Snap, crackle, pop explains the factors for success with blogging in middle years English classrooms. Thanks to Deb Abela for being an awesome online author.

1. Snap, crackle and pop
Samples of student blog writing
Which things are important for blogging success?
by Lizzie Chase
With thanks to author Deb Abela, online blog author

2. Which things are important for blogging success?
Introducing ourselves online in Week 1 of each blog
A real audience and comments from other students – Require students to comment each week
A blog moderator who approves each post first – confirms NO SURNAMES or addresses
A blog moderator who fixes spelling mistakes and run on sentences.
http://rapblog13.edublogs.org/1-voice/#comment-562

3. Which things are important for blogging success?
A blog author who responds positively to our ideas and language
A blog author who gives wonderful tips for improving our writing
http://rapblog13.edublogs.org/1-voice/#comment-269

4. Which things are important for blogging success?
The chance to chance to share our writer’s voice and our writing style with others
Writing with an awareness of audience or with a story in mind
The freedom to write with a pseudonym and also to swap genders
http://rapblog13.edublogs.org/1-voice/#comment-340

5. Which things are important for blogging success?
The right questions: A chance to talk about the big issues that really matter to us
A chance for quiet people to have their say in public – A chance for an extended post
A pilot blog which runs one term earlier – so great writing is up the top already, at start
A writing focus for each piece – Eg Use expressive verbs to keep ACTION happening
http://rapblog13.edublogs.org/action/#comment-7

6. Which things are important for blogging success?
An opportunity for an online dialogue – Bridget is responding to Vanessa on previous page
High quality literature to read and discuss first – which showcases the writing focus
Sentence starters can be helpful for writers who need a confidence boost
Opinions are something we can’t fail at – we all have opinions & beliefs to share

7. Which things are important for blogging success?
A respectful online community of writers is created for the duration of the blog
Students experience the enjoyment and power of writing with conviction
The pleasure of finding others who share our beliefs
http://rapblog13.edublogs.org/action/#comment-198

9. Which things are important for blogging success?
A chance to express online or in fiction what we may wish for those we love in real life
A chance for people of different ages to share ideas – From Year 5 to Year 8, for example
http://rapblog13.edublogs.org/action/#comment-308

10. http://rapblog13.edublogs.org/3-symbols/#comment-12

11. Which things are important for blogging success?
Ask students to write story starters – the first two to three paragraphs to hook us
Provide images to stimulate discussion and to inspire ideas for blog writing
Get students to create their own story starter cards: image plus first sentence
Other students can then write the story starter 2-3 paragraphs
http://raftriver.edublogs.org/1-campfire/

12. Which things are important for blogging success?
Be happy about even the shortest posts from writers – it may be a breakthrough for them
With stereotypical characters and settings – students are mastering cultural codes
Allow some free choice – many good writers will not write on allocated topics
Boys love blogging – Sorry I haven’t chosen many examples here…
Allow students to blog in pairs, if they wish – they love this…

13. http://rapblog14.edublogs.org/chest/

16. http://rapblog14.edublogs.org/rainbow/