I'm blogging because...

I'm blogging because... posted January 28 2011, 7:29 AM  by anna koval

I'm blogging because Stephen Krashen told me to. I met Dr. Krashen for coffee after work yesterday, and after talking about the Beatles, Bill Gates, and the epic battle we are in to save the soul of public education in America, he told me to write more -- privately and publicly and not just in professional journals.   

I'm also blogging because when I stopped tweeting for a while professionally and personally, honestly, I felt sort of lonely. Don't get me wrong, I didn't have oodles of online friends and followers, and very few of those I had ever @replied to me, but still, just being able to tell someone, anyone what was on my mind was helpful. 

Lastly, I'm blogging because, well, why not? My friend Sarah Ludwig's "Write about it in your diary" post pretty much captures concerns I share with her about blogging. Why me? Why now? Why online where the whole world can read it? And why even bother when countless others will say it first and say it better? Why? Well, why not?! I'm not trying to expand my brand, I'm trying to differentiate my discourse. Not everything I want to write belongs on BigHouseLibrary.com.

I'm not sure yet what I'll be blogging about. Maybe I'll blog about how school libraries are disappearing although we know that school libraries help all students succeed. Maybe I'll blog about the "state of emergency" in California's schools. Or maybe I'll blog to hone my own vision of education reform. 

I'm blogging, and I'm capitalizing, but I make no commitments about emoticons. :) 

1276 views and 8 responses

• Jan 28 2011, 7:46 AM
  Mary Peoples responded:
  You are a fabulous writer, Anna!
  
• Jan 28 2011, 7:51 AM
  anna koval responded:
  thanks, mom! :)
  
• Jan 28 2011, 9:31 AM
  Mary Ann responded:
  Welcome back. What?!? Capitals?!? I tease. But I would think if there was any place to highlight your distinct style it would be on a blog. It is funny how I use social media in terms of differentiating my discourse. My identity isn't always the same personally and professionally, and I think audience matters. I use blogging to think, to some extent. And since I took a professional turn that thinking looks different. When I was working at the high school I used twitter to vent. I don't anymore but sometimes you want to say things anonymously just to get it off your chest. Anyways - good luck with the blog.
  
• Jan 28 2011, 4:31 PM
  anna koval responded:
  thanks mary ann. :) maybe i'll not capitalize in the comments?? for old times' sake. :) you know, i get more flack for that -- for not freaking capitalizing -- than for any crazy thing i say, it seems. my principal, my peers, even my dad doesn't get it... it's just expedient, and perhaps, as you point out, distinctive. i hope that what i have to say will be that way, too -- distinctive. :) it's validating to hear that you also change up what you have to say and how you say it depending on who's listening. i'm not sure who (if anyone) will be listening to this, but even if it's just me, thinking out loud, i think it will be worthwhile. so far, it already is. :)
  
• Jan 29 2011, 7:19 AM
  Donna Reed responded:
  ....for whatever reason it is, I am glad that you are blogging. You have a voice, great ideas, and insight into this whole educational "thing" that we are a part of...keep writing! p.s. uber jealous about the Stephen Krashen coffee...
  
• Jan 30 2011, 11:08 AM
  anna koval responded:
  thanks lots, donna! :)
  
• Feb 10 2011, 3:43 AM
  Joshua Parker responded:
  @Anna, welcome to the blogosphere
  
• Feb 25 2011, 9:57 PM
  jcerni (Twitter) liked this post.