Learning to Blog and Blogging to Learn

After laboring for what seems like forever, I finally have http'ed and url'ed, uploaded and coded my way into the world of blogging. I devoted much time to creating a blog that will not only allow me to express myself through the written word, but will also allow me to create something that speaks for me visually as well. This is the tough part. I have a picture in my mind of what I would like, but I am still struggling with the technique for achieving it; for this is the area in which one requires at least a bit of understanding of techno-speak. The problem with seeking instruction in this area is that those folks who are writing the "easy steps" or "for dummies" directions in how to apply a template or change the background, etc. have difficulty writing the information in such a way that those of us who came to adulthood with only the knowledge of a typewriter and white-out can comprehend. Performing these steps comes so easy to them, that they cannot relate to those of us who need everything spelled out in "substeps." "Just click on 'link' and you're done!" doesn't work for me. Looking at all that code jargon is like looking at gobbledy-gook. At times my brain would just spin in circles, and the frustration of not understanding what to do almost made me give up.

This experience has led me to think more critically about my teaching of Hebrew and Torah / Haftarah chanting to b'nei mitzvah students and adults. I do always try to put myself in the student's chair and to teach with their vantage point and background in mind, but am I teaching at a level that is congruent with my students' abilities? To them, trope marks (and often Hebrew) can be as confusing and frustrating as those computer codes are to me. To be able to show my students how to see past the gobbledy-gook and give them the keys and "cheats" to the code that is Torah and Haftarah chanting, Hebrew, prayer, and Judaic knowledge is an honor and a joy for me. I want to make sure that I continue to make the journey to find the key rewarding, meaningful, logical and fun, and that the key will turn easily in the lock when we get there.