This is my first year blogging as a teacher. Every morning I get up and check my work emails, which also contain the new posts and comments on a few educational blogs I follow. Anyone who reads this, which is probably mostly just me, knows that I love Two Writing Teachers, but recently through Slice of Life Tuesday participation, I have discovered so many dedicated, talented teachers I get excited just to get up and check my work email.
Every teacher should blog about their profession. It may be quite a mixture of mundane with magical, the everyday with the teachable moment, the dirty with the sparkly fresh new year, but in the end it is small insights in one’s posts that inspire, cause me to stop and hold my breath, make me think. There is absolutely time for analyzing, griping just a bit, and reorganizing oneself with fresh ideas that you beg, borrow, and steal from someone else. Likewise, there is time for whimsy and exploration, discovery and research, writing and reflecting.
Each day, therefore, like a new school year, becomes a possibility. Each blog I write moves me forward to (perhaps) uncharted territory. Each word I blog helps me see more and that makes me strive to be better. Something amazing happens when you think of yourself as a writer. You become a creator. I think every teacher should blog (just a bit), dabble (just a bit), and take a risk (just a bit), if only to hear their own voice and share in the eternal conversation that teachers love to share.
I completely agree. I’m sure it was Two Writing Teachers where I read, “If we aren’t modeling writing for our students, how can we expect to teach them.” (that may not be an exact quote, but you get the idea)
When I am struggling with revisions on my own writing, I’m much better equipped to help them with theirs. It also lends credibility to what we teach when we are continuing to work on the craft and maybe even have published pieces or at least a portfolio of work to show for it.
It’s serendipitous that you commented because about this time of year, I get very overwhelmed and anxious…rereading my blog calmed me a bit and focused me on the tasks ahead. I think that very quote, Kathryn, from TWT, was one of the inspirations for me to amp up my writing–via blog, I have a PD journal, scattered pieces of writing word.doc’s…it also reminds me how the students feel sometimes: harried, overworked, uncreative (not even a word, but I’m using it), excited, challenged, etc. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment! 🙂