Thing 4

Sharing thoughts helps us to understand a little more about each other and about the world in general. I feel like we take for granted all of the opportunities we have to encourage our peers. Commenting on a blog is such an easy way to give someone the boost they need to keep up the good work. Once we start to share with our classmates, we will not only learn about them, but start to form a bond. As said in one of the articles, you start to become a part of the life of the blogger you are reading.
I think the most important thing a person can do when leaving a comment is to make it worthwhile. In the readings, it talked about how much of an impact a comment can have when it's done properly. I guess the best way to do this is to elaborate! Don't just write a few words, say what's on your mind. That's the whole point of this project.
I think if my comments are going to make a difference, then I have to choose to post on something that catches my attention or draws me in. That's how I chose the five blogs to comment on throughout the semester. Something in each of these made me stop and think for a moment. I chose, Nicole Lee, Amy Bunch, Tracie Cannon, Alice Everett, and Darlena Gary. All of these bloggers seem to be very motivated. I found out that Tracie is also an English major and she had some wonderful ideas about using blogs for journaling. It's nice to share ideas with others, especially those who will be working in the same field as you. Amy's post on image generators gave me some incentive on making classrooms signs. Darlena is also a middle school language arts major. I think we'll have a lot in common and hopefully can continue to share ideas throughout the semester. Nicole's blog is fun to read and I think it's important to enjoy what you are commenting on. Alice shared some neat ideas on her blog about creating a book online for students. I can't wait to keep up with everyone's posts and learn more about them as we go along.
As far as the two other blogs, I chose one from Blog Spot called Single Parent Dad.
There are a couple of reasons why I chose this particular one. For starters, it was one of the blogs to watch. I also think that it's important that as teachers we realize that many of our students will come from single-parent homes. There are many challenges that come with that. Also, my husband is in the Army and will be leaving for his second deployment soon. I know what it's like in a sense, to be a single parent. When he is gone, that role is inherently mine. I think this blog shows the ups and downs of parenthood with a sense of humor to go along with it.
The other blog I chose is called The Page Flipper. This blog is dedicated to young adult books. The blogger, Chelsea Swiggett, writes reviews on a variety of teen books. For me, this is perfect! I love to read, especially young adult books. Also, I think its crucial that as a middle childhood major, I stay current on books in which my students would be interested. To me, reading is an essential part of the learning process. The more I know, the better chance I have to reach out to my students and find a topic that truly interests them.