3. Why blog?
O Blogs allow users to communicate about a variety of
different subjects. In a school library or classroom,
blogs allow students to share information about what
they’re learning or reading, making them active
participants in their own learning and the learning of
others, not just in their schools but in the larger world
around them.
O Students are going to communicate via blogging,
social networking, and any other way they can find,
with or without our influence. Why not use those tools
for an educational purpose? Along the way, we may
just teach them how to communicate appropriately
and safely.
4. Before you start blogging…
O Consider what you want the mission of your blog to
be. Do you want to only focus on reviewing books?
Do you want your blog to be a promotional tool for
your library or classroom? Do you want it to be
used primarily as a communication tool for parents?
Think about what you want out of your blog and who
your target audience is before you start.
O Explore the different blogging programs. There are
a lot out there, and some are blocked in schools.
Make sure you don’t start a blog that people in your
school will be unable to use. (In Greenville County,
we are limited to the district blog server.)
5. When you’re ready to enter the Blogosphere…
O Share your ideas for your blog with your administration
and teachers. If they don’t buy in and get excited about
what you’re doing, your students won’t either.
O If you’re a school librarian, work with a few classroom
teachers on some blogging lessons. Teach students
about how blogs work, netiquette, how to post comments,
writing book reviews, and any other skills you deem
important.
O If you’re a classroom teacher, work with your school
librarian. I promise you that he/she will be helpful in
using this Web 2.0 tool!
O Look to other professionals for ideas if you get “blogger’s
block.”
O When you’re teaching lessons on blogging, have at least
ten posts ready to go so that students have options when
learning how to post comments.
6. Things to consider
O Make sure you keep the safety of your users in mind.
If you or your principal are uncomfortable using real
names, have your students create pen names.
(They have a lot of fun with this, too!)
O It’s vital to instruct your students on the rules of
netiquette. You may have to re-teach these rules
quite often.
O Post to your blog often (at least once per week)!!!! If
you neglect your blog, your users will, too!
O Have fun with blogging! Let your students know that
you love what you’re doing. Your enthusiasm will be
contagious!
7. How can you use blogs to promote
reading?
O Create a blog of book reviews.
O Establish an online book club where students
discuss books they’re reading for class or for their
own entertainment.
O Start a library blog as a marketing tool.
O Promote library activities.
O Announce arrival of new books.
O Share award lists and themed book lists.
O Post student reviews and invite parents,
teachers, and authors to comment.
8. If you plan to create a book review blog…
O Read, read, read! When you think you
can’t read anymore, keep reading!
O Post often. You’ve got to give people
reasons to keep coming back to your blog.
O Be honest. Don’t give a good review to a
book you hated. Your readers will count
on you to lead them to books they might
enjoy. Also, let your personality show in
your writing.
9. How can you promote your new blog?
O Place a link to your blog on your email signature, your
website, and on your school’s website.
O Send out information on the blog in your newsletter.
O Let the local media know that you’re doing something
new to promote reading (or whatever else you may be
blogging about).
O Share the information with your colleagues at meetings
and conferences and through email and listservs.
O Provide incentives to students and teachers who
comment on your blog. (I got permission from my
principal to do this for our summer reading program.)
O Tell all of your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and even
Pinterest!
10. Highlights of my life as a blogger
O Comments from authors
O Comments from readers around the
world
O People who use my reviews to create
their reading lists
O Students getting excited about
communicating with others about
books, libraries, and reading
11. For Book Review and Author Blogs…
O Visit Knight Reader at
http://knightreader.wordpress.com,
and go to the “Book Review and
Author Blogs” page.
O Please add any other blogs you
find in the comments, and I’ll add
them to the main page.
12. Comments and Questions
O Don’t be afraid to try something new. If it doesn’t
work, adapt and try something else. Remember
those all-important words—monitor and adjust.
O If you’d like any of the lesson plans or materials I’ve
used to teach blogging at the elementary level, you
can email me at klknight@greenville.k12.sc.us. I’ll
also post as much as possible to the Edmodo group
for this session.
O You can also email me with questions, concerns,
gripes, and anything else when you’re starting your
own blogs. I’ll do whatever I can to help you create
a successful blog!
O Questions?
