October+Community+of+Writers

To : All teachers K-12

From :
 * Bev Berns- Keystone AEA, Iowa
 * Kim Powell- Bedford Public Schools

The app : [|__http://edtech.jcisd.org/things-to-think-about-ipad-app.html__]

Description: This school year, we would like to challenge classrooms to participate in a Community of Writers as a way to promote ELA common core standards. The purpose is to:


 * Participate in shared writing projects
 * Use technology to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing projects
 * Use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers
 * Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Blogging in Action : Take a look at this video on how high school teacher Nick Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) connected his students with blogging:
[|__http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyopVadGRvw&feature=share&list=PLKLIng-4OjuP4EBarE4G_skeeAiYGRdG6__]

Blogging in Lower Elementary, you bet! Michigan 1st grade teachers Erin Masten and Jenna Dixon share their classroom story about using Kidblog on their TECHi Tykes blog: [|__http://www.techitikes.com/2013/07/kidblog.html__]

Learn from other students on how to use Kidblog- [|__http://pernillesripp.com/2011/06/05/how-to-use-kidblog-a-video/__]

Project Details: The teacher’s challenge is to create a Kidblog account for their students and share the blog link on the [| __signup challenge form__]. After the signup deadline, we will then partner your classroom with additional classrooms throughout the world to provide an authentic audience for your blogging students. You will also be able to connect with other grade alike or subject alike teachers through the list of interested teachers. Once students create a blog post, the partner class will provide comments on the students blogs. This will allow your students to learn from one another as well as encourage their writing skills! Give your students the wonderful opportunity to connect, create, and share their learning through blogging!

Watch this [|__video__] on how you can create your Kidblog today! Don’t forget to [| __sign up__] to participate in the challenge! We look forward to reading about your accomplishments!


 * Sign up deadline is October 31, 2013. **

Take a look [| __here__] to see who has already signed up!

Technology Needs :
 * Computer with internet

Additional Resources: [|__Blogging guide__] [|__14 steps to meaningful student blogging__] [|__Other Blogging Platforms and collaborative tools__] [|__Additional Kidblog tutorial__]