Posts Tagged ‘blogging’

Where Are My Comments

imageI’m taking part in the weekly Slice of Life Challenge sponsored by  Two Writing Teachers, where teachers write and share each Tuesday. Join in yourself or head over to check out what’s happening with other slicers. If you’re taking part in the SOL, leave a link to your post. I’d love to read it.

I love many things about taking part in the Slice of Life Challenge–

  • being inspired by good writing and great teaching,
  • taking part in such a supportive community,
  • experimenting with different writing techniques,
  • having the discipline to write every day for a month,

–but one of the things I love the most is receiving comments on my writing.  Knowing that someone is reading my writing  motivates me to write more and more.  Those words of encouragement are like a trail of bread crumbs that lead me right back to more writing.  Thank you to everyone who has taken time to read and comment on my posts.

I also enjoy reading and responding to the other slicers each day.  I come away amazed and inspired.  Earlier this week Betsy suggested a commenting game.  I haven’t played by those rules yet, but her post did get me thinking about how I decide which posts to comment on each day.  I will warn you that for my commenting game, I make up the rules as I go along, and they change from day to day.

My Arbitrary and Ever-Changing Rules for Commenting:

  • I volunteered to be part of the Welcome Wagon during this month’s SOL.  I signed up because last year’s Welcome Wagon did such a good job in making me feel like I belonged.  In return, I got to read daily slices from a group of new writers to this community.  I don’t know how Bonnie divided the new slicers among us, but I lucked out.  By reading slices from the same group of people every day (people who made me laugh, who inspired me, who shared incredible experiences with me), I feel like I got to know them so much better.  I want us all to meet somewhere over dinner and continue sharing stories.
  • At some point during the last year, someone (I wish I remembered who) shared that they always commented on the three people who linked below them on the call for slices at TWT.  I thought that was a good idea, so I’ve been doing that, too.  Somedays it’s the three people below my name.  Some days, I am able to read and comment on the five or more slices below mine.  Since I am not consistent on the time of day I slice, I’ve gotten to read more variety.
  • Sometimes I just scroll through the links.  I’m not looking for anything in particular.  Is there a name I recognize?  Does the title or intro to the blog post catch my eye?  Is it a topic I share an interest in or a topic that introduces me to something completely outside of my experience?
  • I try to visit the blogs of the people who leave me comments.  It doesn’t always work.  Sometimes I can’t find their post in the long list of links.  Some days I just get overwhelmed and run out of time.

No matter how I get to those posts, I hope those writers are as encouraged by my comments as I am by the ones I receive.

Morning Blog Buddies

Part of the fun of blogging is interacting with other bloggers.  To help you get started, I’ve set up blog buddies for you.  You may not know all your blog buddies yet, but you will get to know them as you share your reading and writing.  All of them are students in my afternoon language arts classes.  (Don’t worry, my morning classes will get their own blog buddies later.)

Here’s how to add links to you blog to those of your blog buddies:

  1. Copy the URL address for one of your blog buddies (given below).
  2. Log into your blog and go to YOUR dashboard.
  3. From the gray bar across the top, choose +New – Link.
  4. Type your blog buddy’s first name in the NAME box. Please use correct capital letters and spelling.
  5. Paste the URL address in the WEB ADDRESS box.
  6. Click the blue button that says ADD LINK (on the right hand side).
  7. Repeat steps 1 – 6 for each of your blog buddies.

Here are your Blog Buddies!

Group 1

  • Bella B – http://17isabellabjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Carrly I – http://17carrlyijcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Hannah H – http://17hannahhjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Kaci V – http://17kacivjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Katie S – http://17katiesjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Macey B – http://17maceybjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Raechel M – http://17raechelmjcms3.edublogs.org/

Group 2

  • Dalton F – http://17daltonfjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Duncan T – http://17duncantjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Ethan R – http://17ethanrjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Justin G – http://17justingjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Kaleb S – http://17kalebsjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Sam C – http://17samuelcjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Trenton R – http://17trentonrjcms3.edublogs.org/

Group 3

  •  Angelica S – http://17angelicasjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Caleb P – http://17calebpjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Carlotta N – http://17carlottanjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • CJ K – http://17carlkjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Logan G – http://17logangjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Rebecca H – http://17rebeccahjcms3.edublogs.org/

