Blogs posts are usually listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent post displayed first. Blogging websites typically provide easy-to-fill-out online forms with buttons for enhancing posts with photos, clipart images, or video clips. Blogs usually contain two columns, one for posts and one for a menu.
For example, Dragon's Fire Learning, a learning blog belonging to a 5-year-old homeschooled child, shows a typical blog format.
Create a Homeschool Learning Blog in 3 Easy Steps
- Sign up with a blog hosting website.
- Create a first post.
- Categorize posts into subjects.
Sign Up with a Blog Host
Sign up with one of the many free blog hosting websites (Blogger, WordPress, or Blogsome, to name a few). Follow the blogging website's instructions for setting up a blog.
Create a First Post
Write an introductory or summary paragraph of the homeschooler's topic of interest (dinosaurs, for example).
Example: Dinosaurs walked the earth for over 160 million years. They are extinct now, but many scientists believe that birds and some modern reptiles are dinosaur descendants. Scientists who study dinosaurs are called paleontologists. They study fossils, bones, footprints, and other clues left behind by dinosaurs.
Using the blogging website's photo adding function, probably a button on the post entry form, add a relevant image. Many websites provide free photos and clipart images (morgueFile, PD Photo, and FreeLargePhotos, to name a few). Locate an image from an online gallery, save it to the home computer, and follow the blogging website's instructions for adding an image.
Follow the introductory paragraph with a list of links for further study. Link to relevant webpages.
Categorize Posts Into Subjects
Use the blogging website's "categories" or "labels" option to collect posts into organized subject categories (dinosaurs, for example, or paleontology). Before long, the child will have a sizable repository of information and links on his or her favorite subjects.
For example, all posts labeled "dinosaur" on the Dragon's Fire Learning blog can be viewed together on a dinosaur category page.
Many blogging websites also provide methods for easily creating link lists for the sidebar (menu column) of the blog. Use this area to create lists for easy reference of the child's favorite websites.
For more information on blogging with children, see 12 Safety Tips on Blogging for Parents and Kids.
Parents can use blogs to create fun and engaging learning websites for their homeschooled children. Blogs are easy to create and easy for children to navigate. They provide convenient repositories for the homeschooled child's continuing studies and can be used for easy reference for years to come.
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