DISQUS

SherryC · 2 years ago

I love reading blogs of teachers that truly love what they do! It always stuns me when I talk to teachers that are just doing a job.

I am still new to blogging and I am trying something new this year. I have been teaching middle school students computers, but this year am going to teach 8th grade English and Social Studies with the hopes of truly integrating technology and getting my students excited and engaged. I am not getting a lot of support and found myself down today. Reading wonderful blogs like this really helps lift my spirits and make me ready to just get back at it tomorrow. Thanks!

Raffi · 2 years ago

Hi, You've been one of those who inspired me to blog.

As for blogging, I am against too much personal facts appearing on the blog. Also, moderation of the comments is important.

Miguel · 2 years ago

Vicki, you're an inspiration to me as an administrator. I constantly refer to the Flat World Classroom project, as well as others you are engaged in.

Yesterday, I was sitting at lunch with an MBA professor from a local private university. We were discussing collaborating on an article for a Texas publication. As she pulled out her newspaper clippings, underlined and highlighted, I realized she was Web2-clueless.

So, I shared the power of blogging, wikis, podcasts, Read/Write Web, publish at will, and how her MBA classes could be so much more powerful. Then, as an example of that, I shared with her your (and Julie's) project on the Flat World Classroom. Although we were sitting at lunch, munching on enchiladas and fajitas, the it was amazing to see the smile that came to her lips as I shared the project.

As a long-time blogger, I know what you're talking about. I sometimes feel excluded from the "big talk," but I realize that it's because I am unique in my way of sharing what I think. There's no crime in that uniqueness. Sometimes, we have to take breaks...for me, it's like a dry waterhole in the desert. It is exhausted after much use, but given time, refills since it's source is deeper and inexhaustive.

I hope you continue to look beyond the surface to that inexhaustible supply, remembering that the cool sip of water that strangers take brings smiles to their faces.

Best wishes,

Miguel Guhlin
Around the Corner-MGuhlin.net
http://mguhlin.net

Vicki A. Davis · 2 years ago

SherryC -- we all need encouragement and we all get down and feel misunderstood, I think it is the nature of being on the cutting edge, sometimes we are cut too!

Raffi -- thanks and I agree as well!

Miguel -- We are members of the mutual appreciation society. I too feel very "out of it" most of the time as I spend so much time working, running my kids to practice, and just doing things here -- I don't have a lot of time to connect with what seems to be a critical mass of educators who seem to communicate a lot -- I just can't make it into SL much at all! But I'm glad I can read about them and share what I learn and it is OK to be on the periphery!

Thanks all of you for your encouragement! Let's keep on doing what we're doing!

Susan Funk · 2 years ago

"The ones who don't received criticism are doing nothing". Thanks for the reminder. In need to remember this when I take a stand which proves unpopular. Thanks for being out there and taking us along on the ride.

Repairman · 2 years ago

This is a new world to me, and that you're on David Warlick's blogroll made me curious about what's happening here.

I'm looking forward to learning more and I can hardly believe that so much has transpired since the last time I took a serious look at edutech!

MrsC · 2 years ago

As always your posts inspire me to comment. It has been a rough time for me and I am currently enjoying a new baby and taking a short hiatus from teaching. I am glad to get back into blogging although it will be more professionally than in a classroom setting. I too was so sad to see Kathy's blog stop. She was a source of inspiration as well and always had fresh words to give. Your comments about "connecting with non bloggers" is particularly true since I have met resistance from teachers, administrators, and even students who not only don't blog but see it as fluff and frivolity. As passionate as I am about the blogs place in education, I know it will never take the place of the teacher and the face to face discussion. Thanks again for all you do for the edublogosphere.

Richard · 2 years ago

Since reading yours and a few other blogs I have been able to encrourage other teachers of their worth as a reflection tool. It always makes me smile when someone reads something in a school journal or has a discussion in the staffroom and says "thats worth blogging about" it really means that they are thinking teaching and learning. Fantastic.

Anonymous · 2 years ago

I noticed that you mentioned Ning as a cool social network where videos and pictures can be preapproved. I have come across a similar website called SchoolTube.com. It is not much of a social network (which I personally like about it)but students upload videos in various categories, and apparently all of the videos are approved by teachers.