Welcome to the Spring Semester of Brain Science Literacy

Aim: How do we create a blog so that we can write to learn?

Do Now: Sign onto your laptop and go to this site:
    www.brainiacsofcrotona.blogspot.com  
Bookmark the page and write it down because you will be using it each day.

Welcome to the Spring Semester of Brain Science Literacy! 

Whereas last semester we were primarily focusing on the science of the brain, this semester we will be focused primarily on the mind. We will explore psychology by reading non-fiction articles and then by reading literature through a psychological lens. Not sure what "psychology" means exactly? Well, if you are reading this, you are sitting at a computer. Google it!

In order to proceed, you will need to create your own blog if you were not part of this class last semester. Your blog will be your "virtual" portfolio for this course. Do Nows and daily Writing Workshop activities will all be posted on your blog. In order to get some great online discussion going, we also will link all of our blogs together.

You must have a gmail account for blogger. If you don't already have a gmail account, create one now. Please give yourself a professional email address that you can use your whole life.

Here are the steps for creating your own blog:

1. Go to google.com
2. Under "more" at the top of the page find and click on "blogger."
3. Sign in on your gmail account to create your own blog.
4. Click on "Create a blog."
5. Choose a title for your blog.
6. Choose a design and template for your blog.
7. In settings, please be sure to set the time and date for Eastern Standard Time.
8. Under comment moderation (also in settings), please turn OFF word verification so that I don't have to prove I'm not a robot every time I want to leave a comment on your blog.
9. Create your profile. (Add a photo if you want.)
10. When you are done, write your first post. Introduce yourself in your post. Explain a little about yourself, where you live, and what you hope to explore in this course. Be detailed. Finally, write one open-ended question (can't be answered with yes or no or one word) that you have related to psychology or the mind. 
11. Send an email to msbecker4@gmail.com with the link to your blog so that I can follow it and share it with the other students in the Brain Science Literacy classes.

Congratulations! If you reached this step, you have created your own blog and filed your first post. Don't worry--your design, template and even your first post can be edited.

I welcome your comments. (It all counts toward participation!)

****A reminder that you are responsible for sending me a letter. See the February 7 posting on this blog for the full assignment.*****

Today's Standards

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)