This blog has been a long time in the making.
Granted, mostly in my head. Like most educators and moms of young children, I have plenty of important priorities to point to and say, “I’m too busy”. Despite this, ideas like the concept, the title, and images had been chiseling away at the back of my conscientiousness for months, even before creating a WordPress site in which they could be housed.
Hello. My name is Erica Speaks, and I am a perfectionist.
I think you should know that about me right off the bat. In fact, my husband looks at this blog endeavor dubiously. Not because he thinks I’m not a great writer, but that he knows I absolutely agonize over details, especially when I’m writing.
So, it looked like this blog was going to be an idea that I toyed with but never came to fruition. You know, like building a roadster from scratch or backpacking across Europe.
However, I came across the following quote:
“If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.”
~ Ivan Turgenev
and decided to jump in with both feet and hit “Publish”.
As with all new beginnings, I am saying, “Goodbye,” to several things.
Like all educators this time of year, I said, “Goodbye,” to a group of students. I try to take what I’ve learned each time and get ready to begin anew with fresh challenges and perspective. My year-round school’s calendar starts in July, and hopefully some of it will be blog-worthy.
Also, I have worked diligently over the past ten years “perfecting” lessons from my state’s Standard Course of Study that I will say, “Goodbye,” to in favor of the Common Core alignment coming this school year. I am very fortunate to have been granted a Kenan Fellowship with which I can start this new process. I am certain some of that will be blog-worthy.
The start of this blog also marks one other, “Goodbye.” I had become very comfortable with my arrangement of having a colleague use some of my writings as guest posts on his own professional blog. Changes have me saying, “Goodbye,” to that safety net, as well.
So, as I anticipate the drive out of my comfort zone on many fronts, I take a long look in the rear view mirror at where I’ve been. I ponder a moment at how I’ve arrived here. It has not been perfect, and I recognize a difficult new stretch of road lies ahead in my journey.
But I’m ready to begin driving forward.
Teaching Speaks Volumes 
I’m a newbie too and hitting “publish” has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. Welcome! I’m looking forward to learning from you – especially about the Common Core.
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Best of luck to you with all of your new endeavors. Leaving our comfort zone is both dreadful and exhilarating and it takes a lot of courage, but in the end it is always worth it. Peace=)
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Drive on, Erica.
The writing takes time, that’s for sure — but the return on the investment is MORE than worth it.
You’ll polish your own thinking and your own practice with every new post. Not only will you refine and revise because you’re systematically reflecting, but you’ll get feedback from audiences that will help you to learn more.
Be consistent, though. Set a goal — one post a week, one post every two weeks — and stick to it. Find a time to put writing on your personal and/or professional calendar.
If it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes,
Bill
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Thanks, Bill!
I’ve already been blown away by the feedback from people here and via Twitter & email. People are very encouraging and supportive, even more than I’d thought possible! And I am taking your advice and this moment to “publicly” state my goal of publishing once a week; most likely Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Only time will tell, but I’m encouraged…
Erica 🙂
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I felt exactly the same way when I started blogging! But I have to say the posts were fairly exploding from my keyboard, sometimes it felt like someone else was writing them….good luck!
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Thanks Carrie!
I’ve been honestly amazed and humbled by the positive response both here and on Twitter. I joined Twitter in January and it too was new, but it’s also been the best professional development in my twelve years of teaching. I am sure I will soon feel the same way about professional blogging as well. Thanks so much for the encouragement!
~ Erica
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“The beginning is the most important part of the work” ~ Plato Congratulations on a beautiful beginning, Erica!!!
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Erica,
I’ve been engaging with you on twitter for a while now, so it is with the greatest enthusiasm that I say welcome to blogging! I haven’t been at it long myself either. I keep a teaching reflection blog, and I was just asked to be an IC to a blog on a new site for Texas Principals. It can be scary leaving safety nets behind, but I can tell from your introductory post hat you will have no problem navigating the blogging waters. I look forward to learning with you.
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