Connecting with Seesaw Blogs

Seesaw blogs are a great way for students to share their work and ideas and build relationships and connections with peers. Using Seesaw Blogs paves the way for students to become Creative Communicators (ISTE standard) Enabling the Blog in Seesaw allows students to submit a Seesaw activity or post to the blog (after teacher approval) for the class or other students to view through Seesaw. Students in the class or other students (if using connected blogs) can even leave comments on the work. ( all comments prompt teacher approval).  

If you have not enabled your Seesaw blog, consider taking that step with your students. To enable the blog: Select Settings (wrench in the top right corner)>enable blog- Here you will be prompted to give your blog a display name and a URL name. The URL is public, even though the blog will be accessed by students on Seesaw, you may consider giving your blog a password for anyone who may obtain the URL link.  After you name your blog, you can then change appearance and settings.  

A few ways Seesaw Blogs could be used… 

• Wow Work 
• Book shares or recommendations  
• Art or Music- drawn or performed  
• Discussion questions – Social Studies OR Read aloud  

For students or teachers to post to the blog, simply press the “Globe” button underneath of a post or activity post. If students submit a post, teacher will need to approve before being posted to the blog.  

Connecting Seesaw Blogs

Once students and teachers feel comfortable with using Seesaw Blogs in the digital classroom, consider taking a new leap and connecting your blog with another Seesaw classroom or two in your building or district. This will allow students to view blog posts and leave comments from different classrooms and broaden their own audience for their posts.  

One of the ISTE standards (technology standards for students) is Creative Communicator. An indicator of that standard states: Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.  

You could use Blogs just within your class to achieve this standard OR connect other Seesaw Blogs in your building, grade level or even another classroom across the district. By using connected Seesaw Blogs, students could present ideas for wider viewing and engage in conversations from the ideas of others. Some ideas to use blogs as creative communicator are… 

Subject	Content
Social Studies	Final Unit Projects- use different mediums to present then post to Seesaw blog
Reading	Book recommendations – give choice in mediums to share/recommend/advertise books
Science/Engineering	EDP: Present an issue or problem: Students search/build solutions for problem, share to blog, view other solutions from connect blogs
Writing	Share writing pieces for others to compliment and provide feedback

To connect a blog to your classroom, go to settings (wrench)>Connected Blogs>Connect to Blog> type in information to blog you wish to connect to>green check. NOTE: Each teacher will need to individually connect the blog for all students to view. 

Once the blogs are connected, students will click on Blog on their Seesaw Tab. Select Connected Blog at the bottom and toggle between the blogs they wish to view and comment on.  

Seesaw blogs and connecting Seesaw blogs can be a powerful learning tool for students to reach a larger audience, connect with peers, and experience different viewpoints in building or across the district. So what are you waiting for, let’s get connected and let the Seesaw Blogging begin!