Scott McLeod had a recent post, NECC 2009 - Who wins? that prompted quite a bit of interesting discussion around the blogosphere. In this post he muses on the idea of FBs (famous bloggers) and their possible obligations to NYFBs (not yet famous bloggers) and LRs (loyal readers). The question is only of mild interest to me, but it got me thinking about the blogs I read and which are by FBs and which are by NYFBs.
I've tried to keep some balance between the two. I think that one of the reasons I feel a need for this balance is that most of the FBs I read are not currently in a classroom. They are consultants, technology specialists, or college professors (in a classroom, yes, but with completely different time demands). Full time classroom teachers have little time to devote to blogging. And yet they are voices I would like to hear a lot more. I have huge amounts of respect for a variety of classroom teachers who blog thoughtfully and make me think. Doug, Dan, Lisa, Clarence, Christian, and Stacey & Ruth all write blogs I think are fantastic. I'm not sure how they manage to do it.
My big question here, I guess, is does it really matter? Does the imbalance between widely read blogs by actual classroom teachers versus those by others in the educational field make a difference? Should we be concerned by who dominates the discussion? I'm honestly not sure how I feel about it.
7 comments:
I'm definitely a NYFB! There are several good teacher bloggers out there, though. Have you met my friend Melissa B. over at The Scholastic Scribe? She's a high school journalism and English teacher who has quite a bit to say! Her blog resides at scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com, I think. Anyway, I'm new to the Blogosphere, so nice to meet ya! Please drop by soon.
Thanks for extending the conversation. I don't know how full-time educators (teachers or administrators) find time to blog, but somehow many of them do (and more don't). The tools aren't the barrier anymore. It's time and understanding...
An interesting question. For me, it's about reflective practice. I think I started blogging more for myself than anyone else, but it is totally flattering that you, and others, out there read what (Ruth and) I have to say.
Your questions are deep and very valid.
One of my favourite quotes, I cite it often is "...classroom teachers are the only real agents of school reform." (Donna Marriott, Ending the Silence, Phi Delta Kappan, 2003, http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k0303mar.htm)
I read blogs by consultants as well as educators (and have written blogs in both roles as well) and think about them slightly differently. A consultant's role is to trigger change, it is the administrator who affects change in the school organization and the teacher who affects change in the classroom and, at times, in the school organization as well.
I actively seek out blogs by both school-based educators and consultants. The points of views are different and provide me with more and diverse data about the educational system(s) I work in.
Now that I am back in the classroom, I must admit that I find myself returning more often to those blogs written by teachers. They often refer to the consultants and offer the 'from the trenches' POV that I need right now.
I tend to connect more to educators who are "in the trenches" because they seem to write about the things I am experiencing. But in the end it is all about what makes me reflect on my own practice. It is more about personal and professional growth than anything else. I read blogs almost everyday. Sometimes I comment sometimes I don't. It is all about the connection.
BTW, I'm hosting another Great Pop'rs Giveaway, starting tomorrow. Aunt Julie is planning a rehearsal dinner in honor of Big Bear and Little Red's upcoming wedding, and she needs your help! Please join the fun tomorrow on my blog, by helping Aunt Julie out!!
I tend to read both. But to be honest, I enjoy the blogs written by those "in the trenches" better. I just connect with them more. I also love reading the blogs in the kidlitosphere- authors, librarians, teachers, and parents. It's the best way for a language arts teacher like me to stay up to date on new literature for the kids that I see everyday!
Sarah
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