Climbing

Question: How many bloggers does it take to change a lightbulb?  

Answer: 50. 1 to actually change the bulb and 49 to take a picture and post it on Instagram.

Regardless of who’s changing the lightbulb or how many people it takes, the truth is somebody’s got to get climbing to reach it.  We, as sixth grade Language Arts students, are working to reach our “lightbulb”.  The bright idea for which we’re reaching is successful blogging, and we’re getting there.

I wanted to take some time to post about the steps we’ve taken to get where we’re at right now.  I also want to show you where we’re going.  When school began, we talked a lot about what blogging was.  I don’t know if a lot of the sixth graders really understood the various purposes why people blog.  I have a friend who blogs about her day in order to practice her writing and to comment on life as she knows it.  Another friend blogs about family life.  My wife blogs about the blessings she sees in an insanely busy time in our family’s life.  Some people blog about cooking.  Others blog about their own personal hobbies.  I have a buddy who reads some stranger’s blog because each new post is the next chapter in an intriguing story that’s being written.  I’ve only started blogging recently.  I had one blog that documented my reflections about Web 2.0 tools in the classroom for a course I took. Another blog I have is used for taking notes and turning in assignments to another instructor.  The purpose of this blog is to keep you updated on how and what we’re doing in class.  I have plans for another blog that will be more instructional for other teachers who want to begin blogging with their classes.

The first blog post students wrote with their Kidblog account was to identify the purpose of their blog. I gave them the first few reasons that they should have used in their welcome blog: 1) to write final drafts for the teacher, and 2) to share their ideas with others.  I allowed them to choose a third reason of their own for times when I allow them to “free write”.  Their post was titled “Welcome to My Blog”, and they practiced the writing process on paper--planning, drafting, revising, editing--and then typed the final paragraph on their Kidblog.

For the second blog post, students were tasked to work through the writing process on paper again and then type the final into their blogs.  Their topic this time was simply, “What do you want to write about when you’re free to choose your own topic?”  It basically was an extension of the third reason from their first post.  Both these posts were purposed to orient the students to their Kidblog, and I think they now have a handle on the technology.  We’re still working out a few kinks, but it’s looking up.

These first two posts were completely private, meant to be viewed only by the teacher. I wanted the kids to find a comfort level with the whole process.  Now that we have formed that connection, I plan to open up their third post to the entire sixth grade.  I want to move the students from writing only for their teacher (for a grade) to writing to share their ideas with each other.  I figured that writing a sequel full of mystery, humor, and suspense related to Chris Van Allsburg’s The Garden of Abdul Gasazi would be a wonderful way to begin to share stories with each other.

Not only that, but students will now get to comment on each other’s stories.  We have spent much time in class forming our 3 star commenting procedures.  Comments must 1) be in sentences, 2) be thoughtful and positive, and 3) add to the conversation. While we had some trouble with this process during the learning stage, the students should now understand the “how”.  Now we have to make sure it happens.

If you think about what we’re doing here, students now write for a real audience--their peers.  In the past, I would try to find time for students to read their stories in front of the class.  Whenever we managed the class time, it was definitely worth it, but I couldn’t ever get to everybody’s stories in front of class.  Now, though, the students’ stories are published for their peers to read at their leisure. While there will be requirements on the number of stories to read and comment on, I hope that this will lead to a genuine interest in each other’s writing.  I want to also motivate the students to do their best for the audience that’s waiting for them on the other side of the computer.

Soon, very soon, I plan to open up the students’ blogs to our buddies in Australia.  I have connected with two teachers at a Christian school in Canberra who serve 54 students.  This will link nicely with our 56.  We are very excited to begin to share our stories, experiences, and ways of life.

Our class is getting there.  We’re climbing the wall, but it’s still a long, steep climb, especially for those who are new to sitting in front of a computer, and for now there’s nowhere to go but up.  The risks are still low...by design.  I pray that the students begin to reach new levels with this whole blogging concept.  I plan to teach them how to interact with each other and with their world.  I know their buddies in Australia are waiting for them to get on that wall, too.