LA+Instruction+Wiki

=**Use of Blogs and Wikis for Language Arts in RTMSD**=

//How are some ways that we are using blogs and/wikis in the classroom.//


 * Ms. Bendidtas, I saw that [|you have used blogs]for classroom discussions. Could you talk about that?

Sure, I created riddles for the week's vocabulary words and the students posted the responses. It was beneficial because the students could not lose their homeowrk and it was more engaging than completing a worksheet. I also posted questions that related to the novel we were reading in class. This extended the lesson and provided me a student generated review for the next day's lesson.

This is Mark Paikoff. I think using this as a tool to help strengthen vocabulary is a great idea. I can envision students adding words to a wiki that they do not understand, or that think are particularly cool. It would be a good extension of a language arts lesson and connect with them at home as well. With differentiated instruction, the students would have access to many different words that their classmates can help them understand, or learn. The possibilities are endless.

This is Maureen VanZant. I think these are both great ideas. I'd like to have a "Dead Words" page, in which I or my students, list overused words,(walk, talk...) and then have others substitute more lively words, or groups of words. We could use this resource all year, and refer to it whenever we needed to get ideas.

Mrs. Grace-Green: Miss Pinsley, our Language Arts Coordinator posted the question asking students if they should be able to choose their own teachers. My second graders gave thought-provoking responses and a wonderful class discussion.

I have used blogs on the Language Arts curriculum page. Students answered opinion questions like "Should kids be allowed to go outside for recess when it is snowing. --Rachael Pinsley

=**Interesting Websites**=


 * [|NWP E-Anthology]This is a site that is used to revise writing pieces all across the United States.
 * [|Digital Writing]This is a Wiki that supprts the book [|Teaching Writing Using Blogs, Wikis, and other Digital Tools].

=**Ideas**=

One thing that is important in writing is the writer's awareness of the audience. In the Elementary schools, we have day where the children share their piecs with the class to get some feedback for revision. It is very useful, but it is also very time consuming. By having the children post their work on a blog, I can have every child comment on a piece from each of their classmate during small group instruction and/or homework.
 * __Writer's Workshop Wiki__**

I have a new plan for this year. For four of the pieces that I expect my children to publish, I will get their products up on a blog with a comment for focus from them on the single thing they want the rest of the class to look for in their writing. Every child will be expected to post a reaction comment with the focus in mind. Once complete, the weblog will get printed for the writer, who will then use it for their final revision. Think about how robust an exercise this is for all of the readers and writers. I will let you guys know how this works. - Charlie Keeler

Charlie, this is a great idea, would the students be required to respond? I can envision a version of the "bless or press" that you mentioned. It would be great for all kids to respond to their classmates. How would you roll this out? Would the kids select their piece, or would you choose it along with them?

I love this idea! It will allow the students to get lots of feedback and ideas to strengthen their writing. It will also save time. Those kids who may be reluctant to share in front of the class may be more comfortable using a wiki discussion.

I can't help but feel that a Wiki would be great for a vocabulary collection tool. Grab the words and define, and have others in a group use them in sentence?
 * __Vocabulary?__**

My name is Erin Scheivert and I need help setting up my classroom blog again this year.