I think this is a really great question! When I originally set up my blog, I wanted a space to record my experiences as a busy teacher/mom and reflect on my life. The secondary reason is that I thought it might help my TpT store. I wasn't quite sure how, since I didn't have an audience, but it seemed like a good way to get my store going. Since most of what I make are things that I actually use in my classroom, it seemed like a perfect marriage. I also wanted to find a balance between promoting my store and telling it like it is. I wanted my voice to come through in my writing and I didn't want to alienate my readers by shoving my products down their throats. I wanted people to laugh along with me at my struggles or be inspired to try something that worked for me.
I started to read more blogs written by teachers and realized that there is this great big blogging world out there! I also realized that I could use my blog to connect with other teachers across the world. I started joining linky parties like Five for Friday and Farley's monthly Currently and really enjoyed the new blogs I'd find by joining up. I also made some blogging buddies in my own state and have enjoyed getting to know them too. I first met Melissa at A Teaspoon of Teaching, she introduced my to Albuquerque Amy, and then we had a meet up and I met Mary from The Apple Tree Room and Laura from Tchr888. These ladies inspire me!
My blog has taken a back seat to my crazy busy life the past few months and I have been less than inspired when I finally drag my butt home each evening, slap some dinner together and pass out. Now that I'm on summer break, I'm really sad that I didn't take just a little time to write more often. I had some great moments at school this spring and I wish I had documented them.
I guess I need to schedule time to write, just like I have to schedule time to prep and plan for school, work on my TpT store, or do housework or run errands.
How often do you blog? How much time do you devote to your blog each week? How do you fit it all in?
Oh! The neverending question - how on earth and I going to work, create, blog, take care of the kids, etc. I wish I had a magic solution for it all. If you think of one, please let me know!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your tell it like it is style of writing! I had a nice laugh at "shoving products down their throats"! That was kind of how I was feeling before starting this blog hop. I have been out of the classroom since March and was having trouble coming up with posts that had an educational/personal slant that didn't rely on the newest product I had produced.
Here's hoping you can come and link up again throughout the summer!
Monica
www.iheartgrade3.com
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/I-Heart-Grade-3
Scheduling and making time to write has been one of the hardest things for me. I have been having to post in the middle of the night lately just because that is the only time there is no chaos in my house! :) I am in Monica's link-up, too and I posted why I started blogging here: http://twinkleteaches.blogspot.com/2015/06/weekly-summer-link-up-why-i-started.html
ReplyDeleteHappy blogging!
Tina :)
www.twinkleteaches.blogspot.com
I'm still trying to figure out what exactly to do with my blog in terms of sharing ideas and products, but not going overboard. It's such a hard balance. Lately, I've been spending a lot of time on my social media accounts, but I've neglected my blog quite a bit. Hopefully that can change this summer. I think 1 or 2 posts a week would be ideal.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story, Suzy!
Kristin
Teaching In A Nutshell
My goal with my teacher blog is once a week - I would really like for that to be a meaningful content loaded post....however I am definitely not there yet!
ReplyDelete