This document discusses using blogging to engage students' writing. It provides examples of how blogging has been implemented in a classroom. Students are given their own blogs on which to publish creative writing pieces and reflections. They can also leave comments on each other's blogs to provide feedback and continue discussions. The teacher monitors the blogs and provides assessment based on criteria such as specificity, thoughtfulness, grammar, and structure of comments. Blogging is analyzed through the SAMR model, showing how it allows substitution, augmentation, modification and redefinition of traditional writing activities. Examples are given for each level, such as drafting writing digitally, interacting as audience and critics on blogs, and students managing their own long-term blogs. The benefits

1. Using Blogging to Engage Students'
Voices
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2. •Pamela
Hunnisett
•Calgary, Alberta,
Canada
•TWITTER -
http://thehunni.wordpress.com
@PamelaHunnisett
Foundations
for the
• hunniwrite@gmail.com
Future
Charter
Academy
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3. http://thehunni.wordpress.com/
NCTE13
Documents
Links to
all the
great
educators
who have
inspired
me.
Class
Blogs
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4. 4

5. d to
ten n
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he m l
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die eanin
to
au
e m s" se e m
thes ent
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ros
ou
"mo en”
ge C
pp
eor
G
ha
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6. Scholarship
Integrit
Integrit
y
y
Respec
t
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
TRUST
TRUST
Courtesy
Courtesy
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SelfSelfDiscipline
Discipline

7. 21st Century Goals in
Alberta
Entrepreneuria
l
Engaged
Ethical
http://globeclassroom.ca/userfiles/Alberta_Framewo
http://cuebc.ca/cue/conference_documents/dell/AlbertaEducationBYODGui
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8. Goals for Student
Blogging
•To provide parent and staff access to participate and celebrate in the students’ learning and ideas
To provide students with access to exemplars of student writing – “the best resource to improve student writing”
(Graham Foster)
ETHICAL
•To build a safe “virtual” classroom space where language is academic in purpose
To teach safe Digital Citizenship
To build Character through scholarly and respectful language
ENTREPRENEURIAL
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9. 9

10. • ELA 30-1 - Grade 12 Academic
Writer
s
Pages -
static information
Lates
t
Posts
10
Tags
Links

11. A Sample Blog Grade 10
MY LITTLE BOY by Rizan http://hunniblog10.edublogs.org/2011/10/29/my-little-boy/#comments
He was elated one afternoon, a gentle smile caressing his Every time I read
Takaiden says: Rizan, petite face. He handed me a report card, so animated with A
and B’s it seemed to have an aura. I wasn’t reluctantpieces I feel something.
one of your in giving him an encouraging gesture, a “high-five” to show my
Sam A pride enveloped me, a revelation, a possibility that this insufferable, indomitable cloud following my boy
content.says: Words can’t
Sara says: Rizan, oh my gosh, this
Amazement, fear, pain, excitement,
describe this piece; the into the promise ahead. He ran upstairs and I began to cook our dinner. It wasn’t long before I
would soon disappear
and also envy; I wish I could create
is so sad but an amazing piece. I
despicable truthour kitchen table with poorly vivid and explicit picture
of
hastily organized
placemats. The cutlery in
such a prepared porcelain plates and plastic felt as if I was actually and cup
bullying ease from
were put to was truly my tight grasp soon afterwrite. You have of my skinyour
when I the searing this quality in forced me to dropstory and feelingonto the ta
the the serving dish all
displayed. Amazing!
pieces that make it so disgustingly beautiful, by
vigorously. I called my son from the kitchen, trying to notify him that supper was ready; no response. My daughter’s
emotions the narrator was
that I mean you can take such an awful topic
silhouette came into perspective and I addressed her, instructing her to call her brother. She ran everything hands
and seeing upstairs, her
and make it beautiful in an artistic sense. I love
colliding with the steps proceeding her feet in childish fashion. My fragile daughter prolongedtheir eyes. Yourestraine
your use of diction because when we,
through the wait. She did
from responding; her words climbed up her throat and clung to the sides of her esophagus so she couldn’t speak. I
an excellent job!!
as writers, neglect to use words that
stormed the stairs of my apartment reaching the second makes and pieces feel steps of my 10-year-old daughter; I wa
make you think it floor our tracing the
appalled.
unfulfilled, but you’ve managed to
capture my attention with every
My timid little boy, a victim of ignorance.sentence. Greatof maliceI corroded his spirit and ushered him into sinister
The martyr work Rizan look forward to
solitude. Enveloped in oppression, my son would come crying. With his head to my chest, I felt the tears dampen my
reading more of your writing.
Jessica says: By the end of this, my
sweater. He was scared; he struggled to keep his peace. He was the scapegoat of slurs, which cut deeper than the blad
jaw dropped and my eyes self-esteem leaving him amidst paranoia. It wasn’t inconspicuous and I should’ve know
and the threats punctured his were full
Melissa
of tears.woke up without an appetite, rather fear in his belly; however, my says: Wow! This was really
I can’t explain how
That day he
deep andlittle boy packed his things and strolle
amazingly well written!! It was
outstanding this piece is. I There had been several instances where I had to confront the administration, their lack
have
to school on April 16 of 2009.
so believable and you had me from the
never felt this close to someone’s
attentiveness was my concern. I tried- oh so dearly- but it wasn’t sufficient. Truly amazing and I love
title!
writing before, wow. You did a
your description! It He was I
marvelous door has us aware a shrine
My apartmentjob of makingbecome of how and my heart hosts guilt’s assault. What was he to do?felt like lost and couldn
much bullying can affect did. Hanging
was in my son succumbed
find himself, however, I someone. Your from the ceiling amidst his room’s closet, the same room… to the pressure of
vocabulary made your work even more worth
world as well as the strangle of his belt. Should he? At the tender age of 11, my little boy Jaheem Herrara took his life
of praising. Keep up the amazing job; your
because he was bullied.
writing inspires me!
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INSPIRATION - http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/23/bullying.suicide/

