I am a blog wallflower. There, I've said it! It is hard to admit that nobody out there loves you. I have been blogging for a few weeks now, and I have had one...ONE!...comment back. I am just a raving lunaTIC looking for link love. How does a girl find it?
Well, it might be easier if I would actually tell people about my blog. However, I am a timid soul. That seems like an oxymoron coming from a person whose job it is to teach. However, I have been taking my blogging cues from such greats as CoolCatTeacher and Angela Maiers. I feel like I need YEARS of practice before stepping away from the bleachers and into the bright lights of the streamer and balloon decorated gym so that others can actually see that I am here.
I am going to start by taking the plunge and sending my blog link to the teachers in my school. Hey, might as well start out by having everyone laugh at you as you walk down the hall, right? If I can survive that, or if at least one person says that they read something worthwhile, then I will trudge forward, continue linking and hope for the dreamy guy to finally ask me to dance so I will no longer feel dangerously irrelevant.
Color in Motion
Color in Motion is an animated and interactive experience of color communication and color symbolism. Set as a casting stage, the colors of the color wheel are introduced and each color's personality is described. Great for an introduction to color!
Light in Color
Light in Color is an interactive lesson that teaches about mixing colors, colors and shadows, and the color spectrum. Brought to you by The Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Project
Marcia-
ReplyDeleteI will dance with you! I completely understand how you feel. I have been blogging for exactly one year, and still do not have comments everyday. Just do not lose faith-keep your messages and posts coming.
What I have learned in this very short year is that I have wonderful readers-even though they do not comment everyday-they come back.
If you stay true to message and speak of your passion for kids and teaching-you will build readership.
Just keep dancing, friend-the blogosphere is a wonderful place!!
May I have the next dance?
ReplyDeleteYour linking out and commenting elsewhere shows your ability to connect with the music of the conversphere:-)
A blog posting mantra of mine -- at least one (relevant) link out in every post.
Keep on dancin'!
Marcia, welcome to the blogosphere ball!
ReplyDeleteTrust me, we've all had those feelings of "Is anyone reading me?," particularly at the beginning. As Mike said over at his post, perseverance is the key to success. Link often to others; that will bring them over your way. Comment often on others; that works great too. And, most of all, have fun and blog from the heart. If you allow your unique voice to come out, it will resonate with others and your conversation group will grow...
[And don't let my online letter to my buddy, Jon Becker, scare you off. If you're patient (and a little smart), folks will come...]
Marcia -
ReplyDeleteYour analogy is perfect. I sometimes feel like Sienfeld's Elane at a dance... Often writhing in ecstatic motion and then looking around and feeling as if Newman just kissed my date...
Enough with the trappings of Jerry Sienfeld.
You're making a difference - documenting and educating. Just watch the traffic explode from this and enjoy the dance.
Keep Cooking!
Andrew B. Clark
The Brand Chef
Sorry I haven't commented sooner - Technorati has been on the fritz for about 2 weeks, so I haven't been able to find my backlinks! (Sorry)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you're jumping in here. JUst remember that the reason we blog begins that we want to share -- I often think back to the days I had 7 readers -- 7 -- I had seven readers for 3-4 months.
So many people start blogging and don't see it through and it takes time to show continuity and that you're going to stick it out and also for people to "get to know" you.
And just remember, most of us feel "out of it." I feel out of it all the time. We're all so independent and working in our classrooms that although we all cross paths sometimes, it isn't enough to make us feel connected sometimes.
So, welcome to the edublogging club, there is lots of room and you've made a great start! I hope you start better than I did -- living for comments and upset if they didn't happen is part of it.
I think this technorati thing has messed up the links for many and there are a lOT of readers who just don't comment.
Also, think of installing something like statcounter to count your traffic - I've found it is the best one -- that also helps when you see the countries that come hopping on by.
Good luck! Thank you for the kind mention!
Thanks to all of the wonderful experienced bloggers who commented on my wallflower post. I feel encouraged now to continue in my blogging quest. I got a bit of advice from each comment that I will definitely take to heart!
ReplyDeleteMe too! And more than that, I'm still not completely comfortable with blogging around educational issues or concepts.....because, let's face it, someone might disagree with me or judge me or maybe what I'm saying is wrong or perhaps I might offend someone or blah blah blah. I'm thinking this is normal--part of the discomfort that comes with such a high degree of transparency, you know? Or, it's just further evidence of my neurosis. Whatever. I'm hoping I adjust and that I have more than 7 readers myself after a year. Thank you for the link love! I've added you to my reader! See you on Twitter!
ReplyDeleteAngela...
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about a level of transparency that comes along with blogging. When I tell stories from my school, I always get permission from the teachers. But I have had conversations with my administrators about transparency...do we really want to be talking about the questions we are asking and learning in process...? I think it is worth it... a growing process perhaps, but like Marcia's analogy, if you never go to that first awkward dance....you'll NEVER get off the bleachers ;-)
Marcia, I so understand your feelings. I started a blog http://tinyurl.com/4pegkz about a year ago, and just recently got more "into" it after reading and posting to other blogs. This Fall I added the url to by blog and my protopage http://tinyurl.com/5347m8in my email signature. I also periodically send emails to my buildings with a reference and link to something I've posted and why I think they may be interested. People from buildings I don't even service have either emailed or commented to me about something someone else shared with them. Props also to all the other comments on this post--I gained insight from them, as well!
ReplyDelete