I know you might have worried by the title that I just now started "thinking", but I promise I have had "thoughts" before now! I have had a blog for my students for the last 2-3years and I've found it to be a fun way to connect with my students and get their perspective on something quickly and they find it enjoyable. They think it's much better than writing! Little do they know, it's the same thing.
As a professional, I have never thought of blogging, but I do see the benefits for me as well. It has caused me to reflect upon why I use a blog and maybe why I should in the professional realm as well. I have a friend who is a writer and I've been trying to get her to start blogging her devotionals with the idea that she would get immediate feedback. Hmm... exactly why I need to think about it as well. I liken blogging to journaling, just with an audience sort of.
Anyway, I'm excited to think to begin to use this blog for me!
I really enjoy reading Mrs. Cassidy's blog at http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337
One of the many things I love about you is how transparent you are! I had another professional blog once and it was so good for me to be able to go to a place and write my thoughts just to get them out of my head and help me process those thoughts without fear of judgement or retribution. Although it was read by teachers across the country, I was always afraid that someone in our district would see it and so I stopped writing. It wasn't any kind of manifesto against teaching or anything, but I just wasn't ready then (and now?) to be that transparent. Hmmm...what does that say about me..something to ponder:)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about blogging being a quick way to get another perspective on an idea. I know that when I was successful in using my blog last year with my students, I always got great feedback on lessons or questions that were posted.
ReplyDeleteEducation constantly changes and, yes, sometimes I feel as if the old saying, "what's best for the kids" is not always used. I guess that's one of the challenges we have to overcome and keep planting seeds to our students every day. Miss teaching with you, old friend! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLets bring the fun back to writing!!! I am all about "tricking" kids (haha) into doing work when they don't realize it's actual WORK. Isn't that why we use graphic organizers! This really is a win-win...the kids are motivated, working, on task, and there is a record of all the posts and comments organized without a stack of papers to keep the whole year. I think we are on to something here....
ReplyDelete"Journaling with an audience" I love it! In Writers Workshop we use "Authors Chair" to read aloud freewrites (journaling) or published pieces. Authors chair is like "journaling with an audience." May I use that with my students??
ReplyDeleteI really love the background you chose for your blog. It's really unique, eye-catching, and colorful. Even the text color goes with it. All in all, it makes me want to search your blog and come back and visit. What a wonderful setup!
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