Group 4

  • Allison G – http://17allisongjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Brooke P – http://17brookepjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Carlee L – http://17carleeljcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Janette M – http://17janettemjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Kelsey C – http://17kelseycjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Shelby W – http://17shelbywjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Sydney T – http://17sydneytjcms3.edublogs.org/

Group 5

  • Carissa K – http://17carissakjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Kayla W – http://17kaylawjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Kelsey B – http://17kelseybjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Lawson H – http://17lawsonhjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Megan M – http://17meganmjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Natalie O – http://17natalieojcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Tucker M – http://17tuckermjcms2.edublogs.org/

Group 6

  • Brian G – http://17briangjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Devin N – http://17devinnjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Garrett M – http://17garrettmjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Jordan M – http://17jordanmjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Krystal W – http://17krystalwjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Logan A – http://17loganajcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Sydney B – http://17sydneybjcms2.edublogs.org/

Group 7 

  • Avis M – http://17avismjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Hannah M – http://17hannahmjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Kylia G – http://17kyliagjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Makinsey Y – http://17makinseyyjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Olivia M – http://17oliviamjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Shelbie S – http://17shelbiesjcms2.edublogs.org/

Group 8 

  • Adrian M – http://17adrianmjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Ashley P – http://17ashleypjcms3.edublogs.org/
  • Courtney D – http://17courtneydjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • John W – http://17john2jcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Jonathon G – http://17jonathangjcms2.edublogs.org/
  • Xavier P – http://17xavierpjcms2.edublogs.org/

Blog Buddies

Part of the fun of blogging is interacting with other bloggers.  To help you get started, I’ve set up blog buddies for you.  You may not know all your blog buddies yet, but you will get to know them as you share your reading and writing.  All of them are students in my afternoon language arts classes.  (Don’t worry, my morning classes will get their own blog buddies later.)

Here’s how to add links to you blog to those of your blog buddies:

  1. Copy the URL address for one of your blog buddies (given below).
  2. Log into your blog and go to YOUR dashboard.
  3. From the gray bar across the top, choose +New – Link.
  4. Type your blog buddy’s first name in the NAME box. Please use correct capital letters and spelling.
  5. Paste the URL address in the WEB ADDRESS box.
  6. Click the blue button that says ADD LINK (on the right hand side).
  7. Repeat steps 1 – 6 for each of your blog buddies.

Here are your Blog Buddies!

Group 1

  • Ashley G (5) – http://17ashleygjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Juanita B (5)- http://17juanitabjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Nicole R (7) – http://17nicolerjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Renae D (7) – http://17samanthadjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Seairra F (6) – http://17seairrafjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Victoria B (6) – http://17victoriabjcms6.edublogs.org/

Group 2

  • Arlena D (6) – http://17arlenadjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Chris M (6) – http://17christophermjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Dakota S (7) – http://17dakotasjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Frank B (7) – http://17frankbjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Haley G – http://17haleygjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Jake M (5) – http://17jacobmjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Katy C (5) – http://17katiehjcms6.edublogs.org/

Group 3

  • Brendan s (5) – http://17brendansjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Kayla R (7) – http://17kaylarjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Lance D (5) – http://17lancedjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Mckenzie R (7) – http://17mckenzierjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Meranda M (6) – http://17merandamjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Skyann L (6) – http://17skyannljcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Danzic P (6) – http://17danzicpjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 4

  • Andrew P (5) –  http://17andrewpjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Dylan D (6) – http://17dylandjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Henry S (5) – http://17henrysjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Jacob B (6) – http://17jacobbjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Justina W (6) – http://17justinawjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Kameron (5) – http://17kamerondjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Megan M (6) – http://17meganmjcms6.edublogs.org/

Group 5

  • Ben A (6) – http://17benjamimajcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Darius S (7) – http://17dariussjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Devin L (6) – http://17devinljcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Jayson F (5) – http://17jaysonfjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Jaylon D (5) –  http://17jaylondjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Jonny S (5) – http://17jonathansjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Shawn V (7) – http://17shawnvjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 6

  • Haysanna C (6) – http://17haysannacjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Klayton B (7) – http://17klaytonbjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Logan E (6) – http://17loganejcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Luis S (5) –  http://17luissjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Luke M (6) – http://17lukemjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Maisie J (5) – http://17maisiejjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Taylor W (5) – http://17taylorwjcms5.edublogs.org/

