Why I’m Here

Why I am Blogging

I was encouraged by a colleague to begin last summer and I jumped right in. But that was all I did. I published two posts. I really like those posts.  See them here and here. But then I got busy. And I got scared. I read other people’s blogs and thought I should be writing about things that are more important to the world. Although, those first two posts were pretty important to me. Largely I am blogging now because I know that writing involves being willing to actually allow someone read what I write. I’ve written in one form or another my whole life, but not often for others, unless a letter, email, text, or tweet. But that’s so different than a blog. There’s more space in a blog, more choice. This month I’m participating in two blogging challenges.  One is the Slice of Life March Challenge. The other is Blogging 101. Again I’ve jumped into the world of written words, words written for others.

What I’ll Blog About

I’ll write about my experiences and about my thinking. I hope to also include thoughts about the work I am doing at present sharing the work that has been so powerful for me professionally. I expect that my topics will grow as I lean into this intense blogging month experience. Already I have inspiration to write on new honest topics that matter to me, and also, I hope, to another.

A Little More About Me

I’m a teacher who left my own classroom behind a year ago to take a job doing history and social science. I’ve been called a history nerd. It’s true.  I love that stuff. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of work helping teachers know how to help their students grow their reading skills, especially in informational text. I get to work with about 110 elementary schools. It’s a big job, and I love it.

A little closer to home, I’m in a big period of change. Much has happened that is, well too intensely personal to include in a public blog that’s mostly about literacy!  (I admire you Ann Lamott.)  Suffice to say my son went away to college a year and a half ago, I moved from the home I’ve lived in for 20 years, and my daughter will go away to school in the fall. My world looks very different than it did last year at this time. The growth and change continues. I look forward to reflecting on some of this part of my life’s journey and writing about it too.

So, here’s to courage and connection!  Blog on.