Project Title: Kidblogging

Submitted by: Sharon Davison, Vermont, USA

Project Type: This can be both a solo and a collaborative project. Since I started using it in Kindergarten, 2 more ½ grade classrooms have also begun using Kidblogs!

Student Ages: 5-6, but can be adapted to any age

Description: Kidblogging is a wonderful way to begin making connections and, of course, to build relationships prior to school starting. I set up accounts for each of my children. With their parents help, each child began posting pictures, etc. prior to school starting. I met with each child and their family two weeks before school started. I showed them their kidblog and how it works. I took a picture of each child anywhere they wanted in or out of the classroom. Together we posted their picture and a comment. Wow! The children and their families were so excited and happy to see this right from the start! Throughout the year I have posted artwork, podcasts and even an Animationish or 2 on their blog! At this point in the year (December), the children are independent in getting to their blog and other classmate’s blogs to see what is new! Some of the children are beginning to make their own posts. Parents, relatives and of course others are so happy with this type of communication and sharing. I have had grandparents email me thanking me for this opportunity to stay connected with their grandchildren. Some of my students have posted music as well as artwork they created from a computer program they have at their house! Wonderful!!!

Outcomes

1. Students will compose ideas about what they want to share. They will type their own comments and make their own blog posts using their inventive writing as a vehicle to do this.
   
2. Students will practice their keyboarding skills, knowledge about sounds/symbols and their relationship to one another when typing. Begin to make connections with the literacy skills they are focusing on in our curriculum too!
3. Students create their own ideas about what they want to share about their own learning. They will also be connecting with others and making relationships as they work on their blogs. The students will also be communicating with their peers, family and others about experiences within and out of school.
   
4. This project also provides students the chance to explore social networking as well as have endless opportunities for children to begin to learn about the importance of being a safe, responsible digital citizen.

Key Project Element(s): See my literacy wiki and on the right rail is the kidblog link. You can see the information that I shared with families and learn more about kidblog.org by clicking on this link (or by going directly to http://davisonkindergarten.pbworks.com/w/page/34332743/kidblogs).

Collaborate: To collaborate with our kindergarten class on a project, contact me at davisons@epals.com. I am also on twitter at kkidsinvt.

Culminating Activity: Each student has their own individual blog where they can create a digital "scrapbook" documenting their first year of school. Students and families have the opportunity to comment on the blog posts at home.  This photo shows students working on their blogs in class.  For privacy reasons we can't show you the actual student blogs.

To see more work from this class visit their
Class Blog,
Literacy Wiki,
Math Wiki,
Summer Reading Blog and
Life Studies Blog.