Blogging has always seemed like something people do who have a lot to talk about and until recently I haven't put myself in that category.  After reading the article Dean Shareski posted to our Ecmp 355 blog, titled Talker's Block  by Seth Godin I have changed my mind.  My favourite quote from this blog/article was, "Write like you talk.  Often."  (Seth Godin, Talker's Block)  I took a creative writing class in high school and this was the exact advice I was given by my high school teacher, our assignment was to keep a journal and write every day.  So, I sort of feel comfort in this blog and I also seem to be taking this blog a bit more serious than the journal I just kept for myself in high school.  I suppose this connects to the class we had earlier in the week; I wrote in my notes that when student work is on the internet for the whole world to see students feel it has a lasting and meaningful effect on them, which I took from Dean Shareski.  This is how I feel, I don't hit the 'publish' button on here until I've looked through my post and made sure I am feeling okay with the post I have just written.  So, if I feel this way about my words that I'm posting to the world to see, students should/hopefully have a similar feeling with their work.  

Also, if you have five and a half minutes to spare, take a look at this video I posted below.  I really encourage you to check it out, you won't be disappointed! 
5/12/2012 01:44:12 am

I think the other powerful thing that happens here is you begin to model learning for your students and colleagues. When you think about your teachers in the past, how many of them demonstrated being a learner? I'm guessing few. By showing some vulnerability, asking questions, playing with ideas like you've done here you demonstrate your skills as a learner. To me, that's more valuable than or at least as valuable as being a teacher.

Well done.

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Carly Hopfauf
5/12/2012 12:22:56 pm

Thank you, I totally agree, I only remember two of my high school teachers that modeled learning in their classrooms both of which were my favourite teachers (funny enough they're married too!). They were actually part of the reason I wanted to go into teaching and continue to be an inspiration to me.

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dave gray
5/14/2012 08:42:11 am

fine advice from Dean, about us becoming-a-teachers being learners!

the hardest part about blogging (and journalling) for me has been the same feeling that you mentioned -- that i have nothing to say. or that what i say has to be profound. i find that these new technologies help remind me that saying is more important than falling into silence because i'm stuck aspiring to be profound.

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