It was exciting to see my friend Darren's post today about the announcing of the 2007 Edublog Awards. He had the honor of telling me that Cool Cat Teacher is a finalist for best teacher blog this year and that the Horizon Project is a finalist for best wiki! (I'm not sure why I didn't get an e-mail from Josie, but I sent a quick message thanking her and included a description of my blog.) It is also exciting that TechLearning has been nominated for best group blog.
Congratulations to all of the finalists! It is great company that I'm allowed to keep! I hope you'll review the nominations and vote! You'll also find some great reading in there for your RSS reader!
Why it means so much to me!
This nomination means a lot because it means that there are some of you out there who like my blog! (I have a personal policy to NEVER nominate myself for an award.)
Blogging in the Trenches of Life
As I'm sitting here watching a JV basketball game (we're winning 39-12) and consider the ups and downs of life. I have three kids, two of whom have learning disabilities and two are in middle school… it is often tough to keep blogging when you're teaching a child to read and helping another one cope!
And yet, when something really exciting happens, who do I want to tell? You!
I remember when I had my second reader! (The first one was me!) It was on December 1st, 2005 (I later changed the date of the blog post to December 9th without knowing what I was doing!) that I first began blogging and in less than two years, I've been blessed with so many new people to inspire me and help me be a better teacher.
I feel like the poster child for the newcomer
I always say that I'm a “poster child” for the beginner and it is true. I'm a latecomer to the ballgame but so glad that I finally joined in! I'm proof that someone who knows nothing and no one can join in this technology revolution and not be too late.
But really, a blog is a conversation and you have made this blog what it is!
You've commented. (Mike Hetherington was my first.) You've encouraged me! You've kept me blogging when I really wanted to quit!!
You twittered me when my grandmother passed away this summer and you have encouraged me this fall as we've been struggling with my son suffering the taunts of bullies. When Julie and I had a silly little dream to collaborate across the world, you stepped in to judge Flat Classroom 2006, Horizon 2007, and Flat Classroom 2007. You made those what they have become!
The name Cool Cat Teacher was coined by my own students.
The blog Cool Cat Teacher was made and sustained with your encouragement. It was feed by the organism called the edublogosphere.
Whatever happens in this award, the meaning is this… when we connect, we all win. If you've gotten encouragement out of my blog, I'm so happy that my wins (and losses) can be to your benefit. But honestly, I wouldn't be around to comment if you hadn't gotten me through some really tough times. The good Lord has used you to encourage me through the darkest valleys of my life… and even one in which I'm walking right now.
A Six Week Hiatus from Wow2
I'm saddened to tell you that I'm having to take a six week hiatus from the Women of Web 2 show, but plan to come back in January.
It is about keeping my family first… and my children need me… and maybe some of you out there need to read the thoughts that I write here and often cry over. Writing on this blog is truly an emotional, soul baring experience for me. For on these electronic pages, you see the bits and bytes that make up my flesh and blood.
I just want you all to know that I'm grateful. It is easy to look and see numbers, but I see each and individual person and to take part of your busy life to stop over here, read, and often comment… that is the greatest reward you give to me.
It is not about the change in our pocket but about the lives we change.
Thank you friends! I am very grateful for what you've made me!
tag: edublogawards, Josie Fraser, Darren Draper, TechLearning, HorizonProject, hz07, hz08
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
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10 comments
Hi, my name is Karen. I have C.P. and a learning disability. I am writing because I received your blog caption from google. My answer to you is you do the best you can:>) We are but one personand there are just soooo many hours in a day.
I welcome you and others to visit my site at: http://www.whispersofhope.org
Vicki,
It makes me glad to see someone who is excited by the recognition of her peers.
You do a marvelous job and deserve the accolades, as do all of the other nominees.
Am I jealous? Of course! I want to become a Voice, just as the rest of you have managed to do.
Congratulations! Whatever the outcome of the voting, all of you are already winners.
diane
As always you are so wise with your thoughts and the position that you take. I admire the way that you stand up for and blog for the things that you believe in. It is with sadness that I read you will be taking a 6 week break from WOW2.0 but so understanding why you need to do this. Even though we will not “hear” you, we will still “hear your voice” through your blog. For that I am thankful. Jen, Sharon and Cheryl will no doubt miss you terribly too.
Firstly congratulations Vicki on yet again being nominated for the Best Teacher Blog. I am one of many who really enjoys reading your musings and have often gathered some great ideas from what you write.
Secondly I wanted to empathise with you and support your need to take six weeks off from the WOW2 show. To be quite honest I don’t know how you do what you do while managing to keep a family happy and content. I have often wondered how you do it. It seems to me that you must be incredibly organised, very creative, full of energy, fun and dedication. I can only admire from afar. I will continue to follow you on twitter and through your blog. good luck and best wishes from Anne
I voted for your blog because you have the most ‘human’ aspect while at the same time incredible knowledge. Reading your blog is like reading a letter from an old friend but with serious substance! Hope that makes some sense…
Take care of the family… Besides… You have given your readers so much that they might be able to use these next 6 weeks to catch up…
That’s great, Vicki – and very well deserved. I think people relate so well to your posts because you are completely transparent in your writing. Furthermore, they can identify with the emotion.
Me, on the other hand, I’ve never cried over a blog post. Not once. Shallow man that I am. : )
You’re great,
D
Vicki, I am looking on the other side of the hiatus and realizing that you will be full of stories to tell and memories to share with your family in years to come. Please send your wow of the week for sharing. See you on the flip side.
Cheryl
Karen — Thanks for dropping by.
Diane — You ARE a voice both on your blog and in the comments. In my early days of blogging, much of my “voice” was in the comments on the blog posts of other bloggers. And just as you are doing, engaging in the conversation is what it is all about. When you talk and put thought into it, you become a voice. It is really something that just happens somehow as you participate and discuss.
Teaching Saggitarian (Chrissy) — I’ll still blogging and will so much miss Wow2 as well. Of course, we have to be humans who blog and podcast not bloggers and podcasters who human.
Anne – Yes, we are all so very busy and have to work towards balance. But there are many of us out here (probably like you) — as they say, if you want something done, give it to a busy person!
Darren-
Sometimes I’ve cried for bad reasons — like “What have I written!” No, not really. We all put ourselves into our blog whether or not it includes tears.
Cheryl –
I know, I’ll miss you! Thanks for putting in my wow!
Scott-
Thanks for your encouragement! I need it right now.
hang in there – we all have to walk where we are lead even if it isn’t where we want to go. The only promise is that He will walk with us. From reading your blog I know you have faith and that is what will hold you up.
Congrats and keep up the good work. The conversations you’ve created are wonderful.
I’m just hoping someday I can be a bigger part of the conversations as well.
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