart. For example, black will be used for a quarter because black is considered exceptional behavior throughout the day. They will use a green stamp for dimes, yellow stamp for nickels, and a red stamp for a penny. Although, I rarely have color changes, I truly feel like this will motivate them to not only KNOW their coins but be able to add them up. They will NEED to know how much they have in order to spend their money on Friday. ...

I Monday MADE IT!!

Hi Sweet and Sassy Friends!! I have some fun pictures of some things that I have made just in time for school to start and Monday Made It. {insert cheering and clapping} Okay, first.......I didn't actually make the bench BUT I did repaint it and get it classroom ready. That should totally count and the fact that I nearly took out the neighbor's window during the process. {if your my neighbor reading this--I'm sorry and it's okay} Here is the before: {donated by a dear friend-LOVE her} I need you to picture this: I'm on my front porch with the lid of the bench resting nicely on the back of the bench (easier for sanding). I'm using a handy-dandy electric sander. Super powerful. I place the sander on the lid and push the button..........OH. MY. WORD. the board shoots across the yard towards the neighbors window. YIKES!! A little embarressing but no one saw, so I pick it up bring it back and this time I hang on to it....

All Things Techy...and FREE

Well ya'll, I have so many wonderful things going on in the classroom and it's all things techy. I cannot wait to share a few of them with you. If you haven't stopped by our class blog then you should. { Mrs. Kirby's Kid's Blog } These authentic pieces of writing just make me so stinkin' happy. I constantly check my email throughout the weekend to see if they have written anything. Not because I told them to but because they want to. (insert happy teacher dance right here) I took my very first student bloggers to the school board and they told our school board what a blog is and why they think it's important. I gave each one of the kids that presented a small journal, sticky notes and pens to write their ideas about things they'd like to blog about. This is what their journals look like 2 days later.... These kids cannot get enough!! Look at all their THOUGHTS... BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! Look at...

Keeping Up With Kirbys

Search This Blog