Learning How to Blog

Please bear with me as I learn the ins and outs of this whole blog-thingy!
I feel compelled to share My Great Success #1: I think I posted a comment on another blog as me, on this blog.  I think.
My next learning is how to insert a picture - I think I can do this one - we'll know in a minute.....

My husband, John, and I hanging out in Oak Creek Canyon

Wahoo!  It worked!  That's me - on vacation in Sedona, Arizona.  A quick plug for my state: if you've never been here you should come visit. To those who don't live here it is a real surprise: we have far more than just dry, dusty desert. The red rocks of Sedona alone, are worth the trip.  And nearby Oak Creek Canyon is the most peaceful, beautiful, lush drive you can imagine.  Rand McNally named it one of the top 8 drives in our wonderful, diverse country.  Okay, I'm done now!
Check another item of learning off my list: I can now add pictures directly from my computer to my blog! My Great Success #2.
As you can see, I am taking another page out of what I try to instill in my students - celebrate all successes - no mater how large or small.  We all can learn and grow in some area - and any learning is a good thing!
Later, I might just try to add a link.  Or a button.  Who knows - at this point adding anything will be a great success!

Today I Begin

Today I begin a blog!    

I am both excited and a bit nervous.  Far more excited, than nervous - but the technology of all this is totally new to me.  I don't know how to change my blog design beyond the already prepared templates that are provided here.  That's one of my first new learning objectives - because I want a cute blog too!  I have to figure out how to -  I started to list here what I need to learn, but that's just depressing; it's so, so much.

As for the excited part - I "discovered" teaching blogs last spring, and have spent the summer stalking as many as I could find.  I don't know how I missed this for so long!  Yes, really I do.  I've read, been directed too, looked at blogs (not teaching blogs!) and thought, "Eh."  I never saw the joy, excitement, FUN that others saw.  And I am a voracious reader.  Really, I read all the time.  Probably to the detriment of my health - I should get up and exercise more.  My mother tells everyone about how I would read the cereal boxes every morning at the breakfast table.  I even remember the first word I learned to read, "Texaco."  Really.  It's true.  We were driving across country to visit family one summer, and at every town we saw the same sign.  I learned to read and spell that single word on that trip.  I was a proud little bug!  My point is that I will read just about anything.  But with all there is to read in the world (I should spend a little more time with the news....) I never became connected to a blog; until last spring when I "discovered" teaching blogs!

So I begin.  I am clearly a newbie, a learner, but I teach my students that they need to take risks in their learning and be willing to make mistakes.  I am embracing that truth here.  So I begin with the knowledge that I, too, am a learner who must make mistakes and blunders.  And through it all I will grow.