Recently I participated in a Google+ Hangout discussion featuring Jessica Johnston, Paula Naugle, and Will Deyamport, III, Ed. D. It was great to meet with these dedicated educators to collaborate on a topic that I think is important: how teachers can use blogging to improve student writing, develop engaging learning experiences, and become a more self-reflective educator.

I’ve become fascinated with the topic of blogging for educators and how, when done consistently, it can help to shape our professional practice, which will in turn improve our work with students.

I started blogging in the Fall of 2009 and really didn’t know a thing about how to start, except that I got encouragement from a mentor: Shelly Terrell. Her support didn’t come in the version of how-to’s with blogging, but rather simply that I had stories to share that others would be interested in reading. She gave me some guidance as to the process, and then urged me to get busy blogging. One of my first early posts, at her request,  was a re-cap of an #edchat discussion. I will always be grateful to Shelly for her support in my early blogging launch.

I’ve come a long way since and am now a resident blogger at Edutopia.org, Kids Discover and The Teacher’s Lounge, but still feel in some ways that I’m a novice. To that end, I’m in the process now of taking a second course this year on the art of blogging. Interestingly enough, these two courses, have been taught by bloggers/writers outside of the field of education. They have much to share in all the aspects of what good blogging looks and feels like, and I’m thrilled to be stretching my craft. As a result, I’m getting inspired to develop my own courses that could be a support to those new to blogging, or those wanting to re-boot their blogging commitment. I’ll keep you posted on my progress!

I hope you can pull up a chair and take a few minutes to tune in to this recent blogging webinar.

We enjoyed this time together to share our perspectives on blogging and plan to add a few more 30 minute webinar sessions to this series.

In the meantime, check out the blogs of Jessica Johnston – http://www.edtechchic.blogspot.com/, Paula Naugle – http://pnaugle.blogspot.com/ and Will Deyamport, III, Ed.D. http://peoplegogy.blogspot.com/. Each is different in it’s theme and purpose.

Let me know you thoughts?

• What do your need to support you to get started blogging?
• How could we support you to kick start the process, once again?
• Have you started and stalled?
• Would it help to have a blog mentor or “guide on the side”?

You can blog. Yes, you can. You just need the right support to get started!

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