This year is the first time we have participated in the Primary Blogging Community, a fantastic group blogging opportunity set up by Kristen Wideen. We have 4 teachers involved this year. From second grade we have Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Garcia, and Mrs. Shapard. Mrs. Weth, one of our third grade teachers, is also participating.

Each teacher is placed in a group of three other classrooms. Our students will be communicating with children from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, other areas of the United States. We are thrilled to learn about life in other parts of the US and the world!

The first month is spent focusing on one classroom each week. The “focus” class blogs as a class and the others leave comments. It’s a wonderful way for teachers to model how to write quality posts and comments with student input. The second month is when the children actually do the posting and commenting themselves. Again, one class is the “focus” group so they write posts while the others share comments.

This week, both Mrs. Shapard (2nd grade) and Mrs. Weth (3rd grade) are the focus classes. The teachers guided their children to write an introductory paragraph then they asked the groups to brainstorm what they would like to share. In Mrs. Shapard’s class, each group shared one or two sentences that were added to the post. Click on the link below to view her students discussing what to share.

Shapard_deciding what to post

Mrs. Weth asked her students to jot down several ideas on a white board. Then they decided on their first choice for sharing. The first group that spoke decided to tell about the school and the co-curricular classes they attend each week. The children added so many details that their ideas became the first post! The other groups will hold onto their thoughts to share in a later post!

Using a white board to brainstorm ideas

Already both classes have received comments and questions from the other schools. All are excited to “meet” their blogging buddies!