Why+Wikis+and+Blogs?


 * =Engagement.=
 * MS students
 * love to **talk and write** notes to each other.
 * love the **computer** and **technology**.
 * love to **share** what they have learned or already know.
 * love **choices**.


 * =New medium for writing.=
 * MS students
 * can keep **writer's notebook** on-line on wiki or blog.
 * can **share recommendations** of books on a wiki or a blog.
 * can share their **examples based on mentor texts** on a wiki or blog.
 * can **explore their ideas** through writing and responding to each other on a blog or wiki.
 * can use blog or wiki to **write drafts and then revise and edit**. (Can ask for editing help more easily on the wiki.)
 * can use a wiki to **organize their writing**.
 * can **collaborate with others** in writing a piece on a wiki.
 * can **have fun** with writing on a blog or wiki.
 * can **learn to write thoughtful, respectful comments** and to **look critically** at a piece posted on a blog or wiki.
 * can learn **how to comment** more thoughtfully and specifically so as to improve writing work; comments such as "I like this."or "I don't like this." do not give the writer enough information to improve writing.
 * can **work together asynchronously** on any content area projects (even literature circles...).


 * =Can work from __anywhere__ there is Internet.=
 * MS students can work **during class**, **after** **class** in the MC or computer lab, **at home**, or **anywhere** there is an Internet connection (and a computer).


 * =How to start:=
 * **READ** various blogs and comments.
 * Look at various wikis and how they were constructed.
 * Classroom blogs to explore and use: http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers#Classroom (click on Classroom Blogs on the right hand side).
 * Sign up for a free wiki or blog and try it out


 * =Sites to explore:=


 * Edutopia (and in particular) - Why Wikis Still Matter>


 * Blog guide from Langwitchesand other pages on Langwitches Blog
 * including Writing - Lesson Plan (also from Langwitches)
 * Lessons for starting blogging
 * K12 Online including Leveraging the power of blogs and wikis


 * Author blogs (as a resource for teachers and students):
 * List of author's blogs compiled by the Internet Writing Journal @http://www.internetwritingjournal.com/authorblogs/
 * Sara Lewis Holmes: [|http://saralewisholmes.blogspot.com]
 * Cynthia Lord: [|http://cynthialord.livejournal.com]
 * Kate Messner: []
 * Check out Amazon.comand Barnes and Noble.comfor various author pages


 * Support Blogging Wiki (interesting combination of tools!) http://supportblogging.com/


 * You Tube Video on Wikis


 * Learning with Wikis and Blogs:
 * Wikis as a Collaborative Learning Tool (