Miss Barnes's Teaching Journey

  image credit: free image        I have learned so much about the importance of professional learning networks, some of the key aspects include the access to so much knowledge, sharing of ideas and lessons, activities and many more. Not only does this provide opportunities to learn and share but it creates an environment and communities between teachers with similar and differing perspectives to connect and discuss amongst each other. Having these connections can lead to multiple job opportunities in the future as well as sources to retrieve valuable information from.  Although professional learning networks have many positives to them, with anything there are always some downsides. Some downsides I can think of involving having a professional online identity as a teacher is: negative comments being posted on the page, it can also lead to negative comparisons. Whether that be judging yourself based on what others are posting and doing or judging others ...

     Before being introduced to blogging especially for teachers I never put much thought into it. I feel that blogging for teachers is an important aspect for not only new and learning teachers but for seasoned teachers as well. Sharing new information and knowledge on different activities and strategies can be useful for all at any stage of their teaching careers.       After reading several articles, I have been able to create a better understanding and viewpoint on blogging as a teacher as well as a student. In George Couros’ article “4 Reasons People Don’t Blog and Ideas to Help Change Their Mind”  he discusses the importance of blogging as well as provides a solution and reason to why blogging is useful while examining the excuses made about why people do not blog. Couros describes four reasons why people do not blog, facing these opposing arguments head on. Couros disproves them instantly with his knowledge on blogging and how it should be ...

      Throughout my research of a variety of education bloggers, I have learned that these blogs are incredibly helpful to other educators as well as student teachers. They provide others with an extensive amount of knowledge and new ideas to be used in the classroom, truly showing us how important sharing is.  Education bloggers allow a space for others to review and gain new ideas for lessons, activities, and concerns for in the classroom, schools, and with students. Allowing teachers as collective to form a community as well as better themselves and their schools.     One of the blogs that stood out to me was Discovering the Power of Neurodiversity  "Embarking on a Learning Safari with Mark Stoddart" talking about the importance of recognizing and not only that, but understanding the different ways students minds work and think. Using himself as a personal example, as he notes that he is someone who lives with Dyslexia. He has written a book called...