What is a Blog?
A blog is a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. (Wikipedia)
Typically a blog contains text, photos, and links to other web pages.
Often there is a way for readers to leave comments.
Usually there is an RSS feed which allows readers to subscribe to the blog. An RSS feed brings the new entries to you, rather than you having to go to look and see if there is a new entry.
People use blogs as an online journal to share with family and friends.
Todd and Abby Veldman
das Leben der-Lundquisten
The Branch Church Blog (Anne's son-in-law)
Matzke Musings
Yellowstone Trip Travel Blog
Blogs frequently center around a topic: news, recipes, crafts
Subscribing to Blogs Using an Aggregator
So how does one keep up with new content on blogs without having to check each one each day?
You use an aggregator (RSS feed reader). An aggregator is a web page that keeps track when blogs that interest you are updated.
I use Bloglines to keep track of over a 100 blogs. I use my blogline page as my homepage when I open my web browser. A quick scan let me know what blogs have new updates, and I can skim through the content without even going to the blog.
Other aggregators are: Google Reader
Using Blogs for Professional Development
Classroom Displays - pictures and ideas for bulletin boards and displays
TAL Weblog - techology news and resources for teachers
Tech Savvy Educator - Ben Rimes has great ideas for using technology in the classroom
Smartboard Lessons Podcast - ideas on how to use the Smartboard. Listen and learn, or look at the resource links for each episode
Examples of Classroom Blogs
Wilson's Whiskers - Kindergarten teacher that uses a blog to share classroom events
Westwood Wonderkids - another Kindergarten blog, using lots of cool online tools to share picture slideshows
Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom Blog - grades 1 and 2, such cool ideas!
Primary Showcase - blog used to show K - 3 projects
Room 9 - blog from New Zealand with 6 and 7 year olds. Lots of interesting projects.
Hope Primary School- from England
Lewis Elementary - Principal Tim Wilson has set up their school web page as a blog. Notice that the top banner image changes each time you load the page.
Teacher Pages/Lewis Elementary - the teachers also use blogs, which feed into their school web page.
Examples of Blogs with Student Content
Sixth Spot - Mrs. Hockenbrocht's experiment with blogs from 2006
Mighty Writers - third grade writing blog
Planet 5 - students as daily reporters (not exactly a blog, but could easily be done in a blog format)
5B@MAS - fifth grade writing blog
South Paris Collaborative Chat - fifth grade blog
Huckleberry Audio Blog - audio books by first graders
Thinking Out Loud - middle school social studies blog, great examples of students leaving comments to teacher questions
Writing Blog Central - many examples of students using blogs to showcase their writing
YHS Art Blog - art assignments, student postings
Blog Websites
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