The document outlines a 30-day blogging challenge aimed at enhancing reflective practices for both teachers and students, promoting a global community of learners. It highlights the benefits of blogging, including improved writing skills, critical thinking, and greater student engagement. Additionally, the guide provides steps for setting up and running a blogging challenge, emphasizing goal-setting, advertising, and community feedback.

1. 30 Day Blogging
Challenge
A Reflective Journey for both
Teachers and Students
Beth Leidolf, NBCT
email: leidolf.beth@gmail.com
blog: bleidolf.blogspot.com
Twitter: @bleidolf67
Google+: ElizabethLeidolf

2. By the end of this presentation...
- understand the benefits of blogging for both
teachers and students
- learn how to set up a blogging challenge for
your PLN or your courses

3. Our experience with blogging
Let’s share about our experiences using or
working with blogs- take the survey :)
Go to this link: http://tinyurl.com/bloggingfun

4. My beginnings with blogging
Justine Hughes and
The Te@chThought Community Wiki
fostering a global community of learners through reflection and
collaboration
● collaborative areas/pages where everyone contributes!
o Google in the classroom
o Genius Hour/Passion Hour
o reflective blogging
o book reviews
o Project based learning
o encouraging global competencies, literacy
o home and school partnerships
o student-centered classrooms

5. Te@chThought Community Wiki
September 2014- 30 Day Blogging Challenge celebrating
Reflective Teacher Month
- connecting teachers from around the globe
- encourage a community of learners
- reflective prompts
- supportive environment for sharing of ideas
- supportive feedback from moderators and participants
- over 100 reflective teachers participating
- positive feedback
October 2014-Connected Educators Month #ce14
- Tuesday Twitter chat 6 p.m.CST
- Thoughtful Thursday weekly blog posts
#reflectiveteacher

6. Why Blogging for Students?
Benefits to students:
-students sharing, creating content, leading discussions on topics
-blog posts encourage meta-cognition (thinking about thinking)
-more feedback and interaction from the instructor
-deepens critical thinking skills (What? Why? How?)
-writing skills improve with regular writing, reflection, peer feedback
-blogging increases student interaction with the course material
-more opportunities to interact with each other (student participation)
● seeing others thoughts, different POVs on issues, deepens own
perspectives about topic, issues

7. Why Blogging as an Educator?
Benefits to teachers:
-more opportunities for you to interact with students
-easier sharing and discussion of current events/relevant resources
with students or other professionals
-deep reflection on practice
● What do we do? What just happened?
● Why do I do what I do? Why did that just happen?
● How can I improve?
-get valuable/helpful feedback from other educators/experts in field
-extend your PLN
-make new connections!

8. Your own blog challenge...Step 1
Establish your blogging goals!
1. Who’s going to read/participate in challenge?
● students
● teachers
● teams, collaborative groups
● personal reflection/e-portfolio
1. What’s the purpose/reflective goal of the activity?
● overall growth and progress for students or yourself?
● students demonstrating proficiency in an area?
● personal goals, reflection
● district, curricular or team goals

9. Blogging platforms 13+
Wix
Wordpress
Blogger
Weebly
fuelmy blog in UK
blogcatalog- Education tab (14+)
kidblog- Teacher register, get permission from Ps for Ss under 13, 18 can get
own account
liveJournal
Tumblr- short-form blog
http://kidslearntoblog.com/45-best-blogging-sites-for-kids/

10. Other options for curating thoughts
Edmodo- social learning platform
Smore-design flyers
LiveBinders- e-portfolios
Google Sites
any other sites?
https://www.smore.com/xup31-mathemagical-moments-in-workshop?ref=board
https://www.smore.com/educators

11. Your own blog challenge...Step 2
Create and advertise!
1. Choose thoughtful or thematic questions
let’s generate some ideas!http://tinyurl.com/bloggingfun3
1. Get the word out
● social media
● school website
● district news sent home
● class websites, newsletters

12. Your own blog challenge...Step 3
Share, reflect and grow together!
1. Monitor and coach, provide consistent and
personal feedback, encourage visits to others blogs,
share your blog as well!
1. Blog of the Week- group voting
2. Badges for participation, blog of week
1. Highlight student/participant blogs- (safe) social media,
wiki page, class websites, school media/press

13. Your Feedback will be amazing!
Indicates community/teamwork building, growth, and
transferring of things learned to classroom work/teaching!
Thank you! Reflection is
helping me gather my
thoughts! -@anonenglish
What’s funny is that wasn’t
even planned on writing! lol
Which made me realize how
important reflection really is!
@KidsCreateArt
Feeling grateful to
have the opportunity
to learn from
thoughtful Ts
worldwide
@TrNancy13
The blogs are
terrific! Dedicated,
thoughtful
educators helping
students!
@kschneider44
Grateful for the
opportunity! Such a
motivating challenge!
Blog is now a valuable
asset to my practice!
@MrBlendy

14. Your moment to get started!
Let’s take our ideas to connect/reflect/grow with our
students and with each other!
Want to participate in a 30 Day Blogging Challenge? Te@chThought
Community Wiki kicks off another one in November!