If you are reading this, then it’s a damn miracle because there are billions of people in the world, and about 2.5 of them actually read my blog (that’s actually 2 1/2 people, not like 2.5 million or anything). I mean, hey, I think I’m pretty funny, and I have a lot to offer other teachers in the way of experience and expertise. I can come up with an English lesson for grades 6 to 12 on the fly like nobody’s business. Classroom management? Nailed it. Need help with your data disaggregation? Bring that mess over here. Having trouble with NJHS? StuCo? Cheerleaders? Technology? Yep, been there too.
Anchor charts. Symbolism. YA Authors. Grammar games and resources. Hero’s journey. Annotation. Reference folder. 11 minute essays. I’ve blogged about them all and gotten zero feedback. Basically I’m a walking encyclopedia of educational know-how spanning from 1999 to now. Someone should be taking advantage of all this stuff in my brain besides me, right?
Not a teacher? How about parenting advice? Bring it! I have two teenage daughters, and I’m still alive, so I’m obviously some sort of teenager whisperer or savant of some kind (although that might also be because I’ve taught middle and high school for 20 years).
Don’t have kids yet? What about marriage advice? No problem! I’ve been married for 21 years, so I guess that qualifies me as a professional at that too. Ladies, need to know how to get your guy to fix that fence that’s been leaning since God was a child? I’ve got this. Fellas, need some gift ideas to get you out of the doghouse? Hit me up for some great advice.
Are y’all feeling what I’m trying to tell you? I am frustrated with this whole thing. I’m trying to do everything at once, so nothing is getting 100%. Plus, why would I want to keep blogging when NO ONE reads it anyway? Okay, there was that one time I said nice things about my co-workers and they commented and stuff. Yeah, I sent a mass email with the link. So what? Still counts as readers. I even have a few brave souls who follow me. And I’m so grateful. Those followers (and my own need to talk about myself), are the only reason I still sit at this computer and pour myself on to the page, or screen. Whatever. The point is that I’m driven to share and collaborate with other educators, but I haven’t found an outlet for that desire that works for me.
When I go on Pinterest to try to get help with my side hustle, everyone wants money for stuff. Want your own website address? $300. Need an emailing service? That’ll be $12.50 a month. BUT we want you to pay off the next 17 years and 3 months in advance, so that’ll be $9,528 plus tax. Um…if I had that kind of coin, I wouldn’t need to write a blog so that people would check out my TPT store. Want us to host your blog? Do you even know what that means? No? We didn’t think so, but you need it, so we’re going to charge you the blood of your first born child and the naming rights to your next dog. Facebook ads, Instagram promotions, TPT marketing…the list of ways to drain your bank account to get yourself seen is endless.
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, blah, blah, blah… I understand now why so many of my students are depressed about social media. I didn’t get any likes either!!! How do these people keep up with it all? I’m going to assume that they were all already independently wealthy and, therefore, able to pay for those web-whatevers with no problem. It’s surely not because their blog is better or that they are funnier than me.
I think it would be great to get some feedback from my readers. What do you want to read? What do you need help with? What do you think is funny (besides me)? Do you have a lesson or novel that needs tweaking? Hit me up and let me help. I would be thrilled to be your go-to person for all things English! I also have a pretty cool TPT store that you can check out for more ideas.
I read it!
That’s because you ROCK. 🙂
Yeah, it’s hard. When I started my first blog 6 years ago, it took 6 months before I got any traction at all. Then I lost access to it, so I had to start over. What I found is that the more you get involved with other people’s blogs, the more they will with yours. The advice is to keep blogging, regardless of how many people you have following and eventually people will follow. It is a hard road, but if you love writing, it makes it all worth it.
Thanks for the advice! I’m glad I’m not just yelling into the void. 🙂
Yeah, good luck to you. I’m just beginning my journey back to relevance myself. Just keep working at it, and you will get there.
Yeah, it can be frustrating at first. I remember when I started my first blog 6 years ago I didn’t get anything but friends and family for the first six months. My suggestion is to get involved with other blogs and WordPress. Take at least 15 minutes a day to comment, like and share posts you are interested in. This starts a conversation, and a lot of times people follow back. Then you start getting regulars and building a page that people want to follow. Also post regularly, so people have something to look forward to each day, week, month.
Will do! I always say I’m going to peruse some of the blogs I see on my feed, but then, well, life. 15 minutes a day is a nice number to start with. I really appreciate the encouragement!
Yeah, good luck. Keep perusing!
I see and hear you! I love reading your blog. You’re open, honest and have a passion for sharing your knowledge on teaching. Blogs are a very peculiar entity of themselves. I have friends who are doctors, lawyers, nurses, professors, photographers, chefs and artist who have grown frustrated with the reach of their blogs. I wish their was some magical formula and you would have lots and lots of followers but I can only recommend perseverance and patience.
Thank you so much! I’m just happy to be hearing from some of the people that read it. I’ve definitely been encouraged to keep going by all the comments today. I really appreciate the feedback!!