How to Add a Gadget to Your Blog

1. At the top right of your blog you’ll see the following:
Email address
“New Post”
“Design”
“Sign Out”
2. Click “Design”
3. It will take you to your Layout.
4. There are two places you can add a gadget – side or bottom
I put the larger items, such as my blogging rules, at the bottom and put my links to the side. The side items are easier for the students to find. You also won’t have to scroll to the bottom of your blog to find them.
5. Click “Add a gadget” and explore.
6. Please note that there are many gadgets that would not be school appropriate if your students use the “Most popular” or “More gadgets”.
7. “Polls” can be interesting. You’ll see that I added that on the blog I did about Beowulf.”
8. Click “Link List” to add links to your students’ blogs or other sites.
9. Give it a title. (I called mine “First Period Blogs”.)
10. Type in the URL for the site.
11. Type in the New Site Name. (I called mine “Rie’s blog.)
12. Click “Add a Link”
13. Two ways you can continue:
a. Do steps 10, 11, and 12 for each of your student’s blogs and then click save after you have added all of them.
b. Do steps 10, 11, and 12 for one blog and then click save. If you do that, it will take you back to the dashboard. To add more, click “edit” by First Period Blogs and it will take you back to the gadget.
14. You must click “Add a Link” each time you add a new URL.
15. When you have all your links added and saved, view your blog. I always double check to make sure they do link. If not, you’ve done something wrong.

On your layout page, if you want to change the order of your gadgets, just grab and move it. Don’t forget to “Save” when finished.