Throwing my hat into the ring

Last August I took a class on technology in the classroom as part of my teacher training. I read Will Richardson's Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Tools for Classrooms and a chapter at a time I began to realize the potential of social networking for me as a new teacher and for students as a forum for learning.

My most wonderful discovery, however, is that math teachers are blogging about achievements and frustrations in their classrooms. People around the country and world are sharing lesson plans and assessment ideas and how-to-use-this-cool-tool-in-the-classroom and I-sang-a-song-to-teach-order-of-operations and much more.

This has been great for a newbie like me for a few reasons. First of all, because I get glimpses of classrooms all over and I see the common struggles. Knowing that other teachers have some of the same questions I have about teaching makes this huge job seem less intimidating. The best part, though, is that I can be inspired by teachers enjoying their students learning. Whenever I have a hard day (and as a student teacher, there have been many of these) I can look into the blogosphere, read someone's shared success, and get a smile on my face.

So, I see it as only fitting that my first effort of blogging be to introduce my MathEduBlog bundle (thanks to Shelly Terrell for the webcast on how to do this!). These aren't all the great blogs out there, but these are a few bloggers who have helped me find courage and spirit those nights when I'm just not feeling up to the job.

Thanks to them. I hope you enjoy them, too.