To blog or not to blog, that is the question

As mentioned in my previous post, I love to read blogs. That doesn't mean I can have my own though, does it?

Obviously I have decided to do it - otherwise I wouldn't be here. What I have to offer though, I am not quite sure. 

When I read other blogs, I love the sense of community. The feeling of like-minded people coming together to share, support and discuss with people that they have never met. I feel like I know some of the regular 'commenters' on other blogs as well as I do my friends, it has opened up a world that I didn't even know existed and has helped me out way beyond what I could ever have imagined. 

I discovered blogs when I first got engaged and purchased my first wedding magazine. In between all the dross and over-priced wedding garb was an article about the best wedding blogs, this led me to Any Other Wedding, which is now www.anyotherwoman.com the three women behind this have created a community that is just fantastic, I read everyday and am always enthralled by the discussion that they provoke. 

It wasn't until I started attending conferences for my teacher training that I started to realise the impact that blogging could have on my teacher training. All the speakers advertised their Twitter details as well as their blogs. From my first conference I discovered the fantastic Bill Lord at http://lordlit.com and Kevin McLaughlin http://ictsteps.com These two blogs started my fascination with them and now I follow a whole host of education people that have forgotten more than I know and give me ideas and inspiration every day. Have a look at people who I follow on Twitter for more ideas. I am @LaceandLevels. 

So, I guess what I am trying to say, is that I hope I can go some way to creating a community for people who are interested in the same things as me. I am excited to have my own little platform and hope that I can do it justice. 

C

P.S for a highly un-PC but hilarious take on teaching follow @crapteacher and read his blog - just be prepared to take with a pinch of salt. 

Get yourself comfy and wave hello

Hello there,

I am an avid reader of blogs. I love to lose myself in the hundreds that are out there. I find them interesting, thought provoking and useful. I can't promise that my blog will be any of these things but I can promise that it will be honest, warm and hopefully something that many can identify with.Welcome!

Now, if I invited you into my home I'd get you a brew, ask you to make yourself comfy and then, most probably, talk for England. So there is your e-brew, sit on the sofa and try not to nod off...

I am a newly engaged, trainee teacher. This wasn't quite the plan - I never wanted to teach. I have worked in schools with pupils of varying special needs for the last three years and I was always happy being the support, but then something just clicked. I applied, got accepted and then fast tracked and then there was a surprise trip to New York, a Times Square proposal and hey presto! This time next year I'll be qualified, but still a year away from my wedding. It has been deliberately planned this way - I know me. I know that if I am faced with an assignment or a seating plan I will pick the wedding stuff every time. In order to ensure that I could give my all to my GTP the wedding was put on the back-burner, but that doesn't mean that it's not still on my mind most of the time.

Giving my all seems to be like the right choice because this thing is taking over my life and I am loving every minute of it. I am soaking it all in and trying to hold on to this positive feeling for when I am weeping into my lesson plans. It's stressful, but it's exciting to be learning again.

There are so many amazing education blogs that I read regularly and they have been so useful to find and explore. I'm a little nervous about any one of them stumbling across mine as I feel slightly inferior in the blogosphere at the moment. Bear with me. I also follow a few other blogs written by incredible, intelligent women who eloquently express their thoughts and provoke discussions that have really made me re-evaluate some of the things that I do - I am equally nervous about any of these blogging queens reading my babble!

I am musing over in my head about how the two topics of weddings and teaching are going to gel and combine to make sense. The answer, I'm sure, is that they won't. I make no apologies for this, so be warned!

I'd love to hear from anyone else doing their GTP (Graduate Teaching Programme) or anyone that is engaged, so metaphorically wave hello by leaving me a comment. In fact, I would love to hear from anyone who happens to stumble across Lace and Levels. I love reading the comments on other blogs and feel that they add a new dimension to the bloggers thoughts, so comment away!

Until next time.

C