1. Recipe for a Successful Media Center Blog
By TeraleeElBasri

2. Step One:
First, take one school
Any school will do
Elementary school
Middle school
High school
You get the picture!
3. Step Two:
Add one talented media specialist
4. Step Three:
Add to the mix one computer with internet access
Youre almost done!
5. Step Four:
Find some cool sites to set up a blog (its really easy!)Try a few of these:
Schoolblogs.net Network
Set up by an elementary school teacher who saw students were more likely to participate when blogging was involved in the assignment.
All about edublogs | Edublogs - teacher and student blogs
Free blogging site created by Google.
WordPress.com Get a Free Blog Here
Popular, and easy to use blogging site.
Blogger: Create your free blog
Excellent site for teachers to set up their own blogs for their classrooms!
6. Finally:
Bring together a group of students who want to stay connected and participate in what goes on in the media center
7. Now you have the beginnings of a successful blog!
8. Ive got a site, now what?
Blogs are useful for many different things.As the media specialist its up to you to decide what you would like your blog used for.
Heres a few ideas to get you started!
9. Reader Reviews
Student reviews of books
Media Specialist reviews and annotations
Book ratings
Video reviews embedded in blog
10. Book Videos The Unquiet Library
11. Programs and Activities
Author visits/Programs
Class work
Displays
Contests and other activities
Announcements
12. Media Center: Announcements
13. Summer Reading
A good way to keep kids connected during the summer and easy to update
Kids can comment or ask questions
Safe social site
Programming/incentives
14. Mrs. Rowlands Media Center Blog
15. Other Ideas for Using Blogs
Pathfinders
Polls
Surveys
Research links
Links to class wikis
BE CREATIVE!!!
16. Last But NOT Least
Have fun!Students will be drawn to a blog where they can see creativity, color, interesting tidbits, and above all a place where they can share their thoughts and ideas about books and what is going on in the media center.
HAPPY BLOGGING!
17. CREDITS
Photos
"Annoying IT guy likes naughty librarian. Why am I unsurprised? by Flikr user RodBegbie
School days by Flikr user AriCee
Student Impressions by Flikr user Jose Kevo
Music
Trawnicing by ccmixter user Pitx
Sound
Produced using Audacity