I have just been asked to start blogging! If I'm being honest, I'm not quite sure what blogging really means. I see it referenced all the time in the media and in shows, yet I was never sure what it encompassed. As a teacher however, I am beginning to see how blogging can help you grow over time. Blogging like this is much like journaling in a sense, as it gives you the opportunity to reflect the choices that you've made, and how they relate to your life professional life. Although there is a benefit to blogging, specifically when compared to journaling, as it allows for the ability to share, collaborate and interact with others who are also blogging!
The reason that more and more educators are encouraged to
blog is because the blogging community thrives off a network of co-operation. George Couros discusses in one of his blog posts "4 Reasons People Don't Blog and Ideas to Help Change Their Mind", that teachers often avoid making a digital footprint when they should instead focus on blogging in order to create a positive and functional Professional Learning Network. Bethany Petty shows how helpful the collaboration of educators can be by providing other teachers with materials and ideas, something she described as "sharing is caring" in one of her posts: "3 Reasons to Start a Teacher Blog Today". Additionally, blogging as a teacher doesn't only just give you better connections, but also gives credibility to your thoughts and beliefs. This is discussed by Paul Ellsworth in his blog post "Why Every Teacher Needs a Blog". This credibility comes from long-term documentation of your own reflections, showing there is truth to your claims that would be seen on your resume.
Once you get into the routine, blogging and writing out your experiences starts to feel like second nature. It is as if you are simply telling a story, but that story is ingrained with important reflection and valuable lessons that may have passed you by if you didn't keep track of them. Keeping a record of these experiences not only helps you work through your own challenges and grow, but it also aids others who may be struggling with similar situations and need help!
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