Tag Archives: Student Blogging Challenge 2015

Snow Day #12 – March 6, 2015

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It’s been another short week! Two days of school this week…crazy!

Since Wayde called with the big snow day announcement, I wonder what you’ve got planned for today. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll check this blog. If you do, take a minute and answer the poll. After that, help me prepare our All About Me page for the 2015 Edublogs Student Blogging Challenge. I need your input…and you know how much I love a little Padlet in my life.

Besides reading–which of course you’ll be doing tomorrow–I invite you to visit a few student bloggers I discovered today. When you visit another blogger, be sure to leave a positive comment (as well as your blog URL), so they can return the visit.

Enjoy your four-day weekend and be ready to rock and roll when we return to class on Monday. I am excited for you to share your research presentation with me and your classmates. Be prepared to shine as you show us what you’ve learned about your social issue.

What’s on your agenda for Snow Day #12?

What is the best snow day activity?

Family time–could be cleaning my room or cleaning up at Monopoly.
Curling up on the sofa and watching movies/Netflix all day.
Playing in the snow…sledding, snowmen, snowboarding, etc.
I’ll be social…YouTube, Instagram, Vine, or texting gets my vote.
Book me a flight to another world…I’m reading all day.

Poll Maker

 Ten student blogs worth visiting:

1. Leave a comment for Shane and while you’re there, notice the poll widget he added to his sidebar using www.poll-maker.com.

2. Niall, another student in Mr. Jewell’s class, left comments on many of your blogs. Return the favor by visiting his blog, The Genius Center.

3. Stop by Irene’s blog. You’ll learn a little more about growing up in Taipei, Taiwan (and how similar we all are!).

4. Are you a fan of Disney shows? Or wonder what it’s like to live in Vermont? Check out Marilynn’s Fantastic Blog. 

5. Sports fan should flock to Aidan’s Sports Blog for updates on all things sports — from baseball teams to deflated footballs.

6.  Interested in connecting with a colorful Australian blogger? Visit Chloe’s Creative Classroom and leave her ideas for future blog posts.

7. Here’s another blog from Down Under…Eden’s Extraordinary Existence. Click on her page of drawings…and be inspired to create your own gallery of artwork.

8. Do luxury vehicles make your heart race? Compare your list of fast-lane favorites on Ian’s Blog of Cars and Education.

9. Mia’s Motivated Blog shares an avatar maker you might want to try. In addition, check out more avatar makers on Mrs. Rombach’s Beyond the Post  – Blog Building Resources page.

10. Closer to home, I’d like to showcase two ERMS student bloggers — Aidan and Namitha. These blogs–like all great blogs–show initiative, creativity, and attention to detail.

 

What should other classes know about our class–and about our school?

Kiss These Crazy Days Goodbye!

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Last Monday was Presidents’ Day.

Tuesday was a snow day.

Wednesday was a snow day.

Thursday was a two-hour delay.

Friday school was closed due to sub zero temperatures.

On Saturday, 8-10 inches of snow fell, topped with a layer of ice.

Sunday the temperatures rose and then plummeted.

Today is Monday, and we started with a two-hour delay. Whew!

 

Today we’re in the computer lab–which means we’ll be working on technology-based activities.

1. Five-Minute Monday starts today. With a nod to Mrs. Haseltine, I’m adding this thrilling morning writing prompt. Today you have five minutes to write anything you want about one of these three words:

PROUD, Nervous, or Kind

The catch is…you must write for every second of the five minutes. No sitting stationary watching the pixels pixelate. Dive “write” in. So, open up a new blog post. Writers, take your mark,, get set, write….

 

2. You’ll have a test on Main Idea and Supporting Details on Wednesday— finally! We’ve been preparing in class for several weeks, but I think it’ll be helpful if you watch this video on the difference between Main Idea (or Central Idea) and Theme. Watch the video (with headphones on, of course). When you’re done viewing, read the question below and leave your comment on the Padlet board. 

 

Click here: Main Idea vs. Theme – Know the Difference

Question:  What book are you reading? In the chapter you most recently finished, what was the main idea and what was the theme? Be sure to leave your first name and last initial. Absolutely no anonymous comments permitted.

3. It’s time to evaluate your classmates’ blogs. Next week, we’ll connect with a class in Australia, and we want to be sure we’re primed for global guests. Using the evaluation form provided, check out your classmate’s blog and use the Praise, Question, and Polish techniques we’ve practiced previously in writing groups.

If you finish early, visit Australian blogger, Tessa, and leave her a quality comment. Tessa is a member of Mrs. Coffa’s class. (Click on the blue hyperlinks to go directly to their blogs. Mrs. Coffa’s blogroll includes all of her students.) Here’s a message directly from Mrs. Coffa:

Dear Mrs Rombach and students,
Hello from hot Melbourne, Australia.
Reading your post about the fun in the snow, I could not help but note the contrasts to our current weather. Although we are officially in Fall (which we call Autumn) it has been quite hot these past few days. Yesterday was 36 deg celcius (96.8F).
Our students are now 4 weeks in to their new school year and have their blogs set up and ready to roll. We are going to be participating in the Student Blogging challenge starting in March. Some of us have been blogging for a year or so, others have just started. We are 10 – 12 year olds.
Perhaps you could visit some of our blogs and introduce yourselves? We will try and do the same.
Regards,

Mrs Coffa
http://stlukesstudentblogs.global2.vic.edu.au/

 4. Motivated bloggers, step up for the 2015 Edublogs Student Blogging Challenge. If you’re interested in expanding your blogging know-how, pumping up visitor traffic, and connecting with students from around the globe, you are invited to register for the Edublogs Student Blogging Challenge. This is a commitment involving time and effort—so only register if you’re willing to complete at least one challenge each week. We will also be participating as a single class named Mrs. Rombach’s Sixth Graders. To register as a student blogger, click here.

5. Start your research project today! Head to Google Classroom and access the Research Project Choice Board. If you’ve decided to create a slide presentation, explore the various types of creative presentations from which you can choose. There are active hyperlinks on the choice board. No matter which project you select, carefully review the requirements. You’ll want to follow each one so as to meet the expectations outlined in the grading rubric.

 

Questions? Talk to Mrs. Rombach anytime!