Thing #4

Commenting on a blog helps me personally because I not only clarify my thinking, but also am allowed to state what I think, my feelings, or opinions in the particular way I want them received. So many times (I'm seeing this week) many bloggers comment without considering the writer's thoughts and cause instant dislike. This may not matter to the blogger, but he/she needs to be open enough for other bloggers to feel comfortable leaving comments.

I found "inviting comments" and "ask questions" to be important. To begin with if you do either of these, then readers feel a need to answer the question or discuss an issue. If they have time to read your blog, then they have time to leave a comment. I really like the inviting part because it sounds nice. Most people may leave a thoughtful comment on an inviting blog.

I left a comment on Shavonne Valentine's blog because I wanted to express my congrats to us both for creating a blog and to talk about blogging. I expressed my difficulty with the addition of my avatar to Katherine Gott. I also love her title! I chose to discuss James Edward's pic for Thing #7 because it's cool; the baloon looks like a planet. I commented on Debbie Smith's blog as well; she was talking about reading books compared to using the computer. I found it interesting. I also commented on Kate Newsham's discussion about parents blogging, not just students. After teaching thirteen years I should have thought about parents reading my blog. I only thought my sophomores would. I commented on Darren Rowse's and Cool Cat Teacher's blogs becuase they helped me see why and how blogging could be important.

I made all these comments in order to show that their thoughts were important to me for various reasons. I like their blogs or they helped to show me what else I could do for my students.