Here it is! Time to think about creating your first blog!

Hello! I am Maggie, a kindergarten teacher from Missouri, and I hope to help guide you as you create your own blog.   Here is a quick video introduction By author Linda Lee that shares a basic reasoning/philosophy for creating a blog.  A link to my tutorial follows the video, or you can open up the link at the top in another window and get started in Blogger.  



     Soooo, if you want to be part of the "conversation", here is
     how to create a very basic blog in blogger:

       How to Create a Blog

But First! Read the following:


     Blogging is quickly becoming 
     the No. 1 way for teachers to communicate
     with other educators.
     


Blogging can:
     

a.  Allow teachers to share files or 

     promote educational products they have created for sale at

                                              http://teacherspayteachers.com  , or

                                              http://teachersnotebook.com , etc.

                                        

     b.  Help to communicate best practices.

     c.  Be a way to share and support 

          each other as we work through the

          new CCSS (Common Core State Standards).

Some things to keep in mind:

1.  Blogs are not private, so privacy of students and staff should

     be considered when posting photos of projects or classroom

     centers or activities.  When posting photos, many bloggers 

     choose to edit photos in a free site such as http://shutterfly.com , 

     http://picnik.com , or another photo editing program that allows

     blurring of faces (or has shapes to cover faces with).  

2.  Blogs, as any website, should not have personal information or 

     chat that might distract from your job as a professional.  You 

     maintain your professional reputation, so refraining from 

     commenting about students or sharing opinions about your job 

     will keep you in good standing online, as well as in your

     community.  

3.  You are more likely to interest others in what you have to share 

      by keeping posts short and to the point.  Be sure to let your

      personality shine as you write to the online audience.  Blogs

      that are revisited are the ones you find valuable for information,

      and for the share documents you can obtain quickly.

4.  Important Blog Etiquette:

     *Leave comments to thank the site owner for sharing information

     you find helpful in your teaching.  

     *Never post derogatory remarks that may "add fuel to a fire". 

       (Agree to disagree!)

5.  BIGGIE!!! Always make sure the clip art you use when creating

     "share" files is free of restrictions or copyright protection.

      A good example of usable blackline clip art is the art many

      teachers have purchased from djinkers.  At this time (and I am

      placing emphasis on "at this time") you may share a document

      you have created for your class as long as you include credit to

      djinkers.com in the margins, and save that file as a pdf file.

      A safer alternative for clip art is the art found at 

      http://scrappindoodles.com  .  The author/site owner has 

      made it clear in her terms of use which art is allowed.  If you

      plan to create materials for sale, it is worth the time and dollars

      to obtain a license that enables you to share the art for free or 

      for sale.

 That's it for your introductory lesson! 

Now go and click that link near the top to begin creating your own blog!