The week of exams is painful. Literally painful. Maybe not for everyone--goodness, I hope not for everyone! It just brings back past memories of failure, especially for me. I'm really good at giving up during the last few weeks of college. In fact, I have spent the last two years doing it repeatedly.
Before this turns into a blog about me, I should stop myself. I already have a blog for that. Actually, that is exactly the point I want to tell you about. Blogging. I hope I haven't written about it yet, but even if I have, this time, I don't want to talk about school related things. Kind of- but not really.
As a future English teacher, I just want to encourage people, especially young people to write. What better way to do that tan through a blog! Even if you can allow the students to journal through their blog, it is teaching them to get their thoughts and feelings out! Take it from someone who has bottled things up far too many times. Getting things off of one's chest can be a huge blessing. HUGE.
So encourage kids to blog or journal--or even just write ANYTHING outside of class. Give them extra credit if the curriculum doesn't have space for it. Not only does it allow the student to get things off of their chest, but it gives you a window that otherwise would not be there. Remember how that student came in tired? Or how that student was crying during class? Or why that paper never got turned in? Blogging can truly be a light into a place you could have never imagined. What better way to connect with your students than at their level?!
