Student Blogging-Rookie Year

Just a few months ago I received my "Integrated Technology Certificate" from the University of Florida and realized there were plenty of things I wanted to do in my class, but didn't exactly have the means to do it. You see, my district is slowly getting in to the tech swing of things, just not as quickly as I would like. California + budget crisis never fares well on the education sector, but we are doing the best we can.

I decided that I would start with a blog...not a blog for my students/parents to look at, but one the students participate in each week. I did my homework and decided to pay for a secure site, in which none of my students' work would be privy to the public eye. Edublogs.org became my favorite. Slightly pricey, but I figured I would try it out this year.

This year I am teaching 6th grade at an elementary school in Southern California. My teaching partners and I decided to split subjects and the new common core standards consider us as middle school, so...why not? I was given the task of teaching writing to 120 kids! Just don't think about the grading, it is overwhelming as elementary teachers do not get a "planning" period or any breaks other than lunch/recess. Yes, I grade roughly 8 hours every other Saturday, but I am so inspired by my kids, that it doesn't feel like work.

Due to the fact that my student/class blog is private (student names must stay private), I can't share the link, but I will post some of their work anonymously and some of the great writing prompts that have them thinking.

One of my favorite prompts came from another student blog by teacher, Amy Cobb. Be prepared to be inspired. For this prompt, she was inspired by another teacher, Mr. Wright, who had the students write six word memoirs.

Here is the post:

Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was challenged to write his life’s memoir using six words only. He accepted the challenge, and some say it is his greatest masterpiece.

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Are you up for a challenge? Can you describe your life in six words? This is not as easy as it sounds. It requires thought, creativity, cleverness, humor and honesty. The words need to have some relevance to you. Here are two of mine:

“My stomach will follow scrumptious food.”

“Soil from countries dampen my souls.”

When you type your response be sure to use quotation marks and do not put your memoir in a sentence. Just type it like I modeled it above. I think it makes more of a statement this way. The following video was created by high school students for a creative writing class, and it is meant to get you thinking. Please do not borrow any of their ideas or words.

That’s it, six words this week. Make them count!


Here a some of my students' responses. Please enjoy:

“Pursue and strive, you will achieve.”

“Meet me at the baseball field.”

“Life’s treasures are in your heart."

“Life, love, family, happiness, equal treasure.”

“Adaptation- struggle that leads to success.”

“Sorrow fades with friends and laughter.”

“Wisdom- attained by overcoming arduous failures.”

“Knowledge, honesty, and strength develop confidence.”

“Life is a gift, open it.”

“A smile can help someone’s day.”

“My common sense… I ignore it.”

“Redefine success if you fail epically.”

This is just one post of our weekly blog assignments. I like to provide a variety of prompts and the kids keep enjoying them. I have seen some amazing work come out of them. They keep me inspired and keep me striving to find the next great writing idea.