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“If you aren’t blogging, you should absolutely begin; I promise you, you have something to say.” I was attending my first CCIU speaker series back in 2016 and George Couros was sharing his insight on blogging.
Couros explained that when he started blogging, he never dreamed it would lead to his first book, The Innovator's Mindset. Over time, he generated enough posts with a common thread and tada a book! 📖
Always doubtful of myself, I never dreamed I’d be able to write a blog. Who was I to share my thoughts? What insight could I possibly share with the world? I tucked the idea away.
It wasn’t until 2019, in the midst of my doctoral work, that the idea of blogging percolated in my mind.
My amazing professor, Dr. Leigh Wolf, encouraged me to pursue this dream. But again, I tucked the idea away. Hidden within. Thinking I didn’t quite have something to share.
Then, in late 2023, my husband started blogging. Inspired by his fearlessness to unabashedly share his thoughts, I took the plunge. I have consistently posted, first every week and then every two weeks after realizing my work-life balance was getting a bit unbalanced.
In this week’s post, I’ll first share two key reasons why you should start blogging. Then, I’ll highlight four of my most meaningful posts from this past year, providing a bit more context behind the why of each one.
Why You Should Start Blogging
Why would anyone want to blog? Writing is hard… super hard. Gather your thoughts, finding your voice, and putting it all together into something coherent and meaningful is not for the faint of heart. I’m not going to lie, it isn’t always easy. And there are moments when I feel like there is nothing inside me. But after a bit of reflection, I find my voice. I find my why. And somehow, I’m able to create a story.
For me, there are two key reasons why I blog:
To Learn
I am admittedly a life-long learner. I think this is partly why I have pursued various degrees and continue to engage in learning through my local intermediate unit, my perusal of literature, and now blogging.
Writing your thoughts and organizing them is a fantastic way to solidify learning. In fact, a ton of research supports that through writing and argument, we learn, become better critical thinkers, and have a sharper sense of self-awareness (University of Minnesota, n.d.).
When we write reflectively, we aren’t just recounting events or listing facts; we’re processing, analyzing, and making connections between theory and experience. Think of it like untangling a messy ball of yarn - each sentence pulls a thread until clarity emerges. And I have had plenty of messy balls of yarn before getting to my final draft.
This post was a reminder to me that we derive the most meaning in our lives from our relationships. It is not in what we accomplish, what we physically have, how we look, or any other transient tangible item. Human connection makes life meaningful.
When we write, we can draw connections across different experiences, deepen our self-awareness, and foster metacognitive awareness and long-term understanding (University of Minnesota, n.d.). Additionally, by writing, we solidify how we can respond in future situations when they inevitably arise (Colorado State University, n.d.).
Considering blogging, in a classroom study, Fisher Digital Publications (2013) found that students who engaged in blogging felt more motivated to write and demonstrated improved writing skills over time. Why? Because blogging invites connection and forces you to share your thoughts on a very public platform. Of course you can hide your identity, and some do, but I would encourage you to embrace your thoughts and boldly share your voice.
If we recall Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, it emphasizes the role of social interaction and tools in learning. Blogging acts as one of these tools, mediating learning by creating shared spaces for thought, discussion, and growth. Writing isn’t just internal; it becomes part of a larger dialogue. And you are advancing that dialogue - go you!
Writing and reflection shouldn’t just be for students, it should be for every professional who wants to improve and grow. Blogging is a transformational tool that can propel you forward and truly be a way you embrace life-long learning.
To Leave Something for My Kids
About a month ago, I was listening to The Innovator’s Mindset podcast and Couros explained one of the reasons he blogs is to create a legacy for his kids. Blogging shifted from being strictly about education to being more about learning and being a good human.
His words struck a chord with me.
Now that I have three kids, I do think about how they will remember me. When I am retired, old, and eventually not here, what will be left? My blog and writing are ways for me to capture my learning and experiences, maybe helping them down the road when I'm not here.
We do not know how much time we have on this earth and I want to try to pour as much of my learning into a coherent form so that it will live beyond me. Not for myself, but my family.
A Year in Review: My Most Meaningful Posts
Throughout 2024, I wrote 44 different blog posts (not including this one). That was 44 different opportunities for me to learn. And 44 times that I’ve been able to share my learning with my kids. Below, I highlight four posts that carry the most meaning for me. I encourage you to revisit these posts with a new set of eyes as I reveal a few more details behind the why of each post.
My second post ever has been one of the most fun ones to write because it paid homage to my favorite teacher ever, Madame, who had a profound impact on my self-perception and career. Bumping into her at Costco was not happenstance as I took that interaction as inspiration to write and share the wonderful things she did for me and her students.
Filled with emotion, my hope in writing this post was that I would inspire others to embody the qualities that made Madame an incredible educator and human being. 🩷
Last spring was a very challenging time for me as an educator. I was dealing with many situations I had never experienced before. Behaviors were ramping up and I felt utterly alone as the single administrator in my building. During challenging times, I commonly think about the advice and influence of my mentors. Maureen was the best mentor I ever had (I’ll also add she is an incredible friend, mom, and kind human being).
This post was a reminder to me that we derive the most meaning in our lives from our relationships. It is not in what we accomplish, what we physically have, how we look, or any other transient tangible item. Human connection makes life meaningful
One of the biggest blows to my confidence was implementing structured recess. In my attempt to resolve some of the challenges we were having during recess, I pursued an idea presented to me – structured recess.
I researched and passed the idea by teachers, administrators, and support staff. I drafted packets for teachers to review the different activities. And just poured a ton of energy and resources into a pilot of the program. I even remember spending my spring break designing the rollout of this initiative.
But it failed… after a day. I realized very quickly that this was not going to work. And rather than sticking with the failure, I pivoted. After speaking to my coach about the process, she also explained to me I moved too fast and the impact of my decision could have had really bad consequences. Thankfully, my failure was a blip in the radar.
But man oh man, was this a learning experience for me which is why I wrote this post. I wanted to find the glimmer of hope and capture my learning and my ability to fail forward.
After a year as principal, I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on my learning. And yes, I used my blog posts to assist with my writing. I had a curated collection of learning and drew from that.
Looking back, my coach and my blog were integral to my growth last year. This post captures my key learnings which I hope benefit others who are going into their first year as a building administrator.
Being a principal is tough. I don’t think people necessarily realize it until they are living it. But while it is an extremely challenging job, it is also one of the most rewarding - for those moments when you see the impact you have on others.
One Last Thought
Reflecting on this past year, I am so glad I captured my key learnings along the way. My failures, my dreams, my hopes, my wins. Everything has been forever captured online (as long as I keep paying for my URL 😜).
As I look forward to 2025, I will continue to blog. And eventually, who knows where that will take me on my journey. Maybe it will lead to a book. Or maybe it will just be a permanent record of my voice. Either way, I’m learning and leaving something for my kids, and those two items alone make blogging a win.
References
Colorado State University. (n.d.). What benefits might reflective writing have for my students? Retrieved from https://wac.colostate.edu/repository/teaching/intro/reflect
Fisher Digital Publications. (2013). What are the benefits of blogging in the elementary classroom? Retrieved from https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057&context=education_ETD_masters
University of Minnesota. (n.d.). Using reflective writing to deepen student learning. Retrieved from https://wac.umn.edu/tww-program/teaching-resources/using-reflective-writing
I have enjoyed your posts and can't wait until all of these turn into your book! Keep up the great work😀