Group 7

  • Austin K (7) – http://17austinkjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Bruce C (7) – http://17brucecjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Cory H (7) – http://17coryhjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • James S (5) – http://17jamessjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Lance A (7) – http://17lanceajcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Noah G (7) – http://17noahgjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Wayne K (5) – http://17waynekjcms5.edublogs.org/

Group 8

  • Cody B (6) – http://17codybjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Derek H (7) – http://17derekhjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Jacob M (7) – http://17jacobmjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Michael M – http://17michaelmjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Robert Y (5) – http://17robertyjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Sam W (5) – http://17samuelwjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Tylor B (6) – http://17tylorbjcms6.edublogs.org/

Group 9

  • Brooke V (5) – http://17brookevjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Daneila F (5) – http://17danielafjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Diana B (7) – http://17dianabjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Emily B (6) – http://17emilybjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Emma H (6) – http://17emmahjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Santana T (5) – http://17santanatjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Tori S (7) – http://17victoriasjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 10

  • Brooke M (6) – http://17brookemjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Danielle G (7) – http://17daniellegjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Elora P (5) – http://17elorapjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Kourtney G (6) – http://17kourtneygjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Molly S (5) – http://17mollysjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Payton G (7) – http://17paytongjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 11

  • Auston P (5) – http://17austonpjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Carl H (5) – http://17carlhjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Dalton C (7) – http://17daltoncjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Dalton W (6) – http://17daltonwjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Jaden M (5) – http://17jadenmjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Jarred B (7) – http://17jarredbjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Michael B (7) –  http://17michaelbjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 12

  • Anthony S (7) – http://17anthonysjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Austin M (6) – http://17austinmjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Joe L (6) – http://17josephljcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Kasen R (7) – http://17kasenrjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Peyton D (7) – http://17peytondjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Travis T (5) – http://17travistjcms5.edublogs.org/

Group 13

  • Ally H (6) – http://17alexandrahjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Haley H (6) – http://17haleyhjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Hannah J (6) – http://17hannahjjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Katie H (5) – http://17katiehjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Makayla S (7) – http://17makaylasjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Pateince V (5) – http://17pateincevjcms5.edublogs.org/

If you want to keep your blog….

I have enjoyed reading your blogs this year.  I hope you have enjoyed writing for them and reading each others’ blogs as well.   If you don’t want to keep your blog, don’t need to do anything.  I will delete it over the summer.  If you want to keep your blog, there are some steps you need to follow because I can’t keep up with them any more–especially after I start a 130+ more blogs for next year’s students!  You must complete these steps by May 31, 2012.  I will start deleting blogs in June.  You need to remove me from your blog and change your email.

Remove me from your blog.

  1. From your blog dashboard, go to Users > All Users.
  2. Click the check box by my user name:  kaymcgriff
  3. Click on the arrow next the the box that says Bulk Actions.
  4. Choose Remove from the drop down menu.
  5. Click on the button that says Apply.  My name should disappear.  You are now on your own and in control of your blog!
Change your email.  
  1. From your dashboard, go to Users > Your Profile.
  2. Scroll down until you get to Contact Info.
  3. Type in your own email address and click Update Profile (all the way at the bottom of the page).
  4. An email will be sent to your new email address.  It will ask you to click on the link to confirm the change in email address.
  5. If you don’t click on this link, your email address won’t change, and I will still get all the email from your blog.
Repeat.
  1. From your dashboard, go to Settings > General.
  2. If your email address did not change, type in your new email address again here.
  3. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
  4. An email will be sent to your new email address.  It will ask you to click on the link to confirm the change in email address.
  5. If you don’t click on this link, your email address won’t change, and I will still get all the email from your blog.

All about me

Do you know the difference between posts and pages on your blog?  Posts are frequently updated and show up on your home page in reverse chronological order.  Pages stay mostly the same, though you can edit them from time to time.  Check out the pages on my blog.  In addition to my home page, I have these pages:  About Me, Language Arts Binder, and Parents Guide to Blogging.  I also have tabs for two categories of posts:  Class Assignments (for assignments by class period) and Mrs. McGriff (for all my posts, mostly book reviews).

