Let those connections begin!
It feels so good to be back blogging with the J. H. House students in Mrs. Emmert’s fifth grade class! I wish you could have seen their faces as they read Harley’s great, big “woofing welcome”! This group peppered me with questions about Harley and his owner. They loved the creativity aspect of this type of blogging and they let their imaginations run wild. I asked them to think about things they were learning in class and what characters could make for interesting blogging. One clever student said he wanted to be a cell and inform others of all the good things he was doing for our bodies. Good thinking, huh? Lots of creative thoughts were flying around the room!
If any of you have student blogs already up for this year let me know and I’ll have my students comment on their blogs. Last week they commented on Harley’s blog. I did a quick intro on comment starters. The students are going to create some comment starters of their own so we can “bump up” the thinking when we comment.
One of my goals this year is to help them with their reflections and start that process of learning from each other. I need to rethink and add to this previous post, “Bumping up reflections”. I can’t wait to get these conversations started. Join in with us!
Harley barked to us ever so softly,
“I hope when I read your blogs and comment and ask you good questions,
then you’ll come here to read mine and comment to me. We can learn so
much from each other when we collaborate and make connections!”
So Harley gave us such a warm and “woofy” welcome!
Thanks Harley!!
We’re ready!
Let those connections begin!
Flickr photo, “Atlas, it’s time for your bath”
by woodleywonderworks’ photostream
August 21st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Hi,
Thank you so much for the “thank you”. I was so excited to read and respond to the terrific comments. I can’t wait to read all the blogs!
Paws,
Harley
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
hi…. come and visit new zealand…. tctvnz.blogspot.com
August 28th, 2008 at 11:14 am
[…] EduBlog Insights Comments, reflections and occasional brainstorms « Let those connections begin! […]
September 24th, 2008 at 10:32 am
That is a really cool idea, teaching 5th graders to blog. Blogging is such an emerging, ever-changing platform that starting kids early will only get them ahead. I recently started helping the Young Entrepreneur Foundation of NFIB start a blog. Please take a look if you can and let me know if you have any thoughts on its design or content.
Thanks,
Julie
February 8th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I teach intermediate special education and we are just now beginning our first blogging experience. I would love it if your class could comment on their postings.
My goal is for this opportunity to improve their language skills as well as improve social skills. Do you mind if I use your comment starters to give them a push? I have some 3rd graders who do not yet recognize all their alphabet so this will be a challenge. I will say this however, they have always risen to any challenge I present to them, and I am confident they will do so again. Thank you for an excellent blog.
LOVE the picture.