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Ann Dearborn Home        Learn More        Standards        Inspiration        About the Author

Instructional Materials & How-Tos
Below you will find links to presentations, case studies, a quick step by step guide to setting up blogging in your classroom (with an instructional video on Kidblog), how to's for some easy to use tech tools with students, and a student testimony.  Enjoy!

Click on image above for a                                                 Click on the image above to see
screencast presentation on                                                a prezi on a case study using stop
why to use social media in                                                 motion animation in a 4th grade      the classroom                                                                      classroom
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LESSONS
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REFERENCES
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ASSESSMENT
How to go About Having Your Students Blog:
  • First, decide if you are going to use Kidblog (there is a fee) or other blogging site or google docs
  • Notify the parents of your students
  • Check with students to see if there's anyone who does not have access to a computer.  If so, make arrangements for them to blog at school
  • Set up student accounts
  • If you are using Kidblog.org they will give you an access code that you can easily email your students to get started
  • I recommend showing the blogging site to your whole class and doing a practice entry together, as well as a practice comment.  It is imperative that students know how to appropriately and respectfully respond to others writing. While doing the practice entry, show students how they can add pictures or photos that go with the theme of their book.
  • I recommend setting up your account so that you can read students comments and entries before they are visible to others.
  • Do a whole group T graph lesson on respectful behavior on-line:  What does it look like? What does it sound like?
  • Decide how long their entries should be and how many times a week they should comment on a classmate's blog
  • Feel free to email me should you have any questions, adearborn@nvusd.org
  • Get started!

Watch the above video for an introduction to the kidblog website


Below is a sample of what our class homepage looks like (please note that I did cut out some of it due to students names)


Watch this student's testimony as to why he liked blogging
  • For informational videos to use in your classroom or assign to students on science or history click here



A video to share with your staff on how quickly technology is changing (5 min.) This is for you to share if you have caught the technology bug like me and want to pass it on!



To the right you will find an informational video to share with fellow teachers on "What is Digital Citizenship?", made by Cyberwise.
Below you will find a few more tech tools to use in your classroom.  These are a few of my favorites...Don't be afraid to dive in and give them a try!  What's the worst that can happen? Your students will be so engaged that they will forget they are learning or taking a quiz! Click on the images to take you to that website and give it a try.


Kahoot is used to make interactive
quizzes for students on any
subjects.  There are also many
pre-made quizzes on Kahoot.  Or
students can make them for you!


Storyboard that is a fun tool for students
to create stories in a comic strip fashion.
There are many background scenes and
characters to choose from.


Piktochart is used to make
infographics.  Students can make
informational posters using
inforgraphics.