Looking  for some common interests?

Blogs let us write about events and topics about which we are passionate. Reading the thoughts and hearing about the experiences of people who share your interests is rewarding, inspiring, and fun. If you have an interest in any of these topics, you may want to connect with these bloggers:

Want to learn about a holiday celebration? Read Priya’s post. Like reading about special pets? Savannah’s post is worth reading and commenting on. Want to be transported back to the summer? Travel back with Easton here.

And there’s more!

• Animals: Sierra, Rosa, Tyler, Katie, and Jaiden
• Sailing: Josh
• Cheerleading: Solana and Payton
• Books: Eric
• Hockey: Riley, Ben, Easton, and Danny
• Gaming: John
• History: Greyson
• Lego: Matteo

Our blogs are barely 2 weeks old, and already there is so much to read! I didn’t mention every student blog, but there is a treasure trove here. Huzzahnians, now that you now how to link, why not put in a link to something you’ve read on a blog, either from our class or from somewhere else in the blogosphere in your next post?

Friends and visitors, drop by and join in the conversation!

Image: Ready for take off by vyxle

A bit of Friday fun…

Thanks to the school leadership club, today was a bit different. Staff and students turned up at school in their pyjamas, with stuffies and blankets in tow. We still managed to get a lot of learning in, despite appearances. Math, Social Studies and Language Arts still happened (as well as PE and Music). In the afternoon we invaded the library and had a Read-In under tables and counters, and between the stacks. Thanks to Mrs. Auchterlonie for welcoming us.

It was a great way to kick off a long weekend.

We are very fortunate to have many adults working with our class this year. Some are close to home, and some far away. Ms. Fender is a student teacher living…somewhere else! We will solve the mystery of her whereabouts with her help, because she has made a video for us to help guess where she lives.

Here are seven random things about her–notice these facts don’t identify her personally. However, her picture connected to her name does, and she has given permission to share it on our blog.

1. I love reading but never get time to read what I want!

2. I have 4 children involved in performance orientated arts.

3. I wish I could live on a farm or acreage.

4. I love animals but don’t have any pets.

5. I am an artist but don’t paint.

6. I am allergic to wheat, yeast, soy, and dairy.

7. I love technology and love learning how to learn about it.

In class, we’ll view Ms. Fender’s video and then do some educated guessing about where she comes from.  Huzzahnians, what clues helped you? At what point did you have enough information to make a reasonable prediction?

Readers arrive with questions:

Who is this writer? What are his interests? What is her personality like? Do we have anything in common?

Your “About” page might just be the first place a reader goes to find out.

Your blog is a reflection of your personality.

Miss Wyatt’s post gives some directions and examples of ways to write your “About” page. We have already reviewed the advice to be “internet savy” by making wise decisions about our writing and blog content.

Take a look at these about pages from last year: Daniel C, Nicholas, Catie, and Rebecca. Notice how they tell you just enough about their personality without saying WHO they are.

This post will be a PAGE on your blog.

Your “About” page shows your voice: who and what you feel strongly about, your sense of humour, your passion and compassion–what drives you.

Look at the draft of your “About” page. What one word most captures who you are?

Image: Questions by oberazzi,  Creative Commons license.

From Blue Devils swimming, to Chile and beyond!

Greetings to all the students and parents of Mrs. Smith’s grade 5/6 class.

My name is Mr. Laurie. I am a student teacher from Vancouver Island University. I will be a part of your classroom community over the next year. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and thank you for your cooperation.

Being a student teacher, here in Comox, is a dream come true for me. I grew up in Comox and graduated from Highland. I love the Valley way of life and can not wait to give back to a community that has been so good to me. I look forward to sharing my stories and knowledge of growing up in the most beautiful place in the world.

I have enjoy immensely the three short days that I have spent in your classroom. You, the students are wonderful and I can not wait to know more about you. The parents that I have met are caring and supportive. I look forward to a great year with all of you.

(Mr. Laurie brings his many talents and enthusiasm for learning to the classroom–we are indeed fortunate. Parents, ask your son or daughter about what they have learned from and about him so far.  ~Ms. S.)

Leave nothing to chance!

Last year a student in Division 16 looked up the meaning of random for us: it means lacking a plan or depending on chance. But in blogging it’s not wise to rely on chance to keep your identity safe. Take a look at my random facts below. In combination, they tell a lot about my life, but those facts don’t identify who I am, precisely where I live, when and where I do activities, or give that information about my friends or family.

So here are my 7 Random Facts:

1. I am the eldest daughter of an eldest daughter of an eldest daughter (and my only daughter is also the eldest!)
2. I love to make quilts.
3. I have sailed around the world in a tall ship.
4. I didn’t have any pets as a child, but now we have two Golden Retrievers named Luke and Solo.
5. My favourite place in the world is Fernando de Noronha, an island off Brazil.
6. I repeated Grade One, and didn’t learn to read until Grade Three.
7. I can say “Your baby is beautiful!” in Swahili.

Your task:

Look at the random facts of these students  Sophie, Daniel W., and Haley. They have used a numbered list to organize their posts.

Write your own Seven Random Facts. As you write your own, think about covering a broad range of facts that your close friends and family would know about, but that don’t give away too much about you.You are writing a quality post, so proofread and get a second pair of eyes to review your work.

Finally…

After you have written and posted yours, visit and comment on the 7 Random Facts of other Division 4 bloggers: notice surprises and connections–I bet you’ll find other bloggers whose random facts are similar to your own!

Image: Seven about to happen three different ways by fd  Creative Commons license

And like all new things, we will be a bit wobbly for a while.

You’ll notice student blogs are popping up in our blogroll to the right. These are exciting times for Division 4! In the next week, students will give their blogs a name and a tagline, add a Clustrmap, and write their first posts. Some may even start their own blogrolls.

Right now all the blogs have the same theme, but this will change. Once students have grown some serious feathers, they will be ready to fly! (Yes, I know chickens can’t fly–but bloggers can!)

Come back soon to see how we have grown.