Embedding Video Into Your Blogs

Blogs are multimedia forms of writing. We are able to not only express our thoughts, ideas, and stories in writing, but through video, sound, and other digital forms. If you are blogging about music, movies, or other forms of media, it's always important to include as much forms of video as possible.

For example, one of my favorite video's (and song's) is for Coldplay's "The Scientist." Not only is it a beautiful song, but the video is cleverly told in "reverse" narrative order, becoming a puzzle that unfolds along with the lyrics.  I will now embed the YouTube video. As you can see, since it's my blog, my readers probably wouldn't just care if I posted "My Favorite Coldplay" song, and didn't write about it. After all, they could just go to YouTube if they just wanted to watch the video. Remember, it's your writing, thoughts, and ideas, that matter.

Also, you want to leave your reader with a question, or invitation to comment. Commenting on other's blogs, and replying to the comment on yours, is a way to generate a "loyal" following of readers.

So, what do you think about the way the video told the story of the song? What happened in the video, if you were telling the story in normal sequential order?

-Mr. Myers

Help Mr. Myers Fix His Blog!

Well, in case you have not noticed, Mr. Myers has not updated his blog since December, yikes, December! Well, there's a reason for that, other than laziness, the main one being, I'm not really sure what my blog should be about.

My blog is called "21st Century Writer" and will therefore be related to my role both as a writer, and as a teacher of writing. So while my blog tries to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up, perhaps you, my readers, can help out. Should the 21st Century Writer blog be a personal one, where I share my personal writing and digital media creations. Another possiblitity is to turn the blog into a demonstration blog, where I provide walkthroughs and examples of "How To" create the content produced in my 21st Century Writing, Digital Media, and English Language Arts classes. A third possiblity is for my blog to be a showcase for the brilliant, creative work produced by my amazing fellow Writers for Life in all my classes. Finally, my blog could be a blog for teachers, on how to create an environment in their classes similar to the one that led to building and nurturing the W4L community.

As you can see from the content of this blog, I have tried all these approaches since launching my blog two years ago. However, I would like my blog to have an actual purpose, so I'm asking you, my reader, to help determine just what my blog should be about; so please scroll down to the bottom of this page, vote in my poll, and help Mr. Myers fix his blog!

-Daryl Myers

Hour of Code Blog Updates

Hello Amazing 21st Century Writing and Digital Media 6 Writers for Life,
We participated in the Hour of Code last week, and the time has come to blog about your reflections on your projects and the coding process. You can write about your Hour of Code experience in any way you wish, but here are some sentence starters and guidelines for those who are confused.

Certificate of Completion all Writers for Life receive upon updating their blogs with the Hour of Code projects!

Hour of Code Blog Post Guidelines

1. Describe the Hour of Code project you chose, and summarize or describe your project and/or why you chose that project.
Example:  For my Hour of Project I created a ---------. I chose this project because....
2. Write about any difficulties, confusion, or challenges you faced throughout your coding process.
Example: While I really wanted to do a name animation, I had trouble figuring out how I was supposed to save it...
3. Overall, are you proud of your work or do you think your project needs more work?
4. Attach a link to your project so others can view it and discuss your work.
Example: Well, don't take my work for it, here's a link to my (PROJECT), please tell me what you think about it.

Mr. Myers again searching for the truth about how awesome it is to be a Writer for Life. 

Writers: Stop and Write!

Good Advice for All Writers!

NaNoWriMo Update

Today I wrote 638 words for NaNoWriMo. I didn't get very far in my prologue, but what I wrote I'm really proud of, since prologues, introducing the characters, are kind of tough! By writing, though, I really feel like I am starting to get a "handle" on my "Zookeeper" character.

It's NaNoWriMo Time! Writers for Life, Start Your (Novel) Engines!

It's NaNoWriMo time, one of the most glorious times of year in the already glorious Writers' Sanctuary, AKA Room C6 of Monte Vista Middle School. What is NaNoWriMo? Well, for you non-Writers for Life out there, NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month, where writers from around the world take on the challenge of writing a novel during the month of November. While this may seem like an impossible task, many Monte Vista Middle School students have become published novelists through their participation in NaNoWriMo, and MV's 21st Century Writing class has published two novels--Unspoken and Ordinarily Extraordinary, both available for purchase at Amazon-- particpating in the Young Writers Program.

Of course, this year the 21st Century Writing class will be collaborating, writing, editing, publishing, and creating promotional materials for NaNoWriMo this year as well. We are keeping this year's novel under wraps for now, but watch this blog, the Toro Tube YouTube channel, and the 21st Century Writing student blogs for exciting developments and chapter "teases."

I am free to reveal that this year's topic will cover the mysterious world of cryptozoology. Be prepared to discover just who the real "monsters" are in this world!

-Mr. Myers

Ask the Writing Wizard!