Over the next two days, you are going to create an About Me page.  Check out these About Me pages from students around the country.  Decide what you want on your About Me page, and get writing.  Remember not to put information that could identify you too much.

When you are ready to create your About Me page, follow these steps:

  1. Click on PAGES on the left hand side of your dashboard.  Then click on ALL PAGES.
  2. Under “Sample Page,” click on edit.  This will bring up the page for you to edit.
  3. Change the title to “About Me” or something similar.
  4. Write a list or paragraph, telling your readers all about you!
  5. When you are done, proofread and then click UPDATE on the little blue button on the right.
  6. Visit your blog buddies and check out their ABOUT ME pages.  Leave a quality comment!

 

 

Copying text into a blog post

Here are the steps for copying text from a document and inserting it into your new blog post.

First, you need to ready the text in your file:

  1. Open your file.
  2. Make sure it is single-spaced  (Select text by highlighting or Edit – Select all; then click single space button.) and size 12 font.
  3. Select text by highlighting or Edit – Select all. 
  4. Right click the mouse and choose “copy.”

Go to your blog and log in.

  1. Choose Add New – Blog Post
  2. If there are not two rows of buttons showing at the top of your text box, click the last button on the right (Show/Hide Kitchen Sink) to reveal the second row.
  3. On the second row, click the button with a clipboard and “W” (Copy from Word).  This will open a dialogue box.
  4. Follow the directions to “Use Control+V on your keyboard to paste the text into the window.
  5. Click “Insert” at the bottom right of the box.
  6. Your text should be inserted into your blog post.  Double check that everything is correct and click “Publish.”

Where are my widgets?

Now that you know what a widget is, here is how to get some for your blog!

How to Mess with Widgets by Brittany P

A widget is things you can have on your page and make it easier for you to go to a website or someone else’s page with out havening to type in all the information you need to go to the website.

How do you add, and change widgets to your blog?

  1. Click on your dashboard.

  2. At the top of the page “activate advanced adman” click that button.

  3. Find “appearance” click down arrow, choose widgets

  4. Find the widgets you want on your blog to show on your page.

  5. Drag them over to the box on the right that shows your active widgets.

 Then if you want you can click on “visit site” at the top of the page and double check your widgets. You will find the widgets on the right side going down the page.

Adding links…shortcuts to the web

Here is great advice from last year’s bloggers on adding links to your blog page.  You will want to make sure that you have included the links widget in your sidebar design.

How to add links by Ali B.

“What is a link?” “Why should I care?” “What do they do?” Are these questions running through your head right now? If not, you don’t need to worry about it anyway, wanna know why? Because I’m going to tell you, duh! First you must know what a link is, the definition of “link” is a whole paragraph long! (That’s way too much for a 4 letter word.) I’d so much rather read a few words, like, a shortcut to another place on the Internet. Much better, eh? Well, it’s not so hard to add them either.

You must first, obviously, find a website that you’d like to add a link to and copy it.

      1. Log in to your blog.

      2. Go to “Dashboard”. (make sure you’re on “Advanced Admin”.

      3. Scroll down the left sidebar to “Links”.

      4. Go down the little “Add Links” box and click “Add New”.

      5. Add a name if you’d like.

      6. Paste the website’s URL in the “web address” bar. (you may add a short description and/or add to a category.)

Once you’ve finished click the “Add Link” button on the right. There ya go!(: You’ve just added your first link! 😀 Way to go!

Now that you’ve mastered the art of linking, you can do it yourself.

ENJOY YOUR LINKING!

You can also add links within your posts.  Here’s how from one of last year’s bloggers.

Adding Links to Posts by Hank J

The easiest way to create a link is not to do it, but if your being forced to like I am to do this. There are few very simple directions to do it.

  1. Go to edublogs.org.
  2. Sign in.
  3. Go to my dashboard.
  4. Go to new post.
  5. Open a new tab.
  6. Enter the website you want.
  7. Copy the url.
  8. Go back to new post.
  9. Click on the two intertwined ovals.
  10. Paste the url.

Then you’re done.

What do you say?

One of the most fun parts of blogging is getting comments.  Just today (Wednesday) I got super-duper excited when I saw I had a comment from a real live author!  Click over to my About Me page to see what Gae Polisner had to say.

As you get started on leaving comments, here is some advice from last year’s bloggers:

Commenting for Dummies by Ashton B.

