Thing #4

After reading several of the resources for commenting, I am thinking that this post will be a work in progress. The 10 commandments of commenting gave me much food for thought. Being polite, positive, and basically nice in comments is a definite must, it seems. I have always thought sometimes emails can be misconstrued because it is hard to convey your tone or mood in just your written words. Apparently, blogging can be the same way. I guess that is where the smiley faces and extra exclamations points help!!! :-) The other resource that made me think was the one about the ten techniques to get more comments on your blog. Since I haven't received any comments yet on my blogs, I was wondering what the deal was...... I will use some of the techniques to get if I can get a nibble. But, then, maybe everyone is waiting to comment just like I am---until I get a better idea of what I am doing!! Is anyone else feeling this way??

I am still having fun, though. I really like this class! :-)

Now, for the completion of Thing # 4: I believe that commenting definitely adds to the feeling of community within the group. It makes the blogger feel that someone out there cares about what she/he has written. The back and forth conversations simply connect the bloggers with each other. In this class, reading the blogs of the other participants has helped me figure out what I am doing. It has made me feel a part of the total group. I can see how having a department blog at a school would open the lines of communication tremendously.

Two points from the readings about commenting that I found important are: #1 : "read before you write" because it is so very important not to skim the surface of the blog, but carefully read the entire blog and think about what the writer means so that you don't make false inferences and #2: "write a meaningful blog, let the writer know that you hear them" because everyone needs to feel validated and important. Since there is no eye contact involved in blogging, it is important that we let the writer know that we "get" what they are saying and value their words.

I commented on GALLOWAY because, first of all I know him, was a Cub Scout leader with him, and haven't talked to him in a long time, and secondly, because he has having trouble getting his avatar and I wanted to help him. I also commented on Loving Summer. I told her that I really liked her idea about having students who are reading the same books, but are at different schools, blog each other about them. Next, I commented on Ms. Brownie because I taught with her at MHS and never knew that she was called Ms. Brownie by that student. I commented on Tara Johnson's site about the HairMixer--I agreed that it was a lot of fun and easy to use. The final class site that I commented on was Kimberly's Korner because it is SO beautiful and she has music and everything on it. I want to be just like her!!! I was so impressed with her blog list that I looked a some of the blogs. I used two of them for my non-class blogs. I commented on Devin Dakota's Journey which is the story of a precious little girl born with some problems. I wish the family the best and we should all keep them in our prayers. Finally, I commented on The Good, The Bad, and the Fugly about her little girl's pretty eyes that changed from blue, to green, to brown!!

Now, my Thing # 4 (a work in progress) is through..............