If you are a teacher, you are probably always looking for ways to stay in touch with the parents of your students, the students themselves and perhaps your co-workers. In some cases, a blog could be the perfect solution. As a teacher, learn more about how to get started blogging and the benefits so that you can get started this school year!
Getting Started
Before you do anything in this area, first talk to someone in your school district and make sure it is okay for you to do this. Most school districts have embraced the use of technology for staying in contact with families, but it is better to be safe than sorry. In some cases, there may be a platform already available within the district website for you to use with your blogging.
If you are going out on your own, you probably want to start with something simple. Tools like Blogger and WordPress will allow you to make a free blog. You will not have your own domain name without paying extra. For most teachers, this isn’t a problem—it means your page would be something like www.blogger.com/MrsSmith as opposed to www.MrsSmith.com .
There are a number of free tutorials out there that will make setting up simple. For WordPress, WordPress Codex is highly recommended as an easy way to get started. If you are completely tech-clueless, you may consider working with a blog writing professional to help you get the page up and running and may post your first blog or two.
Benefits
After you’ve blogged a bit, you will find out how it benefits you most—this can be different for each blogger. Most teachers enjoy blogging because it allows them to share more information with parents than they can with a short weekly newsletter. Also, teachers are able to stay in touch with former students and parents. Teachers can also share some of the projects they work on in the classroom and network with other teachers. The “blogosphere” is a great way for teachers to get new ideas about activities to do in the classroom.
Blogging is an extremely rewarding way to spend your time. It may seem a bit daunting at first, but once you get started, you will find its easy enough to post a blog and keep everyone updated with what is going on in your classroom.
Tracy S is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