12. The Growth of Sam as a
Writer 10
in Grade
http://hunniblog10.edublogs.org/2011/09/19/music-is-more-than-words-with-a-tune/
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13. The Growth of Sam as a
Writer
... in Grade 11
http://hunniblog20.edublogs.org/2012/11/11/finally-free/
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14. The
Growth of
Sam as a
Writer12
in Grade
The blogging experience has
influenced my writing immensely,
The blogging experience has
enabling me to express myself through
influenced my writing immensely,
the written word. It not only enabled
enabling me to express myself through
me to find my own voice as a writer,
the written word. It not only enabled
but to share my writing with my peers
me to find my own voice as a writer,
while also allowing me to evaluate the
but to share my writing with my peers
works of my peers as well. Prior to my
while also allowing me to evaluate the
blogging experience, I rarely wrote
works of my peers as well. Prior to my
and never made efforts to write well,
blogging experience, I rarely wrote
but introducing the blogging system
and never made efforts to write well,
motivated me to constantly write and
but introducing the blogging system
develop ideas which, in turn, helped
motivated me to constantly write and
me during exam periods. I feel I have
develop ideas which, in turn, helped
gained a voice and a confidence that I
me during exam periods. I feel I have
otherwise would never have known or
gained a voice and a confidence that I
discovered, if not for blogging.
otherwise would never have known or
discovered, if not for blogging.
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http://hunniblog30.edublogs.org/2013/10/20

