I posted over the weekend about how I’m not much for anonymity. I’ve also mentioned that I worry sometimes about what’s okay and not okay to talk about in this space. Looks like the events of the blogosphere have caught up with my thinking.
In response to a request, Will Richardson has come to the rescue. These are his suggested guidelines for keeping a teacher blog (see his excellent thinking on this matter in his post:
1. Decide carefully if you want to create a public space for your ideas
with your name on it. Maybe going anonymous would be better. There are
a couple of great anonymous teacher blogs out there, Hipteacher among them.
2. When you write, assume it will be read by the very people you may not want to read it. Think about the consequences.
3. As much as possible, blog on your own time with your own equipment.
4. Tell the truth. If you can’t, don’t write.
5. Ask people’s permission before you write about them in your blog,
especially if it revolves around some struggle that you might feel
worth reflecting upon or sharing with your audience.
6. If you do use a blog for professional reflection or opinion, my
personal wish is that you take the time to present those ideas well.
I’m not perfect when it comes to misspellings or errors, but I try to
read everything at least twice if not three times before publishing.
7. Start simple, and find your groove. If you just post about news and
don’t add much in the way of commentary at the start, it will give you
time to develop your voice.
8. Again, if you decide to blog openly, don’t try to hide that fact from peers or supervisors.
9. If you think people may have an issue with your blog, ask first, and make your decisions based on the feedback you get.
10. If you find yourself looking over your shoulder, don’t blog.
I really believe in the value of blogs and blogging for professional
growth and reflection. But I can understand the reluctance of many
teachers to want to try it. The transparency is scary. The concept of
open-text for one’s ideas and experiences is very different from what
most are used to. Each of us has to weigh the benefits against the
risks, real or perceived.
I believe that this space should be public — and that teachers should be thinking publicly about their teaching — in part to be accountable and in part as a way to further educate the public on just what it is that we do. Such transparency and openness have educational potential for our students and their families, and also for those legislators who believe that they are experts in school matters as they once attended a school a lifetime ago.
I teach in a public school. I am accountable to the public. That’s fine — but I want this society to have as much information as possible when thinking about and evaluating schools. My classroom door is usually open; so, too, is this blog.
I’ve been thinking this post by Chris Lehmann is a particularly good example of how to do non-anonymous blogging about your school: http://www.beaconschool.org/~clehmann/MT/archives/003007.php
Hey Teacher Bud,
I really like your blog! It’s very helpful and informative. I’m a middle school special education teacher and am going to start using blogs in the classroom to motivate my kids with their writing. Also, the information from the blogs will be used as apart of my research for my grad project. I’m new to blogging and am still trying to figure out the legalities…might you know of any good sites for the law & blogs? If you can, please check out my blog.
http://bloglawclassroom.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
Take Care,
Mechelle : )
I think I should start a parent Blog. I find that most teachers these days do not care about their students, they care about what others think of them. In my children’s school the teachers are airheads. I don’t know how they got their jobs. I think more teachers pay homeless people to take their tests than we even know.
> I find that most teachers these days do not care…
Gosh, Kathy, I think your post probably tells us more about you than it does your children’s teachers. But then, I am just an airhead who paid a homeless person blah, blah, blah.
Why don’t you go start that parents’ blog now? I can’t wait to mock you in the staff room at my school.
I think that blogging is a great support system for all teahers. Not only can we share lesson plans and ideas, but we also have a place to go that lets us know that others are having the same experiences that we are!