Blogging for Art EducatorsJessica Balsley, The Art of Education

www.theartofed.com

What are blogs?

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Blogs Are the “Classroom Website!” of today

5 Reasons to Start a blog instead of a website!

1. Blogs are Free- Often times I see people pay someone big bucks to “design them a web page,” which results in a boring website with their contact information and a few photos. Don’t hire out, especially when you are a teacher and budgets are tight.  You can do this yourself. The options, themes, and pre-done design templates that blogs offer will be sufficient for your classroom uses. There are a million ways to easily customize your blog to fit your audience.

2. Blogs Are Current- You can update a blog with as little or as much information as you want, as often as you’d like. You can keep families in your school updated on what is going on. Say goodbye to newsletters, expensive printing costs to send weekly letters home, or pamphlets that just get thrown away. You can put all of this information on your blog.

3. Blogs do Everything that Websites Do- and more….. Blogs can have static pages (that do not change) with your contact information, concert schedule, class supply list, etc. Theses are called “Pages” at the top of a blog. The only thing that changes on a blog is the “Blog” portion of the website. This is great because you get a double whammy- both a blog and a website!

4. Blogs Help you Go Where the Parents Are- If you are going use a blog to advocate for your program, you need to reach parents in order for it to work. You can link blogs to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc, places where parents are already visiting anyway!

5. Blogs are Fun! - Isn’t it annoying to visit a website and nothing had changed for 6 months? This is not the type of website that excites parents, students and the community. People want to visit a site and learn something new. A blog can provide an exciting place to share and update content with ease, keeping everyone interested and coming back for more!

Who to follow?The Top 10 Art Ed Blogs of the Year!

So many blogs, so little time! Follow 100 Art Ed Blogs and Stay Sane with Google Reader

“When teachers participate in traditional staff development their attendance does not ensure

their learning.  What they learn may not be meaningfully applied in their classroom practice”

(Scanlon, Gallego, Duran, Reyes, 2005).

“….current work suggest arts teachers should be given the opportunities to participate in learning experiences that address specific arts-centered

issues” (Lind, 2007, p.3). 

“The teachers truly treasured the opportunity to collaborate with other teachers in the same

discipline.  The arts teachers had a shared set of ideas and a vocabulary that allowed them to

understand one

Why I started a blog....Now an Online Magazine..

to empower the art teachers of today Did you hear Newsweek going out of print after 80 years?

Before you blog... Discover YOUR why!

People don’t buy what you do... they buy WHY you do it...

-Simon Sinek

Starting Your own Blog...

What is the purpose of your blog?What will you provide to readers? Who is your audience? How will your blog help you become a better educator?

The Basic Components of a blog

Changing Content

Static Pages

side bar

Creating a post: If you can email, you can blog!

Blog Extras.... Tags, Stats and More!

The 10 Keys to GROWing your Blog

1. Comment on and view other blogs2. Feature and refer to other blogs on your site3. Share your link with parents, teachers, by sending home business cards or label stickers in planners.4. Put your blog in your email signature and newsletter5. Add yourself to blog directories 6. Generate good content (The MOST Important!) 7. Put Out Consistent Posts 8. Don’t stray from your WHY- Be yourself and be patient9. Title Your Posts Correctly 10. Don’t be afraid to have an opinion!....

BLogging is a Magnifying glass....

Making Time for blogging

Pre-Schedule PostsMake a goal for yourself for x amount of posts per week

Post about what you are feeling right now or what you are interested in right now

Make it fun not a choreShort posts are ok!

questions, comments?

Jessica Balsley

www.theartofed.comtheartofed@gmail.com

@theartofed515-508-1609

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