Blogging Rules

5 Small Minion’s

Blogging Rules

http://kidblog.org/MsSmallsClass/

http://kidblog.org/Mssmallsinthehouse/

2010-2011

1.        I will not give out any information more personal than my first name nor will I post pictures of myself or my classmates.

2.        I will not reveal anyone else’s identity (other than first names) in my comments or in my posts.

3.        I will not plagiarize; instead I will expand on others’ ideas and give credit where it is due.

4.        I will use language appropriate for school.

5.        I will always respect my fellow students and their writing.

6.        I will only post pieces that I am comfortable with everyone seeing; other pieces I will keep as drafts.

7.        I will not be afraid to express my ideas, while not over generalizing or making derogatory remarks.

8.        I will use constructive/productive/purposeful criticism, supporting any idea, comment, or critique I have with evidence.

9.        I will only post comments that are meaningful and that contribute to the overall conversation.

10.     I will take my time when I write, using formal language (not text lingo), and I will try to spell everything correctly.

11.     I will not use my blog posts or comments as a chat room.

12.     I will not bully or provoke others in my blog posts or in my comments.

13.     I will never access another student’s account or make any changes to their site.

14.     I will be proactive in monitoring the comments that others leave on my blog.

15.     I will personalize my blog and keep my writing authentic, while taking responsibility for anything I add to my blog.

16.     I will use my blog as an extension of the classroom.

17.     I will only post photos which are school appropriate and are either not copyrighted or correctly cited.

18.     I will not spam (including, but not limited to meaningless messages, mass messages, and repetitive messages).

19.     I will only post comments on posts that I have fully read, rather than just skimmed.

Infractions of these rules will lead to the following logical consequences in order of severity and numbers of offense:

1. Warning by teacher.
2. Temporary loss of blogging privileges (duration of one month).
3. Permanent loss of blogging privileges.

I have read and understand the 5 Small Minion’s Blogging Rules.

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Student Signature

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Print name

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Parent Signature

Adopted from the original agreement at: Academy of Discovery wiki

Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips

Today, Ms. Knightly enlightened me about some Electronic Field Trips that correspond to the fifth grade Social Studies curriculum.  I went to register for them and to my dismay found out that they cost $500.00.  I wrote an email asking if there were any scholarships available and New Hampshire Public Television provided us with one.  Our first field trip is tomorrow and it is on the Bill of Rights.  We're so lucky!

We'll write (or blog, if possible) thank you letters to New Hampshire Public Television too.

Unit 2 Math Test this Friday

Students will take the second unit math test on Friday.  They should be able to add, subtract, and multiply multiple digit numbers with and without decimals.  They should also be able to understand place value.

The following has been posted on my moodle website:

Unit 2 Math Packet was handed out on November 1st. It is due on the day of the Unit 2 Math Test which is Friday, November 19th.
Suggested Time line:
2.1- November 1st (cross out # 3, 4, & 5)
2.2- November 2nd
2.3- November 3rd
2.4- November 4th
2.5- November 5th
2.6- November 8th
2.7- November 9th
2.8- November 15th
Skip 2.9
2.10- November 16th
 

Personal Narratives

We've been reading and writing a lot of personal narratives.  I thought I'd share some of the minilessons I've taught students and hopefully they will incorporate the lessons into the piece of writing (personal narrative) that is due in the next couple of weeks as well as for the rest of their lives. 

 

Qualities of Good Writing:

·       Write a little seed story; don’t write all about the watermelon.

·       Zoom in so you tell the most important parts of the story.

·       Include true, exact details from the movie you have in your mind.

·       Begin with a strong lead—maybe actions, setting, dialogue, or a combination which creates a mood.

·       Make a strong ending—maybe use important actions, dialogue, images, and whole-story reminders that make a lasting impression.

·       Relive the episode as you write it.

Before Students Publish Their Blogs...

Before You Publish Your Blog...

(Revise and edit)

• Reread your blog out loud to make sure your sentences flow and everything makes sense
• Add details
• Delete words, sentences, and paragraphs that don’t have to do with your seed idea
• Use paragraphs
• Fix spelling errors
• Fix punctuation
• Check for proper capitalization
• Check for proper grammar use
• Create a captivating title

Blogging Information Session

I really appreciate all of the interest in wanting to learn more about blogging.  You're invited to an informational session immediately following Friends and Family Day (Tuesday, November 23rd) at 2:30. Tony Baldasaro (previous SAU 16 Assistant Superintendent) will be here to discuss what blogging is, why it is beneficial, and how it is safe.  He will also talk about the importance of creating digital citizens through 21st century learning and global collaboration.  We will meet in my classroom while students will be in a PE class.  They will be dismissed from the gym at 3:10.  Mrs. Switzer and Ms. Prince will be in attendance as well.  I hope to see you there.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, and concerns please set up an appointment with me.  Also, I'd love to help teach you how to blog. 

