For challenge number four of the #ETCoaches Blogging Challenge, I have been asked to reflect on how the reading of blogs has helped to influence me as an educator. As a lifelong learner, I have found that reading blogs written by teachers for teachers has been a great way to personalize my own professional development. I am always looking for new ideas and strategies for making learning fun and meaningful, and reading blogs has given me access to multiple perspectives on a given topic and has helped me to explore new ways of approaching instruction.
Reading blogs seems much more personal than just reading a text or article written on the same topic. Blogs are casual. The writing, more informal. Reading a blog seems more like an intimate conversation between the reader and the writer. Think about it: the reader is accessing an open window into the raw thoughts and reflections of the writer. For most bloggers (and when I say most bloggers, I’m not talking about bloggers who are paid to write--I’m referring to bloggers like me. The ones who do it merely for the love of writing and reflecting) there is no editor, no army of publicists making sure that every word is carefully chosen. What could be more real than that? It takes a lot of guts to share your innermost thoughts, especially when the writer is revealing a personal struggle or challenge. It is comforting when we learn that others are muddling through the same issues and it is refreshing to learn that you are not alone in your plight to make a difference. As a new trainer, I have found a lot of comfort in the blogs written by PD trainers who have been in the trenches longer. Their raw honesty about overcoming obstacles has helped me to feel like I am a part of something bigger. Teaching and learning shouldn’t be done in isolation. There is a certain power to togetherness. This challenge has also opened my ideas to the benefits of using an RSS feed. Although I am new to the idea, I have already found that using Feedly has been a great way to collect new resources in one place and to truly personalize my PD. I now have a one-stop location for topics that interest me, and I appreciate the fact that I can visit and revisit the posts at my own pace and at my own time. As teachers, it is important to realize that there is no one best way of doing things and that it is OK to make mistakes along the way. Reading blogs has been a great reminder to consider multiple perspectives, to take risks, and to evolve. To inspire, one must be inspired. Thank you to the many bloggers who have helped to open my mind and show me the way.
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AuthorJennifer Fischer is a former middle school English teacher, full-time instructional coach, and part-time edtech nerd, who strives to help next JENeration educators transform learning for all students.
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