Mrs. McGriff's Reading Blog

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Tag Archives: blogging

November 1, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff
0 comments

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/

October 24, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff
0 comments

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/

May 17, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff
4 Comments

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.

November 21, 2011
by Mrs. McGriff
2 Comments

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!

 

 

November 4, 2011
by Mrs. McGriff
0 comments

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.”

September 16, 2011
by Mrs. McGriff
2 Comments

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.

September 16, 2011
by Mrs. McGriff
0 comments

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! :D 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.

September 14, 2011
by Mrs. McGriff
2 Comments

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 (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 (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 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!

 

 

February 5, 2011
by Mrs. McGriff
16 Comments

Dear Reader

For the longest time I wondered about you.  Were you out there?  Then I added a Clustermap and saw your dots appear all over the world.  I didn’t hear very much from you, but I was reassured that you were there, and I was not alone. 

This year I realized that I needed to do more to let you know I was here on my blog with the latest news from my classroom and young adult literature.  I started with the audience close to home–students, parents and staff at our school.  Instead of keeping  up two websites, I started putting assignments on the blog and posted a link to the blog on our school website.  I put my blog address on our team newsletters and even printed business cards to hand out to parents at open houses and conferences.  I printed postcards to mail with news of great student posts.  I have also flooded the school email with great news that shows up on my blog.  Some fellow teachers have told me that they now spend Friday evenings reading student blogs.  You know who you are.

Now that I have joined the Edublogs Teacher Challenge for the last Kick Start Your Blog Activity # 8, I know there is even more I can do to promote my blog.  I’ve connected with teachers from around the world through this challenge.  I’ll keep checking in with them through Google Reader and hope they will keep dropping by here as well.  I will continue to reach out by leaving comments on the blogs I read and not be shy about leaving my blog address with them. 

One thing I’d love to do with my blog is open more conversation between my students and their favorite writers.  Could their be guest blog posts or question/answer interviews in my blog’s future?  The possibilities are exciting! 

I keep hearing that Twitter is a valuable resource for teachers.  I just may have to check it out and make more connections that way, too.   In the meantime, I have connected my blog with my Facebook account so that posts automatically show up in my notes. 

So, thank you, dear reader, for visiting my blog.  I hope you come back soon.