Good Readers Ask Questions While Reading

Today I introduced a new reading comprehension strategy.  Students should begin to mark the questions they ask, while reading, with sticky notes in their books.  They should also start writing about the questions they ask, while reading, in their reading responses.

Questions

• Thin questions are little questions that do not require a lot of thought and they get answered right away.
• Thick questions are bigger/deeper questions, that require a lot of thought, and they don’t get answered right away.

Additional Blog for Reading Responses

Every week students are to write a reading response to me on an additional blog, which is http://kidblog.org/Mssmallsinthehouse/ and it is closed to any visitors.  Only students and teachers can log onto this blog.  (You can log onto it using your child's user name and password).

While writing reading responses, students are learning how to write about their thinking of their reading as well as learning how to use the writing process.  I am focusing on the revision aspect of the writing process; however, I am also aware of the editing aspect too.

Below are some posts that I put on the new blog:

Reading Response Criteria

October 25, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post

You are to write a letter to me telling me how things are going in your book. Essentially, this is a “what are you thinking?” response but addressed to me. Please be as thorough, detailed and clear as possible. Here are my expectations for this letter.
1) Your letter must be addressed to me, have the date and be signed by you.
2) Your letter must include the title, author and genre of the book you are reading.
3) Your letter must discuss your thinking about your reading.
4) Your letter must include words from the book when you give me examples of what’s happening in the book. Please include the page number, so you can find those words again.
5) Your letter should include how this book is affecting you.
Reading Responses will be assigned on Monday and due on Friday morning.  You are responsible to revise and edit your response during the week; however, your classmates and teachers can also help you revise your reading response by leaving you comments.

Comments

October 25, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post

When writing comments, please leave one positive aspect of the writer’s reading response and one suggestion for revision or editing.
Revision suggestions:
-add details
-delete details
-move things around
-add required elements of reading response

Topics for your Reading Response

October 25, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post

To describe your reaction to the book, you may include:

• Is the book just right, too difficult, or too easy?
• Why you chose the book
• How the author describes things
• How you like the author’s writing style and language
• Favorite part of the book
• Parts of the book you like or dislike
• Characters you like or dislike
• How does this book make you feel
• Something that made you laugh out loud
• Would you recommend the book?
• Why did you (or will you) abandon the book?
• What you do when you’re confused
• Favorite words
• What you like or dislike about the setting
• How you like the introduction
• What books do you look forward to reading
• Would you change anything in the book?

Teachers and students comments

October 29, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post

If you post a draft of your reading response by Tuesday morning, I promise to read your reading response and give you a revision suggestion by Thursday at 3pm.
Also, every week, you are required to read one of your classmate’s reading responses and give one positive feedback as well as one constructive suggestion by Thursday morning.

Title of Posts

October 29, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post

Please put the title of your book as well as the due date of the reading response on your post title.

Knucklehead 11/5/10

November 1, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post

November 1, 2010

Dear Ms. Small

I just read a personal narrative titled, “Halloween” in Jon Scieszka’s book, Knucklehead.  I know it’s a personal narrative because Jon Scieszka’s writing a story about his own childhood.  It’s hilarious, I laughed out loud on many occasions because Jon Scieszka used a lot of dry humor and great voice in his writing.

I had to monitor for meaning after I read an entire paragraph and knew it was a joke, but I didn’t get the joke.  Jon Scieszka wrote on page 45, “Sorry about that, Brian.”  I wondered what he was sorry about so I reread the paragraph and realized that Jon must have thrown his brother, Brian, off the porch one Halloween when Brian was dressed up as a ghost.  The ghost was one of the not too cool Halloween costumes in the Scieszka family.

As I was reading this personal narrative, it really reminded me how much I loved Halloween as a child.  (As an adult I despise it).  When Jon was describing that he and his five brothers had to share four Halloween costumes (that weren’t really cool) I was thinking of how lucky I was that my sisters and I never had to share Halloween costumes.  My mom would take us to the party store every year and we got to be whatever we wanted to be.  I can’t decide if my favorite costume was a ballerina or a Care Bear.  (I LOVED the Care Bears!)  (I don't like Halloween as an adult because the costumes cost a lot of money and instead of trick or treating, I have to give out candy…My students get wired on candy and can’t pay attention.  Also, I do not enjoy planning silly games).
Sincerely,
Ms. Small