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Making Connections

Dear Students,

I’m know all of you have friends and family who have been affected by the fires that have blown up around us these past few days, and I hope that you, your friends and families are safe.

I’ve used the down time during these unexpected days off to catch up on grading–yes, I’ve finally given you feedback on your Createologies–and do a bit of blogging.  Earlier this week, a 6th grade teacher in Australia mentioned us on her class blog (http://stlukesstudentblogs.global2.vic.edu.au/2014/05/12/our-blogging-friends/ and invited her students to check out your blogs.  Today, I commented on her blog and shared a little bit about the fires that have flared up in the north county this week.

Given that the fires burning in our area are national news, I’m sure that our blogging friends in Mrs. Rombach’s class in Virginia have heard about them, and it may even be the case that they’ve made the news in Australia.  I thought this might be a great opportunity for you to give the reporting on the fires a more personal touch.  Do you know people who have been evacuated, or people who are on the front lines, fighting to stop the fires’ advance and protect people’s homes?  How have the fires affected you, your friends, your family?  Rather than write our “headlines” in our writer’s notebooks on Monday, we’ll post our thoughts on our blogs.

I’ve also created a new category on our blog that you can contribute to called “Recommended Reads.”  If you’d like to share a book review or book trailer, follow the steps below:

  1. Click + New in the toolbar at the top of the page while viewing our class blog, and then choose Post.
  2. Title your post, and then paste your review or use the Add Media button to upload your trailer.
  3. Reread and edit your post, making sure it reflects your best work (and be sure not to include your last name)!
  4. Select the “Recommended Reads” category, and then click Publish.

Your new post will appear on our class blog after I approve it.  I look forward to seeing reading (and watching) your new posts, and be sure to check out some of the student blogs listed on Mrs. Rombach’s and Mrs. Coffa’s class blogs!