Blogging Using Academic CommentsJanet Ilko Cajon Valley Middle School ELL Writing Teacher San Diego Area Writing Project Fellow

Passions to Words, Sharing Our Stories “You don’t have to be the

star, you can be the light shining on them.”

Rawanda Ibrahem Writing for Change student

Cajon Valley Middle School Grade 6

Welcome to CVMS!Expect More, Achieve More!

Student Demographics

The San Diego Area Writing Project/ NWP

Building Language: Stanford Graduate School of EducationThe Understanding Language

District Engagement subcommittee has released a set of Six Key Principles to support ELL’s in meeting the rigorous, grade level academic standards found in the Common Core Standards.

Blogging directly supports three of those standards.

Ell.stanford.edu/content/six-key-principals-ell-instruction

January 11, 2013

Instruction focuses on providing ELLs with opportunities to engage in discipline specific practices which are designed to build conceptual understanding and language competence in tandem.

Instruction leverages ELL’s home language, cultural assets and prior knowledge.

Standards aligned instruction for ELLs is rigorous, grade-level appropriate and provides deliberate and appropriate scaffolds.

Why Blog?Student blogging is not just a short term project, it’s become a forum where students can share their ideas and write for a real purpose.

The beauty of blogging is the revision process becomes seamlessly part of writing. Once you push submit, there is an instantaneous audience. That realization that you will be read, and that your words matter create a sense of urgency and need to clarify and justify the posts.

Two Blogging Formats

Standards for the Lesson NETS for Students 2. Communications and Collaboration Students use digital media and environments to

communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support

individual learning and Contribute to the learning of others. a. Interact, collaborate,

and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital

environments and media

NETS Standards for Lesson 5. Digital Citizenship Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues

related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students: a. Advocate safe. Legal, and responsible use of information

and technology. b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that

supports collaboration, learning, and productivity. c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning. d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.

Writing Standards 7th and 8th Grade CCSS Writing Standards 4.Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. 5.With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, re-writing, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have

been addressed. 6.Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing

and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, Including linking to and citing sources.

Lesson ObjectiveBy the end of today’s lesson we will:Compare and contrast the similarities and

differences between social and academic comments

Write at least 2 academic comments after reading posts from peers.

What is a comment?A section in blog posts (typically immediately

following the post entry) where readers provide their reactions to the post. From About.com

Simply put, a comment section is where you as the reader get to respond to the writer.

Types of CommentsSocial commentsSocial comments are found on spaces like

Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.Social comments are short, lack detail and are

usually personal in nature.Academic CommentsComments that are connected to the learning

or discussion on the blog or in the classroom.

Social Comment Examples:

Here are a few examples of social comments:“I love your blog, it rocks!”You are ridiculous. I LOVE CHOCOLATE!!!!Lol Ha ha!Good job.

Academic Comments In our classroom blog space we are aiming for a

more academic tone in our work.Our comments should:Relate to the content of the postContinue the conversation by adding a

statement or asking a questionAdd something to the authors post like a link,

connection, idea, reminder or new perspective.Challenge someone’s point of view

Academic Comment StemsThis made me think about… I wonder why… I can relate to this… I discovered… I found myself wondering…Another thing to consider…Your post is relevant because

Your turn!!Please log into www.edmodo.comThe class code to register is: group code 99ghtjOnce you have joined our group, please read

student blog entries and write your own academic responses.

We have students live in our computer lab waiting to post with you.

Sources That Support The Work Sites Used as Inspiration for this lesson/unit http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/12/25/blogging-lesson-plan-commenting/ http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/how-to-write-a-blog-comment.aspx http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/better-blog-writing.shtml http://moblogsmoproblems.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-write-great-

blogcomments. html http://biancasblog.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/08/26/etiquette/ http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategyguides/ teaching-with-blogs-30108.html http://www.notesfrommcteach.com/2010/09/learning-to-blog-usingpaper. html