Consider This: Your Modern Guide to being a Teacher Blogger

So you want to be a teacher blogger….GO FOR IT!

Maybe you have seen something that sparked your interest and thought you might share. Educators need all the inspiration we can get. There is always room at the table! It can be so intimidating but so rewarding. Sharing/collaborating is so essential and this is another way to branch out and share your worth with others.

My own journey starts out of sharing. Sharing with others more than just my district (who were receptive) but the connections you can make are much more far reaching. We’re always searching as teachers for ideas why not contribute to that community?!

It can be scary to be vulnerable but you can look at that multiple ways:

Teacher Blogger Insecurities

1. I can share and others won’t like it.
   • My personal experience has been pretty positive. So many are excited to learn and get ideas. I like to give inspiration and make it easier for teachers and less hassle to do their job – TEACH!
   • If something negative does come up – view it as a way to learn. Feedback helps you grow. It can sting but if you assess value and use it to build it truly helps you build up. Coming from a positive place is SO IMPORTANT and viewing it as a professional growth tool will help lesson the blow.
2. No one will care
   • Does it matter? I didn’t start blogging certainly to get people to follow. I started as an opportunity to share and be part of that community that I saw. I felt valued in my ideas and wondered if others could benefit and that would follow. The rest just comes later….much much later…..and growth and following mean only just as much as if you are truly connecting with others.

Teacher Blogger How to

It can be so overwhelming with where to start. Finding a platform is first- you have a couple choices – Blogger or WordPress are the main ones. Blogger is an EASY choice to start and can be used in like five minutes. WordPress is the way to go if you are committed or have web experience and FAR MORE customizable but both have templates to easily get started.

If you want your own domain (I use Google Domains) and hosting (I use Siteground) you can take your web development a little further

1. Start with a Small Topic

Write one post. Get the feel of your platform. Decide if you enjoy writing and sharing.

Peek at other posts and blogs you love – why do you love them? It might be they “look good” (graphics/design), they are funny (voice), relate-ability (same grade level, teaching, same niche). Use your findings to channel and fuel your own blog with its own “feel.” Make sure to follow up on comments and share posts that encourage others to follow (if applicable)

2. Marketing and Growth

So you have posts – how do you get the word out? There is a variety of ways and it can be overwhelming as well. What does your ideal audience use most? Start there! If you don’t know how– find a class, Google or research how to engage on that platform. Here is a list of ones to look into:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Snapchat
• Facebook groups
• Email (Mailerlite has been my preference and simple to set up!)
• IG stories
• Pinterest (I love using Tailwind! to schedule Pinterest- makes it SO EASY!)

Monetizing Teacher Blogging

So much controversy exists around getting paid outside of teaching. Many, many factors as to why but personally I feel they all boil down to….societal perception/idolization of teachers (its a whole other soapbox!) but the roles that blogging/social media/business owning translate to our outside of teaching. Teaching skills translate well into these areas but society’s acceptance is not quite there. The teaching community is supportive and it shows!

There are many ways to monetize blogging. The most profitable for teachers is resources. I sell on TPT, but your own eCommerce site, or a membership site are also options.

Ads are another option to monetize your site especially once you gain readers.

It comes down to you!

Blogging is such a vulnerable personal journey (learning every single day!). The community, support, and growth opportunity outweighs insecurities (IMO). Blogging is work – TONS to learn, relearn, and succeed. No overnight about it. You, dear readers – the forefront of education – if you have ever thought about blogging, or commenting or jumping in, know you are welcome.