Teacher Blogging 101

Education blogging is a tool used by teachers to share various forms of information regarding their classroom. Some teachers use blogs to share what is going on in the class to parents, as well as share tips and tricks with other teachers. Not only is it helpful for teachers to learn from each other, but it can also be used as an additional form of income. Teachers may choose to share things such as lessons plans, worksheets, classroom management tips, product recommendations, and more. The possibilities are endless when it comes to things teachers can share about the classroom. Teachers use blogs as a resource for inspiration and ideas from other teachers, Blogs are seen as a win-win for teachers and parents in the educational system. 

This has proven true for me, as I have gotten to learn from my peers through their blogs. Haylie Lacy wrote about teacher salaries in her blog Education Hot Topics with Haylie. She shared the perspective that many teachers share that salaries are not conducive to comfortable living especially starting out. She made the argument that teachers are the ones that teach doctors and lawyers and other highly esteemed professions, so it is not far to give them such low salaries. From Kate Cofer's blog Everything Elementary I learned about the importance of looking for the origin of behavioral problems by really getting to know your students. I also got to learn about the importance of parental involvement in classrooms from Kalee Hampton's Parental Involvement blog. I love getting to learn from my peers as a look into what it might be like to learn from fellow teachers when I am a teacher in the future.

Whether you are blogging to earn some extra income or just to organize and keep record of ideas and experiences, I think blogging is extremely useful in the classroom. It helps teachers learn from each other and keep parents informed with what is going on in the classroom. Personally, I have enjoyed blogging because of the freedom that comes with it. Teachers have full control what they want to write about, and getting to choose content is not something that teachers get to do very often. Teachers are limited in the classroom with strict guidelines to what they can teach, but blogs serve as a creative outlet to share what they want to share. 

 

Classroom Management: The most critical factor of successful learning

Good classroom management allows students to work 
collaboratively away from their desks as pictured here.

No one wants to be in a classroom where the teacher is constantly flustered, unorganized, and unable to retain student focus. Chances are, you have been in this type of learning environment, and chances are, you did not enjoy it. These are the unfortunate realities of classrooms of teachers that neglect to practice classroom management strategies. Classroom management is an effective way to engage with and meet the needs of students. It provides an opportunity for academic engagement from students by first creating a positive learning environment. Learning and growth of students is fostered through a certain level of organization from teachers. Classroom management allows teachers to be prepared at all times to always keep students engaged even when things do not go according to plan. It is important for teachers to learn how to effectively manage a classroom so not to lead to stress and burnout. When teachers feel like they do not have control of their classroom, they want to quit. The retention rate of new teachers is extremely low compared to other professions, likely due to the lack of understanding of classroom management. This is why classroom management is such a crucial part of teaching. 

Classroom management is something I have seen done really well and really poorly. When I think about my favorite teachers growing up, I think about the ones that always had a plan, gave clear instructions, and catered to what we needed as students. A class full of students of any age is hard to manage, but I admire the teachers that could recognize how students were feeling, and adjust their plans accordingly. I did not think much of it as a student, but thinking about when teachers were able to troubleshoot because of technology or other challenges, I recognize how difficult this can be and have a new appreciation for their classroom managing skills. Their ability to retain our focus and remain calm in stressful situations are qualities that made my learning more successful. I hope that through educating myself on classroom management techniques, that I can become skilled in this field like the teachers I admire so much.