Bits and Bytes

Before your begin to blog with students, set up some class rules and discuss each one with your class.  Here is a sample of class rules:

Important Rules About Blogging
Break the Rules and You Will Not Blog!

1. Do not include your full name – use your classroom “code name”, initials or first name last initial
2. Do not include the name or address of our school.
3. Check your post for spelling errors, grammar errors, etc. Paste your post into WORD and run spell check.
4. Do not write about anyone else in your blog without his or her permission — No Names!
5. Use appropriate language.
6. Do not write anything that could hurt someone’s feelings.
7. Never touch anyone elses blog entry.
8. NOTE: You cannot leave comments for someone else unless you are logged in. Comments should be kind.

How to leave a comment…

Please leave a comment on our posts!! We ask parents who leave comments to please only use their first name if they do not wish to identify their child. Leaving a comment is as simple as this…

1. Click on the heading of the post you wish to comment on
2. Scroll down until you can see the “Leave a Comment” section
3. You will be asked for your name (you can use a nickname) and email address (this is not published)
4. You will also need to write the “spam word”
5. Click “submit comment”
6. Your comment WILL NOT appear straight away. It is sent to the Blog owner (your teacher) via email for checking first. If your comment is okay it will soon appear on the site!

How to write a good quality comment…

1. Write your comment like a letter starting off with “Dear Mrs. …” or “Dear Miss ….”.
2. Compliment the writer in a specific way, ask a question, and/or add new information to the post.
3. Write your comment about the post. There are often ideas at the bottom of the post about what you could comment about.
4. Check your comment for correct spelling, spacing and punctuation before you submit it.
5. Don’t reveal any personal information about yourself in your comment.
6. Be nice!