Blogging--+Connecting+the+West+Side

//A good place to start understanding blogs is to read & comment on ones that meet your passions.//
Threadlines: Quilting [|Everybody Likes Sandwiches] Food [|Heather's Garden] Gardening & Food [|Island Nature] Vancouver Island natural history: (Dave Ingram is a local teacher)

One way to search for blogs on subjects of interest:

Local class blogs:
//You can also explore the blogrolls of these blogs (in the sidebars) to find other exemplary blogs//

Pre-K- Maureen Wagner [|StrongStart]

K-1- Michelle Honeysett & Jan Maund: Childgarden

Grade 3- Cathy Bulger:[| Climb High!]

Grade 5/6- Jill Clayton: [|The Space Between]

Grade 7- Jaki Braidwood: The Ripple Effect

Where to start:
>> ===(Seriously, it's a goldmine)=== >>
 * 1) Question your sanity. (Should I? learning, transparency, frustration tolerance, trouble shooting, load shedding)
 * 2) Consider your purpose: personal, reflective, professional, class "hub"...
 * 3) Consider your core. (What are you/we about? The name of your blog will follow from that.)
 * 4) **Just do it.** (If it doesn't fly, delete it)
 * 5) ===Edublogs getting started This has __all the resources__ you need to get started.===
 * 1) Go here and click on Free (get your Pro account later)
 * 2) We will go through the basic set up together.
 * 3) Be prepared to be frustrated, but put on your learner hat--100 000 + have done it before you.
 * 4) Follow Sue Waters blog The Edublogger
 * 1) Break it down. Small steps. __Go slow__.
 * 2) Share your experiments with your admin team. Share your experiments and the value of blogging with parents.
 * 3) Get a team. (There is a growing group of teacher bloggers in our district) Ask for help.
 * 4) Learn from others.Copy and remix ideas (give credit.)
 * 5) Make it VALUABLE. Keep it MEANINGFUL
 * 6) Have fun!

And...if you are on Twitter, follow @suewaters and @edublogs