Mid-Week Update

This note is coming home today (Wednesday) with  your child.

I am excited to announce a new technology tool that we will be using in the Lily Pad.  It is a Kid Blog spot for our classroom!  All students will have a chance to create unique posts that their peers will be able to read and make respectful comments back to the authors.  This is all done in a secure blogging community.

This is a site that is unique to our students and only those people who have the login and passcode will have access to this blog.  Each student has been given a unique user name and password. 

Some of the reasons I am choosing to use blogging is to :

• create classroom discussions
• learn digital citizenship
• practicing writing and typing skills
• reflect on learning

Our first blog writing will be our persuasive writing essays.  Students will be publishing these into their blog. 

Here are the login directions for the students:

1. www.kidblog.org
2. Click on the secret code button
3. click on “search for your class here”
4. type in msmacksclass-2
5. click on the link at the bottom that says: http://kidblog.org/msmacksclass-2

You have now entered our blog!

In order to create a post, click on the Login button at the top right of the page, select your name from the drop down menu and then enter your password.

You are now logged in as you! (Look at the top right screen and look for your name.) 

To create a new post click on New Post, enter a title and then start typing in box.  You can save your draft before you publish it, you can preview it and you can publish it when you are happy with how it looks.  (all of these tasks are on the right hand side of your post.)

We have practiced this at school and I would like for you child to practice this at home.  Please let me know if you have questions!

I am placing this on the blog in case your child forgets how to login.  Also, you can click on the link in this letter OR I have a link to ourkidblog side on the side of the LilyPad blog under Helpful Websites.

One other note about class snack.  Many students are forgetting their snack (especially if they are taking hot lunch) and my supply is depleted.  If your budget allows, please send in a box of crackers or a bag of pretzels for our shared supply. Thank you in advance for your help with this!