New Adventures!

Observing, learning and teaching in a middle school setting are exactly what the name of this blog and this title suggest - new adventures! As is writing this blog. I have always toyed with the idea of creating a blog and now I have begun to explore the realm of possibility that blogs provide. Upon browsing blogs from various bloggers I decided what I want my blog to be. I want my blog to be a place of self-discovery, an avenue for opening conversations and a whirlwind of thoughts, ideas and discoveries I make in the classroom and in the world around me.

That being said, there are several things that intrigued me when I stumbled upon some blogs and saved me from the boredom I felt while reading others. These are things that I will try to incorporate into my future posts. They include such things as:

• the title - first, naturally. Titles should set the reader up for what they will read/be significant to the text.
• images... are inviting and visually support the text. They break up the story and offer the reader further information.
• stories! When the writer of the post brings me to a ceratin place in time, introduces me to the subject of their post or takes my hand and guides me to the place that his or her heart is at, I am immediately grateful and pleased. How much more fun it is to be involved in your reading!
• reflective questions. I plan on using this blog to hold myself accountable for the questions formed through this experience. I will pose my questions and try my best to answer them, whether it be through research or personal reflection. My questions will be archived so I have no excuse to let them slip away.
• thoughts and ideas...are a great avenue for opening up converstaions. So often I have had a thought or an idea and I think "there must be someone else who thinks this way too." Now the conversations will begin!
• updates, news and discoveries...I fully anticipate running into things where I think "Oh my goodness, this is exciting/tragic/confusing/awesome/inspiring...", and I fully anticipate on sharing them with my readers.
• harboring an open mind...I know I will have opinions that could open up avenues for debate. I hope to voice my opinions in such a way that does not close off my mind to other possibilities; that being said, I have no problem supporting my opinion and standing up firmly for what I believe.

Writing this post, my first as an official "blogger" (what a funny word), makes me excited for the experiences to come. They will be new, exciting, challenging, humorous, and probably often times frustrating, but I am looking forward to drinking them all in and taking all that I can from them. I hope that my passion for reading, writing and teaching remains strong in my heart and that each day I willingly and intentionally embark on the adventures in store and waiting for me.