Kidblogs is a blogging platform that allows teachers to create a secure classroom community where students can publish posts, participate in discussions, and share creative writing. To set up Kidblogs, teachers create a class account, add students, and select security settings. Some potential uses of Kidblogs in the classroom include having students take polls and graph results, follow characters on journeys, respond to writing prompts, post homework assignments, and take short quizzes and assessments. Benefits of Kidblogs include providing a safe place for student publishing and writing, being easy to use, promoting creative and collaborative work, and motivating students.

1. Using Kidblogs in the Primary Classroom Vickie Bastnagel EDIM510 http://gtm-media.discoveryeducation.com/videos//imagelibrary/web//ks76793_h.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/29762021@N02/5556374276/sizes/m/in/photostream /

2. “ ...simple, yet powerful tools allow students to publish posts and participate in discussions within a secure classroom blogging community.”

3. Step 1: Create a Class Account Step 2: Add students

4. Step 3: Select settings for security And you’re ready to go!

5. Ideas for using Kidblogs in the classroom... Take a poll and graph the results Follow Flat Stanley and others on their journeys http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncle_jerry/14597002/sizes/m/in/photostream / http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmiehomeschoolmom/1558286896/sizes/m/in/photostream /

6. Encourage creative writing with writing prompts Use for short quizzes and assessments Post homework and other assignments Corbis. (2011).Open Book with Question Mark [Image]. Available from http://www.discoveryeducation.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/boeke/473222640 /

7. Benefits of Kidblogs Safe and secure platform for students to write and publish Easy to use and access Promotes creative thinking & self-expression Highly motivating to students Encourages collaboration & discussion Establishes a connectivity between “school” and “real” world