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Reflections on the Fires in San Diego

Dear Blogging Friends,

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts!  Fortunately, the low clouds and sea breeze that are typical for this time of year have cooled things down and given the firefighters a chance to contain the fires.  For once, no one is complaining about the May gray.

Today, many of my students posted reflections on how the fires touched their lives this past week.  I invite you to check them out and comment.

http://davidsah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/a-fire-good-for-some-people-horrible-for-others/

http://devlinoah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/fire-storm/

http://jennasah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/san-diego-fires/

http://khaeleah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/the-fires/

http://marinaaah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/ignited/

http://nicholascah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/how-did-the-fire-affect-me/

http://skylareah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/california-fires/

http://sydneyrah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/fires/

http://noahbah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/fire-and-water/

http://poseidon96ah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/fire-the-destructive-force-that-brought-us-4-day-weekends/

http://mayapah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/fires-and-a-new-story/

http://amarakah14.edublogs.org/2014/05/19/how-fire-can-impact-a-community/

If you do decide to comment, don’t forget to leave a link to your own blog!

Thanks again for your kind thoughts!

Posted on 8 Comments on Making Connections

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!

Posted on 2 Comments on Wanted: Recommended Student and Class Blogs

Wanted: Recommended Student and Class Blogs

Dear Students,

If you’ve found another student blog or class blog that you really like, please share a brief description of the blog (and its URL) as a comment on this post so I can add it to our links widget for “Blogs We Follow.”

If you’re a visitor to our blog and would like us to check out your personal or class blog, feel free to share your blog’s address with us, as well.

I look forward to hearing from you!