Who may read the blog?
(Do you require a password to see any part of the blog?)

If so, find the setting to put a password on the entire blog. Make sure you change the password periodically or when you believe it may have been compromised.  Don’t leave the password on a sticky note attached to your classroom monitor!

Who may see comments on the blog?

If you only allow registered users to see comments, make sure the settings are configured that way. Note: You will also have options on who is allowed to register, as well.

Make the choices about your community

Once you have decided on the tool you wish to use, set up your account and make the settings within that tool align with your choices about who can get inside the gates and what they can do. Roll over each choice to see the details.
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Who may register to join the blog?

If you pre-register your students or have them register in class in front of you (they do not click Submit until you check their screen), you have complete control over this process. Parents can email you and ask to be included. You should maintain a database (or a pencil/paper list!) of who the registered users are and which usernames match which actual people. TeachersFirst does not recommend using names at all. Allow your students to choose a pseudonym or use three initials. Even first names can be unique enough for lurker determined to figure out who they are. See our idea for a Blog Ice Breaker for secondary students.

Who may post (write an original entry) or comment (respond to an entry) on the blog?

These are specific settings within the options on a blog. Sometimes the easiest way to understand them if to pretend you are a new user (use your dog or cat’s name) and test them. That will make it easier for you to tell students what to expect. Since each logging tool is different, we cannot give you complete instructions here.  Some class blog sites actually set up min-blogs for each student within the class blog (Classblogmeister, for example). Others have the “owner” (teacher) post and allow students to comment but not initiate entries.

Who can tell who wrote the blog?

If you do not want “lurkers” (strangers out there in cyber-badland) to be able to tell who you and your students are, use nothing but initials or pseudonyms for student names; do NOT post identifiable pictures; and make it a rule to avoid naming places that would allow someone to figure out where or who you are.

Using “Mr. Mylastname’s class blog” or some other generic title like “Fourth Grade Musings” is safe, as long as you do not start adding information that would help the unsavory stalker find your class or call the school asking to leave a message for a student. Therefore, posting information about a meeting place for your class pizza dinner, RSVP phone numbers, or similar information is simply unwise. As you write your teacher “profile” on the blogging tool, keep it generic or at least check to see where this information is visible to the public. Include a rule about this in your blogger agreement.