     In Mrs. Mcgriff’s language arts class, we get on blogs quite often. You have to post all your writing on this blog for other people to read and to comment on. Now knowing how to comment is vital because sometimes you have to comment for a grade. So here are a few tips.

  • Go to kaymcgriff.edublogs.org.
  • Scroll down and on the right side of the page look for Blogroll.
  • When you find it click on which ever period you would like to look at.
  • Read through the posts.
  • When you find the post you would like to comment on, click on the title of it.
  • Then scroll down to the bottom of the post.
  • It will say leave reply.
  • Fill out all the information below it.
  • Write your comment.
  • When you are finished click Submit Reply

If you don’t remember how to comment, re-read this, or ask Mrs. McGriff.

Have fun on the blog!

How to Leave a Comment for Mrs. McGriff’s Blog

       In Mrs.McGriff’s language arts, you will get a blog. A lot of the stuff you write will be published on your blog. After you are finished blogging, and if you have time, you will go on others people’s blog and comment on what they wrote.

     When you comment, the first thing you do is go on Mrs.McGriff’s blog. The second thing you have to do is scroll down on her blog and on the right hand side you will find a link that says blog roll. You will click on whatever period you want to read. You read there blog, and at the bottom of there writing it will say leave a comment. You will click leave a comment and you will comment on what they wrote. After you are done writing your opinion you will click comment. That is how you leave a comment for Mrs.McGriff’s language arts class.

How to Leave a Comment

          Isn’t it nice to be complimented on something you worked really hard on? Doesn’t it feel good to make someone else feel good about something they worked really hard on? If so, comments are the way to go. It’s really pretty simple, this is how to leave one.

  •  First log into this website (http://www.kaymicgriffsedublogs.org)
  • Next scroll down to the period you have language arts.
  • Find the piece of writing you want to comment on, then click the title of the document.
  • Scroll down to the very bottom of the page, and write your comment in the box.
  • When you are finished writing your comment, click submit to enter your comment.

There’s nothing to it!

How to Write a Comment by Tequila L

You may want to leave comments because it makes other people feel good and let them know you’re reading it. It also starts conversation with new people so maybe you can meet new people and become friends.

  • First, to leave a comment you have to log onto (http://www.kaymcgriffedublogs.org)
  • Then go down to the period you have and click on it.
  • Go to the person’s profile you want to comment on.
  • Click on the post you want to comment on.
  • Make sure you stay on topic and leave your name and your email. They are both required.
  • Make sure you use correct punctuation.
  • Once you have written what you want, click the submit button and your comment will be posted.

How to Leave a Comment and Read Ones People Left You

How can you leave a comment on somebody’s blog?

First you go to http://www.kaymcgriff.edublogs.org and go to somebody’s blog. Then you find a post you feel you can leave a reasonable sized comment (three to five sentences).  Always make sure you’re being nice and only constructive criticism, to make them better not worse. After you are done you fill out the Spam blocker and there you have a nice comment that you have shared with your friend.

Stuff to think about:

  • Always spell words correctly.
  • ONLY put positive stuff in your comments.
  • Always stay on subject when writing a comments on blog posts.

*BONUS*    How to Find Your Comments on Your Blogs.

  1. First things first, you go to edublogs.org and sign in to your dashboard.
  2. Then you go to the middle top of the page to find a thing that says posts and comments (expert admin). Move your mouse over it and then click comments.
  3. Now you have found your comments that your classmates have sent you about your posts.  Approve the comments unless it is spam.  Then trash or spam the comment.

Now you know how to make and to find comments. Have fun.

How to Leave Comments by Meegan V

            After you have done what you wanted to do on your blog, you can leave comments on your classmates’ blogs. You can see what your classmates have to say, and you can express what you have to say. Comments are fun to do in your free time and when you’re done on your blog.

  • First, you log in as yourself.
  • Then, you find Mrs. McGriff’s blog and look at comments or posts in any period you want or you can look at Mrs. McGriff’s posts.
  • You find a post you like or want to comment on.
  • Scroll down the post until you see “leave a comment” that goes along with the post, then click it.
  • You will see that same post again. You scroll down and you see a box to type in. That is where you type your comment.
  • When you are satisfied with what you have written, click “submit comment
  • You will then see your comment along with many others.

Enjoy your comments and commenting!

 

 

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