15. • Hunni’s Writers - Creative Writing
Class
Students
’ Blogs
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16. CREATIVE WRITING CLASS
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17. FEATURE WRITER
CRADLE SPELL - ORE
Stuffed animals die. I know because I have heard them in their last moments. They say nothing, yet they wish to.
Instead their marble eyes ring, like church bells growing out-out. Spinning until the world has lost sight of itself.
This is what you hear when a stuffed animal dies. Ringing, and sometimes if you lean inwards the sound of low
singing sifts through your ear, or perhaps dances into your brain like a clumsy ballerina on a pair of wooden legs.
They sing of the things that have passed, or those things that will not last. Watch them and hear them and hear them
in a chorus asking ‘where has thou youth gone?’ because sometimes their eye twinkle with secrets from a place
where the future awaits for your calendars to fall upon it.
Stuffed animals lie. I know because I have believed them. They are as cruel as humans, but would never let you
see. Instead, they bewitch babies in their cradles with the promise of soft places, scented lilac. This is their cradle
spell, and is is cast in tangles like those of a spider’s web. Suffocating and gossamer.
Stuffed animals mourn. I know because I have seen them. They weep just like you and I, except their tears are
made of sea glass, colourful and crystalline. If you happen to sleep solemnly with their limp bodies tucked
underneath your arm, the jagged edges of their tears may plunge into your chest and kill you. This is their cradle
spell. It is full of fire and lilac and song; it rings and beats on glassy tears, reminding you of the sound you heard
entering the world for the first time.
Stuffed animals die. I know because they leave only their body behind, and memories. They say nothing and move
seldomly, so that it is almost impossible to tell when they have died, except maybe their fur seems grayer and their
bodies limper.
That is how sister was able to tell as she mournfully held a limp body in her hand: “I think there is something
wrong with bunny.”
“I know.” I killed her.
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18. “Blogging has
not only helped
“Blogging has
to improve my
not only helped
writing through
to improve
practice, butmy
writing through
also by allowing
practice, but
and encouraging
also try new
me toby allowing
and encouraging
styles of
me to try
writing.” new
styles of
Andrew
writing.”
Andrew
“Blogging helps students
learn more about each other.
“Blogging helps students
STUDENT FEEDBACK
“For one thing blogging reminds me
that I always have an audience. It
“For one thing blogging make sure
gives me the incentive toreminds me
that I always have and get
my work is polishedan audience. It
gives me the other people.
feedback fromincentive to make sure
my work is things I write get
Normally thepolished and get
feedback from or journal, but
stuffed a drawerother people. now I
Normally the things I write get
have the opportunity to share.”
stuffed a drawer or journal, but now I
Ore
have the opportunity to share.”
Ore
It gives us an opportunity to
learn more about each other.
actually look into some of
It gives us an opportunity to
our classmates' beautiful
actually look into some of
souls.” Jessica
our classmates' beautiful
souls.” Jessica
“Blogging has helped me really
put thought and clarity into my
“Blogging has helped I really
work so it is somethingmecan
put thought peers as clearly my
portray to my and clarity into as I
work so it is something I can
can. Hearing people's feedback not
portray to me to consider
only allowsmy peers as clearly as I
can. Hearing people's feedback not
elements in the piece being
only allows elements I can
critiqued, butme to consider
elements in the next being
work on for the piece blog.”
critiqued,
Namitha but elements I can
work on for the next blog.”
Namitha
“Blogging has
changed my
“Blogging has
writing
changed my
identity. I know
writing
that I have
identity. I know
improvedhave
that I during
the years.” during
improved
Abhi
the years.”
Abhi
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“Writing this
blog has been
“Writing this
quite
blog has been
cathartic.”
quite
Nima
cathartic.”
“It works as inspiration,
and also as a timeline
“It works as inspiration,
so you can go back and
and also as a timeline
read some of your
so you can go back and
previous work, and see
read some of your
where you've
previous work, and see
improved.”
Kiran
where you've
improved.”
Kiran
“...our peers can
comment on the
“...our peers can
published blogs,
comment on the
and help give us
published blogs,
encouragement,
and help give us
words of wisdom,
encouragement,
and areas to
words of wisdom,
improve.”
and areas to
Jessica
improve.”
Jessica
Nima
“I can polish
“I can polish
them to my
hearts content
them to my
and I think they
hearts content
andare very they
I think
useful.”
are very
Shawn
useful.”
Shawn

19. ETIQUETTE and EXPECTATIONS for
COMMENTING
Dear ______________________, (Format = friendly letter form )
POSITIVE
A)
:
•Encouragement
•Praise
•Reaction – when positive
(be specific, thoughtful, friendly tone)
B) CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK:
•Suggestions for improvement
•Be specific
•Be a helpful and kind tutor
C) Further the Discussion:
•Response to another comment
•Enter the conversation about the idea the blogger presented in their
post
•Provide added value
•Offer links that could help to improve or continue the conversation
Sincerely, ________________________________
*Etiquette is to ALWAYS respond to any comment that was given to
you on the blog. Try to further the conversation!
CRITERIA for ASSESSMENT:
SPECIFIC * THOUGHTFUL * GUMPS * STRUCTURE
FRIENDLY
*
* GUMPS = Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Punctuation, and Spelling –
Ensure you Edit to Eliminate Gumps!
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20. SAMR MODEL
Dr. Ruben R. Puentedura
Dr. Ruben R. Puentedura
• http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/
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21. SAMR & Blogging
Substitution
Substitution
Notebooks/ paper to
Word Document
Drafting the Blog Post
Students use word
documents - or “draft” feature
of Edublogs - to draft, revise
and edit their writing ideas.
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22. SAMR & Blogging
Augmentation
Augmentation
PAGE to the STAGE.
Writing & Peer-Editing of
blogs on Hunni Blogs
•Students are “contributors” to the
class blog.
•Assigned blog topics and free
choice writing, as well as re-writes.
I “approve” all posts after
assessing.
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23. SAMR & Blogging
Modification
Modification
Critical Acclaim
Revising, Reading &
Commenting Hunni Blogs
• Students interact digitally as:
AUDIENCE: reading each
other’s blogs
CRITICS: writing comments
praise & suggestions
FANS: inspiring through validation,
empathy, exemplars & feedback.
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24. SAMR & Blogging
Redefinition
Redefinition
Producers
Creative Writing class
“Creators” of their own blogs
Choose own writing assignments
Editors and audience for blogs
•
Reflect identity, ideas & interests
•
Students & I co-administers
•Redefinition: Creativity ,
Empowerment, & Engagement
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25. What’s
Next?
Expats
living &
blogging in
Argentina
Feb-July
2014
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26. Thank you!
• Pamela
Hunnisett
• Calgary, Alberta,
Canada
• TWITTER @PamelaHunnisett
• hunniwrite@gmail.com
http://thehunni.wordp
ress.com/
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