BLOG COMMENT STEMS

I have been blogging with students for over ten years. It has been a slow evolution that
started with such exciting blog posts as “Warm Up: November 27th” and leading to a
more authentic approach with student choice and creativity being driving forces. This
last year, I helped create a blogging platform called Write About, complete with
hundreds of visual writing ideas, custom groups and private feedback (with annotation
tools) for teachers.
I believe there is power in having students reflect on both the process and the
product of blogging. This is why I created the self-assessment rubric, where students
think deeply about the product; along with the self-reflection questions, where students
think about the process.
If you photocopy both sheets, students can easily complete both of them in a
simple two paper, stapled assignment. However, these also work well separately. You
might want to share the rubric ahead of time with your classes. This would allow
students to get a vision of what a great blog would look like. Then, you could use it as a
summative self-assessment. The self-reflection questions work well as a handout but
could also work well as a pair-share activity or in a student-teacher conference.

Created by John Spencer at spencerideas.org

Name:
Date:
Class Period:

BLOGGING RUBRIC
Please fill out the following rubric as you assess your finished blog. Be honest about the
work that you have done and where you might need to grow.

RESEARCH
Category Falls Far Below Approaches Meets Exceeds
Inquiry I was unable to I was able to I was able to I was able to
generate my generate generate generate my
own inquiry inquiry inquiry own inquiry
questions questions questions using questions
based upon sentence stems
teacher
examples
Research I was unable to I was able to I was able to I was able to
find original find sources, find sources find multiple
sources and but was not and summarize sources and
summarize able to information in compare their
information in summarize my own words validity while
my own words information in summarizing
my own words them in my
own words
Communication I was unable to I was able to I was able to I was able to
share my ask and answer develop my engage in an
questions and questions own questions ongoing
answers with about my and answers conversation of
my peers. research with without the questions and
the use of teacher’s help. answers
stems. without the
teacher’s help.

Created by John Spencer at spencerideas.org

BLOG POSTS
Category Falls Far Below Approaches Meets Exceeds
Voice My passion, My passion, My passion, My passion,
interest and interest and interest and interest and
knowledge is knowledge knowledge are knowledge are
not evident in come across on evident in most evident in each
my posts. occasion in my of my posts. post, almost to
posts. the point of
being
contagious.
Visuals / Format My posts did My posts had My posts had My posts had
not have fairly engaging engaging titles engaging titles
engaging titles titles and some and most of and Creative
or Creative of them had them had Commons
Commons Creative Creative visuals that
visuals Commons Commons enhanced the
visuals that visuals that meaning of my
connected to related to my post
my topic. post topic.
Mechanics The grammar The grammar The grammar The grammar
and mechanics and mechanics and mechanics and mechanics
make it hard to are okay, but are solid, with are nearly
read. there are many a few mistakes flawless, giving
mistakes scattered it a published
throughout. throughout. feel.
Information My information My information My information My information
was not was mostly was accurate was thought-
accurate or accurate and and relevant. provokingly
relevant. I was somewhat relevant and
off-topic. relevant. my sources
were cited.
Communication I did not I kept my I responded to I engaged my
engage my follow-up all comments readers with
readers in a comments to a with follow-up questions and
conversation minimum. comments. answers,
when they left keeping the
comments. conversation
lively.
Name:
Date:
Class Period:

Created by John Spencer at spencerideas.org

 BLOGGING
SELF-REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Please answer the following self-reflection questions.

1. How did the blogging process go?

2. Were you able to engage with a real audience? Did you reach an audience
outside of the classroom? What was that like for you?

3. What did you learn about yourself based upon this experience?

Created by John Spencer at spencerideas.org

4. What part was the hardest for you? Why?

5. What part was the easiest for you? Why?

6. What are the next steps you would take if you continued to blog?

7. Will you continue to post to your blog? Why or why not?

Created by John Spencer at spencerideas.org