Monte Vista's 21st Century Writing and Digital Media 6 Writers for Life are amazingly talented writers, but did you know that they are experts in so many other areas as well? Being the generous writers that they are, they would like to share their expertise with the world!

As a result, the student blogs will, in addition to their usual work, feature advice on topics covering a variety of interests and subjects. Want to know how to surf? Looking for the perfect adjective? Maybe you have questions about your favorite baseball team? Well, all of these topics and more will be covered by our expert bloggers. Just check out the Monte Vista student blog rolls to the right, and you just may find the answers you're seeking; and maybe even some you are not!

-Mr. Myers

Mr. Myers, AKA The Writing Wizard, Here to Answer All Your Writing Questions

Monte Vista Digital Media 6 W4Ls Rock!

The Digital Media 6 class at Monte Vista are the latest Writers for Life, and dare I say, the greatest? In just a few weeks, they have amazed and inspired me with their positive W4L attitudes. and most importantly, their creative works of digital writing.
Don't believe, me, well, this is the very first digital creation they made, a "Words To Live By" meme.

A brilliant digital composition created by Isabel, a Digital Media 6 Writer for Life.

Not only do they create brilliant works for class, another reason why they are so special, is because they will take their skills and create something just because they want.to. Such as this "Poem for Mr. Myers" and meme a student created for me.

Poem and meme by Maliah, Digital Media 6 W4L.

These are just a couple of reasons why I am so fortunate to be a Writer for Life, and teacher of these wonderful students. What do you think about being a Writer for Life?

-Mr. Myers

Announcing the Monte Vista 21st Century Writing Instagram Page

Monte Vista Middle School's 21st Century Writing class is pleased to announce the debut of our official Instagram page, which we humbly ask that you follow us @MVS.21st.Century.Writing. Before we officially launch our Instagram page, we ask that you vote in the poll on the official logo, designed by Monte Vista 21st Century Writers.

Here are the three finalists for the 21st Century Writing Instagram logo:

A) 

B) 

C) 

Please vote in the poll to the right! Also, please leave a comment as a reply to this post with your suggestions, feedback, or thoughts on the three logos!

-Mr. Myers

Coming Soon: Ordinarily Extraordinary!

Monte Vista Middle School's 21st Century Writing class, authors of the classic novel, Unspoken: The True Story Behind The Fairy Tales You Only Thought You Knew (available for purchase from Amazon.com) is excited to announce the upcoming publication of their second novel, Ordinarily Extraordinary.

While much of the information about this exciting novel is still "Classified," we have received official confirmation allowing us to reveal certain information. Below is a table of contents (with the contents removed for security purposes, of course) for our novel:

So, look up in the sky (or your local bookseller or Amazon.com) and watch this blog (and other 21st Century Writers' blogs) for vital upcoming information. 

Below is just one of the Cloud Heights Academy students you will meet in Ordinarily Extraordinary, coming soon!

Cloud Heights Academy: A School For The Ordinarily Extraordinary.

Terrifying Two-Sentence Horror Stories!

Recently, the Monte Vista 21st Century Writing and Digital Media elective classes applied their digital storytelling skills in creating Halloween-themed "Two-Sentence Horror Stories." As with everything else these amazing students create, the level of creativity and imagination on display in their work is truly impressive.

Students wrote a series of stories, then used Google Drawing to digitally illustrate their stories. Combining images and text, these students created some truly terrifying (and some hilarious) tales!

Please vote for ALL of the following categories as a reply to this blog post. You may not vote for the same person in more than one category. The categories are as follows:

WRITING:
1. Best title
2. Best story (overall)
3. Scariest story
4. Funniest story.

DIGITAL COMPOSITION:
1. Best font
2. Best image
3. Best composition (best placement of text, images, and other digital media composition).

When voting, you just need to vote for the number on the slide and the title. For example:
1. Best Title: #2 (Peanut Butter)
2. Best Story: #18 (Title)
Etc.

So, if you dare, please click on the following links for a collection of truly terrifying "Two-Sentence Horror Stories."


21st Century Writing Two-Sentence Horror Stories

Digital Media 6 Two-Sentence Horror Stories

21st Century Writing Productions Presents: "Words for Writers" Meme Contest

As all writers know, words are our tools, our paint, our musical notes. Monte Vista's 21st Century Writing class wanted to demonstrate their love of words (and meme-making!) by creating digital compositions for some of those magical words that can express the inexpressible. Enjoy their work in the following  "Words for Writers" presentation.

Please leave a comment to this post with your favorite "Words for Writers" Meme!

Write On

No matter what life brings your way, just keep writing! 

21st Century Writers Are on Top of the World

21st Century Writers: This is my tribute to you, all we have accomplished this year, and all the greatness that is to come!

Great Places to Find Free Images Online

Hello fellow 21st Century Writers.  Since you have all become such gifted meme makers, and using images are vital for all 21st Century writing, I thought I would share this site that links to several sources for finding wonderful images online.  I look forward to another great week of writing with you!

Great online sources for free images.