WOOT! I’m blogging. Here’s why.

I’ve talked myself out of blogging a million times.

I do tons of writing professionally, but typically for someone else’s brand or voice. And honestly, that has suited me… I dig those organizations and those people! So, I’ve been content to author behind the scenes.

Also, I wasn’t sure there was much that the world needed to hear from little ole’ me. Nor was I sure that I had a very focused narrative. Anyone following me on Twitter knows that I’m a broad church. (Intellectually Curious People Problems.)

Considering stuff I commonly share, I had to ask myself: Is a blog comprised of curriculum memes, education research, NYC playground recs, stuff that makes me laugh, and summer cocktail recipes a Thing? Does the world need this?

Lately, though, I’m having a change of heart.

And with that…

Top 5 Reasons I’m Finally Doing The Blogging Thing:

5. I’m too verbose for Twitter.

Nobody limits baby to 240 characters! I have feelings. I like big words. I need space. Time to bust the constraints of social media.

4. I wanna make Brooke’s dreams come true.

I asked one of my fave bloggers, Brooke Powers, for advice about starting a blog this week, and she said, “Oh my God, I just dreamed that you were a famous blogger!”

Kismet! Doubt I’ll live up to famous, but at least I can make the blogger part happen.

3. I’m starting to know stuff the world really needs to know.

Working alongside the country’s top literacy and math minds, I’ve had a growing feeling-slash-frustration that the research insights in my midst are powerful, and need a FAR brighter spotlight.

For example: I bet you don’t know that students’ content knowledge matters as much or more to their reading comprehension than their reading skill. (Really.)

Insights like that will help kids grow as readers! How can I not blog about them?

2. I needed a place to store my memes.

If loving memes about curriculum is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

1. I’ve had a unique and privileged vantage point. And I’ve got stuff to share, y’all.

I’ve worked alongside K–12’s most successful entrepreneur, the authors of the Common Core, the best curriculum authors on the planet, and an astoundingly talented set of entrepreneurs and math & literacy educators. I’ve built 6 startups and supported two of K–12’s most impactful nonprofits. I was raised by an immensely talented principal-turned-curriculum director, and I’ve been schooled by some of the country’s most respected superintendents and CAOs, plus a boatload of talented friends. I’m raising the brightest 6 year old in NYC. I’m a lucky, lucky, lucky girl.

At the intersection of All Of That, I find that I often see things a little differently. And I’m ready to bring my own voice to Things.

So – for those reasons and more – it’s time!

Thank you to Brooke Powers who showed me that I was overthinking the whole thing, and I should just get on WordPress and get ‘er done.

Thank you, reader, for your patience as I find my sea legs as a blogger. Gonna be an adventure.

_______

 

Finally friends, I leave you with the rejected blog name series…

 

The Contenders:

KarenVaitesContemplates
KarenVaitesEducates
KarenVaitesAdvocates
KarenVaitesCreates

Nyah:

KarenVaitesRuminates
KarenVaitesSpeculates
KarenVaitesInstigates
KarenVaitesPostulates
KarenVaitesFormulates
KarenVaitesElaborates
KarenVaitesAnnotates
KarenVaitesFasincates
KarenVaitesCultivates

Gosh, I hope not:

KarenVaitesFrustrates

Tempting:

KarenDreamsOfMemes

Makes Me Giggle:

KarenVaitesBloviates

Aww, Hell No:

KarenVaitesOscillates
KarenVaitesPontificates
KarenVaitesOverrates
KarenVaitesCompensates
KarenVaitesUnderstates
KarenVaitesFluctuates
KarenVaitesComplicates
KarenVaitesImmolates
KarenVaitesFabricates
KarenVaitesRegulates
KarenVaitesPerpatrates
KarenVaitesAggravates
KarenVaitesVacillates
KarenVaitesProcrastinates