Some students have still not finished their websites.  While I can appreciate taking the time to do a great job, it will be in the best interests of everyone to make sure their websites are finished tonight or the weekend after the retreat.  On Monday we will be starting our final writing project.  It won't be too hard, but I would rather students didn't have to worry about completing two writing projects at the same time right at the end of the year.

Check with your child and if they haven't turned in their website yet, consider encouraging them at home to finish as I support them here at school.

Student websites were due this Monday and most students have completed theirs.  About a third of the class is still working to create a great product.  If a student hasn't turned in their website yet, that's okay!  We talk about how some people need a bit more time (for a variety of reasons) in order create a great product.  When they receive feedback on their website, we recognize that they didn't meet the deadline, but separate from that, we can also recognize the quality of work they created regardless of its timeliness.

Click the big orange "Student Websites" button on our classroom website to see a list of completed websites and check out what different students have created.

Finished websites receive written feedback from me in the form of a rubric, which is based around the expectations of the project.  They also receive a more personalized audio recording from me about what works on their website and what could be improved.  The audio recording is emailed to each student's school email account.

All students are welcome to take the feedback they receive and improve their work.  If they are interested in this, they should turn back in their rubric as well as a write up of what changes they made.

To officially "turn in" your website, click the "Student Websites" button in the right hand column of this blog.  Then enter your website address and website title.

Remember, your websites are due this Monday, May 21st.

This blog post explains all the tactics Apple uses in its email to get you to buy their products.  They are trying to get their customers to take action, just like you are trying to get your readers to take action.

What can you learn from Apple?  How can you apply these lessons to your own website? 

This next week will be devoted to designing your websites.  In the video below, I give tips on 
- creating drop down menus
- using multiple columns
- uploading pictures
- using html to upload Youtube videos, and
- creating better looking links

Most of you won't have a need for this, but some people may wnat to create an infographic for your persuasive website.  If this is you, check out  easel.ly.  

As you begin to think about how to design your website, take a second to look at these example websites.  What do they do well?  Do you notice any patterns in good web-design?

1. http://teuxdeux.com/
   
2. http://barkleyvillage.com/
   
3. http://www.cleanwateraction.org/
   
4. http://www.dell.com/
   
5. http://www.apple.com/
   
6. http://www.bellinghamchristianschool.com/
   
7. http://undergrad.biola.edu/
   
8. http://www.mariecatribs.com/
   
9. http://www.bbcookies.com/shop/home.php 
   

Here are some notes from class today to help organize the drafting of your paragraphs.

PATH

Purpose
Audience
Topic
Hook

QUESTIONS TO ASK

1. How will you organize your info?
   
2. Does your info need to be linear?
   
3. What do you want people to first experience when they come to your website?
   

Thinking about the information you've gathered so far, how are you doing?  Parents, you might want to check in with your child and ask them about these things as well.

This week is devoted to research and gathering information for your website project.  Here are a couple big points to keep in mind:

1. Your goal is to persuade, not just inform.  Find PERSUASIVE information.
2. Connect with a real person who can provide expert testimony or stories.
3. Don't worry about organizing your information yet, just gather it.  Organize next week.
4. Don't forget SCOPE.  Use these tools to make sure are persuading.