One of the writing strategies I teach my students when they sit down to a blank page, is to think of a first or a last time something important happened in their life. Maybe it was the first time you rode a bike or the last time you saw your grandfather.
I think of that strategy as I write my first grown up,(drumroll) on the web, for all to see (eekk!!) post.
Part, in fact a lot, of what makes this scary is that someone might read it.
But wait, isn’t that what I want? Someone to read it.
But what if they think it’s awful and then post on twitter: See how not to write a blog (insert blog address here) #everyonethatmatters
At this point I am totally freaked out by the possibility of hitting publish button.
But I digress.
I started this blog for several reasons. One, I am so inspired by the many blogs I have been exposed to via my new-found twitter peeps or tweeps @franmcveigh, @rscalateach @pernilleripp @kateteach @misterminor…the list goes on and on. These amazing educators are adding so much to my teaching life I feel the need to reciprocate. Secondly, I want my students to blog and this experience is certainly giving me tremendous instruction in the art of learning by doing. The last reason (I’m aware of ) is that writing is a way for me to synthesize my thinking. It is a way to organize and quiet the ideas that are swirling in my mind into manageable bins.
Simply put my fear of blogging is quieted by my inspirational virtual colleagues, my desire to make a difference in my students’ lives and my need to sort out the mayhem my brain has become after about 300+ hours of twitter information.
One of the many things I love about writing is when it leads to the need to write more. Those hours on twitter and the messy state of my mind will be the purpose of my next post. That jump into the virtual world of twitter space and it’s profound effect on my thinking and daily behaviors the good and not so good is my assignment. Stay tuned.
To Read To Write To Be 