Taking the Challenge!

When one door CLOSES … another one OPENS.

This picture is SO symbolic for me.  As I sat here thinking about my topic for the very FIRST personal blog post I would write for a global audience, I KNEW that THIS photo would have to be the FIRST.  Why, you ask yourselves?  Well … this was the beginning of my introduction to blogging.  You see, this year I had the honour of piloting the very first classroom blog for my school board.  Global Grade Three: Connecting and Learning Beyond Classroom Walls began as a way of sharing our Grade Three Global Citizenship journey, helping Mosqoy and Q’ente build a library in Q’enqo Peru.  Although this project is in its second year, the learning that both my students and I have done, through blogging and interacting with a global audience, has been so unbelievably rewarding.  So, while one door is closing … it is summer now and students are on vacation … our classroom blog is taking a “break”.  On the other hand, ANOTHER door is being opened.

I have decided that I am TAKING the CHALLENGE that @gcouros has set before us all! The Summer Blogging Challenge came to me just at the RIGHT time.  It is only 6 days into my summer vacation and I am already mourning the loss of blogging each week with my students.  I find myself revisiting our site HOPING to see more “hits” on the revolver globe … and checking for new flags like many of my students did over the 6 months we blogged together.  Ahhh … the true confessions of a learning nerd, (LERD for short … an affectionate label my husband has bestowed upon me).

Let me begin by sharing my “Twitter Love”.  This year has been filled with SO many “firsts”!  Up until November, I must confess that I thought Twitter was “fluff”.  Another SHOCKING confession, I know.  Honestly, though, between teaching and life with two very active teenage boys,  housework, yard work … and staying “sane” … I have to admit that I had NO desire to join Twitter to hear the latest celebrity gossip or discover what my friends had eaten for breakfast.  Boy was I WRONG.  Twitter has provided me with some of the most INCREDIBLE professional development that I have ever taken part in … and I’ve TAUGHT for 25 years!  Once you’ve signed up, lurked for a bit, found inspiring people to “follow”, figured out how to express yourself coherently in 140 characters, or less, and joined a few of the many incredible chats available, you QUICKLY discover that Twitter is NOT fluff.  It is TRULY personalized and available whenever YOU are.  Trust me … you will NEVER look back!

Thank you for the Summer Blogging Challenge, George!  You’ve helped to open ANOTHER door!  I look forward to sharing my learning journey with others along the way.

4 thoughts on “Taking the Challenge!

  1. I am looking forward to seeing what you write over the next couple of months and selfishly, this little challenge I have put out has put me on to some great blogs which only helps my learning!

    Thank you for sharing!

    • I am looking forward to continued blogging! Blogging with my students over the past few months has really made a huge impression on me as a teacher and a learner. There is nothing like connecting with a global audience to deepen one’s learning! Thank you for inspiring me and for putting your challenge out there!

      Laurie 🙂

  2. Love that you’ve taken the challenge, Laurie. I love sharing through blogs, but the writing process also really helps me “think aloud,” so to speak. Getting feedback from others is such a huge part of that process for me. Looking forward to learning along with you. 🙂

    Michelle avenue4learning.com

    • Yup – I love that I’ve taken the challenge too, Michelle! I have always loved writing … but this year, while blogging with my students, I TRULY saw the power of writing “beyond” myself. You are so right … the writing process really does help me to “clarify” my thoughts, to reflect, to grow … such a powerful process! Sometimes … it is something I just HAVE to do … hard to explain to people who don’t embrace writing! Thanks for your feedback, Michelle – I look forward to learning from you TOO!

      Laurie 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *