Who? What? How? When? & Where?

Who?

This part is addressed to parents who will probably be reading this first:

After the first two explanatory posts and any future posts that need to answer common questions, I will turn the bulk of posting over to children (with help from their parents). This blog is for elementary age children (about Kindergarten age through 6th grade). Children older than sixth grade are at the point that they may start their own blogs with parent supervision and permission. Children younger than sixth grade may want to start their own blogs, too, but this blog is intended to be a community of blogging children.

For now, I am limiting this project to children and parents I know so that I can more closely make sure it works. Other children and parents are encouraged to comment and follow our blog!

So, if you have a child or children who is/are in Kindergarten through 6th grade, and you are interested in starting this journey with your child or children and with me and my children, send me an e-mail (nolteowen@yahoo.com) or make a comment.

Children, especially the younger ones, are going to need help getting acquainted with the process. Parents will need to supervise all posting even if their children are self-sufficient. You may want to read through drafts to help them edit and revise. You may want to ask questions to help prod thoughts along.

What?

What is a blog?



There are four major jobs in a blogging community. Posting, Reading, Reflecting, and Commenting!

Posting
What are we supposed to post? Well, I can think of lots of things. . .

• take a photo of or scan a piece of artwork and write about what techniques you used and why you created it
• share a report, story, or poem you wrote for school and of which you are really proud
  
• photograph the world around you and write about it
• write about your hobbies-- sports, dance, music, collecting, whatever!
• write about a book (or movie or TV show) you liked or didn't like
  
• write about your pets
• write about your holidays or vacations
• write about something that happened at school or a special project
  
• write about something in the news
• write about something you discovered on the Internet and want to share
  

You can use photos, video clips, and links to other Internet resources to help tell your stories. You can also just write without using images. It is up to you. You are the author and/or the illustrator.

Everything you write does not have to be perfect! We all make writing mistakes. They can be easily corrected. I often find mistakes in my writing days after I have made a post, but I can still go back and make corrections. The point is to jump in and try your best. The more you read and write, the better you will become.

Some young children who are just learning how to read, write, and spell may want to use creative or invented spelling. Parents can help children make these decisions.

If typing is difficult for you, parents may want to help with this part. Again, this is something that you will have to decide.

Reading

You will want to regularly read the blog to see what other members of the community are up to.

Reflecting

You will want to think about what other people have posted.

Commenting

You will want to comment on posts that particularly interest you. You may want to offer encouragement. You may want to ask questions. You may want to add some of your own ideas or suggestions.

How?

With joy. With freedom. With responsibility.

This is not homework or schoolwork. This is not for a grade. This is not work to prepare for a multiple choice bubble test. This should be fun! It should be your choice.

But there are also technological components. You need an e-mail address (either your own or your parent's). You will need a digital camera or scanner to share photos or artwork. You need access to an Internet accessible computer. You need to have some familiarity with our blogging tool, www.blogger.com, uploading files, and navigating a blog. As the administrator/moderator, I have to approve and add you as a member of the blog.

I can help with the technology part. If you are in Jackson, Ms, I will make arrangements to help you get started. I have learned what I know by simply jumping in and playing with it. Rather than writing detailed instructions, it will be easier to help people as needed because every one's technological familiarity and set-ups will be different.

In the interest of Internet safety, I also need to mention another important word: caution. We need to be careful to protect our own privacy and the privacy of other blog members. I'll say more about this in a post on guidelines and our covenant.

When?

You may want to post once per week or several times a week. I encourage you to commit to posting at least twice per month. Remember, quality over quantity. You will need to discover a rhythm that works for you.

Where?

Blogging can be done anywhere with the right technology-- at home, at the library, at work (ask permission from your superiors), at school if your school allows this, or on the go with wireless. Some people even use cell phones to blog. I'm not there yet!

Coming next. . .

In the next post, I will start a list of group guidelines-- A Blogging Covenant. This may need to grow and change as the project gets started and as members of the community have their own suggestions.

And, since my daughter is at home from school today (not feeling well but not stuck in bed), we may try her first post together to practice how this may work.