The first website regarding implementing blogging was from Daily Genius. Their site “4 powerful ways to implement blogging in the classroom” provides what else? Four great reasons to implement blogging which is similar to the ways mentioned in our textbooks. They provide some links and examples on how blogs are helping to enrich the student learning for all grade levels.
http://dailygenius.com/blogging-in-the-classroom/
Another good website that is more of a checklist on how to implement blogging and staying in curriculum guidelines is provided by MindShift website. The article, “How the Heck Do You Implement ‘Student Empowerment’” a teacher shares her strategy on how to make sure she is sticking to the curriculum and providing a way for students to use their blogging voice to show their depth of knowledge of their standards.
http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/01/13/how-the-heck-do-you-implement-student-empowerment/
Even though I teach elementary, I liked the website Tap into Teen Minds where they showed how student math blogs are used. I teach math and this site helps math teachers understand the importance of blogging in mathematics. They provide links to some other math blogs that are used. They incorporate pictures and commentary on mathematical strategies which is great since testing has added a writing component to the math testing. Students get a chance to work on explaining their work and through responses to their blogs that can see if others could follow their strategies and offer suggestions on making it clearer and helping them understand math concepts better.
https://tapintoteenminds.com/creating-a-community-for-students-blogging-in-math/
The rubric below is what I think is a great starter rubric for students 3-5 first time at blogging. I tried to keep it simple and make sure it stays engaging for both the blogger and the students responding to blogs. I made sure the student responders have as much as a voice so they can understand that their written response is just as important. I want responders to know that they are community of learners helping to make each other better students.
Blog Post by Students
Unacceptable
One to two sentences response in blog. Does not show understanding of assignment for blog.
Acceptable
One paragraph response in blog that shows understanding.
Target
Two or more paragraphs showing insight and citing evidence that student understood assignment.
Blog Post by Students
Unacceptable
Four or plus spelling errors indicating student did not review work before posting.
Acceptable
One to three grammatical and/or spelling errors.
Target
No grammatical or spelling errors
Comments or Responses that students leave on other student blogs
Unacceptable
One word or one sentence response. Students did not explain why they responded the way they did.
Acceptable
Three sentences responding to blog. Shows little explanation to why they responded.
Target
One paragraph showing student understanding of blogger and provided more insight or questioning of student response to blog.