Personal blog challenge [Site]

I'm trying to find ways to build my blog. One idea I've read about are "blog challenges", most frequently the "30 Day Blog Challenge." I want the entries on this blog to be meaningful, so I'm not going to subject you to forced ramblings every day for a month. What I've come up with is my own personal blog challenge.

I am challenging myself to create posts in three categories (labels to look for are bolded):

1. Geeky post. I will find a way to relate whatever nerdy tech idea I write about to the classroom. That's part of the challenge.
2. My classroom post. I'm going to put out there what I'm doing in my classroom. Use it, change it, critique it, challenge it, share it, ... verb it.
   
3. TAG post. A post about what is up in the world of TAG, G/T, ELP, whatever we're calling it today. A post about what I've been reading about, discussing with colleagues, or hearing about in professional development.

So that's my challenge to me. Any other ideas? Want something different? Let me know in the comments.

Welcome! [Site]

Hello! My name is Russ Goerend. Welcome to the life of a first-year TAG teacher. My life is all shiny and new for the time being. I'm hoping that feeling lasts for a long time. Dull and old just doesn't have the same ring to it.

I've been meaning to blog about my experiences as a teacher since I became aware of blogs a few years ago. I tried a blog about my "regular life", but I still have trouble with where to draw the line of personal space. Does "the Internet" care where I went to eat last night? Probably not. What if I add a review to make a connection with readers? That could help. What I've realized is that a readable, worthwhile blog isn't about the writer's mundane life. A blog worth subscribing to is a springboard: to conversation, reflection, and growth.

I've got a few goals for this project:

• Communicate with colleagues in our field as well as those interested in the growth of our children
• Weigh my personal decisions and abilities as an educator with my short- and long-term goals
• Gather resources to share with the education community