My 4th graders are mostly second language learners and on IEP’s so they need lots of practice using correct English, punctuation and spelling. Since we blog, Skype, make wiki pages and more, I believe constantly exposing them to the ethics, safety and respect that having a presence online demands. To that end I devised a new blogging activity for them to participate in.
Kids like to help out. That’s just the way they are. So I chose a 1st grade class that blogs and explained to my students that being “older” they could “Make The Day” for these younger students by leaving them some positive, supportive comments. We even discussed any experiences they had being included in a game or activity when they were “young” by older kids and what that was like for them.
So far they have taken to this idea very enthusiastically! Here is the activity description from our class blog:
“This week we are going to practice making positive, supportive comments and make the day for younger bloggers at the same time! First, go to the first grade blog linked on our class wiki page. Then find a blog post that you make a connection with. You might have to deal with “invented spelling” that you have to decipher. EXAMPLE: It is a post about a cat and you have a cat too.
Next, say something positive about what they wrote or the picture that might accompany the post, like: “I like how you described your cat. I have one too.”
Then ask them a question like: “My cat is white, what color is your cat?”
Leave it fairly simple like that, after-all they are 1st graders.
Edit it and post it to their site.
Have fun and MAKE THEIR DAY!”
Learning is messy!
My kids are a bit older but they do light up when someone leaves a bright, sparkly, positive comment for them. Better still when they leave a questions that begs for a response.
There is quite a skill in leaving good comments.
http://moturoa.blogspot.com/
I am a newbie at blogging, in fact, I am in a class to learn how to become a school librarian. This semester we are blogging and learning 23 Things to bring us up to speed with the 2.0 world. The current assignment is the value of commenting in a meaningful, positive way. I had just added your blog to my Reader yesterday and your post touched me in a big way. Everyone has the need to be noticed and recognized. It takes such a small amount of effort to make someone’s day. Thank you for sharing your 2nd grade darlings with us.
I am a newbie at blogging, in fact, I am in a class to learn how to become a school librarian. This semester we are blogging and learning 23 Things to bring us up to speed with the 2.0 world. The current assignment is the value of commenting in a meaningful, positive way. I had just added your blog to my Reader yesterday and your post touched me in a big way. Everyone has the need to be noticed and recognized. It takes such a small amount of effort to make someone’s day. Thank you for sharing your 4th grade darlings with us.
As a first grade teacher, but with years of experience in fourth and fifth, blogging in something that’s been a struggle with me for my students. I love this idea. We have fourth grade buddies and I think they would do a wonderful job of encouraging and supporting my students if we gave this a try. I’m going to do some serious thinking on this.
I love this idea! Not only are you incorporating technology in a very real way, but you’re giving your students the opportunity to be the experts, even when they struggle with English themselves. Fantastic! (I might be stealing some version of this.)
Great activity! I hope your students are enjoying it.
I think what you are doing here is SO important, Brian, and I wish more teachers did it. This semester with my undergraduate education students I required that they comment on some student blogs, and we used a “Constructive Commenting with Social Media” rubric that I came up with to try and elevate the quality as well as tact of their comments.
I hope you’ll share more about this, including the ways you’ve found to help students the most move beyond the short “that’s great” or “I agree” comments to ones that are more in depth and also edifying to the original poster/writer.
Hello,
We are asking for your assistance, and guidance to get the word out about an
amazing program to make small pets available to grammar school teachers
in the classroom.
This program is designed to help teachers that would like small animals as
teaching aids or mascots etc. in the classroom, or to assist teachers who
presently have animals, in obtaining supplies needed to care for the pet.
We realize that teachers have limited funds and our program offers grants
of up to $150.00 for the purchase of small animals such as fish, hamsters,
birds, as well as supplies.
We have the money, we have the program, we have a website, all that is
needed is your help to get the word out. We at Pet Care Trust, feel that
exposing children to the care and responsibility for animals is imperative
in the development of good character and compassion in relationship to all
living things. The care of animals teaches children life affirming values.
If you could pass this along, post it on your website or give me advice on the best
Way to the get this information to teachers it would be much appreciated.
http://www.petsintheclassroom.org
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