I started out tracking their work through my Google Reader account
I quickly discovered viewing their posts in the Reader wasn’t sufficient.
The Reader still works wonderfully for reading comments,
As for assessing the blogs, working with the students, we designed rubric: Blogging Writer’s Checklist.
Utilize peer revision.
Let students choose which posts they want me to grade.
Group students in learning communities to monitor and encourage each other.
Hold student-led writing conferences.
biggest motivation for my students
has been having someone comment on our blogs
“comment blog,” an idea I got from Alan Levine, edublogger who devotes a week every year to commenting on others’ blogs. This will not only allow them read and explore other blogs, but will hopefully drive readers to their own blogs.
As a student, I like the idea of peer revision, student-lead writing conferences, and group work in class.
I wish our class could pair up with a couple other classes who are doing the same thing
I feel that I have grown as a writer because of this, we all have.