Bruno: New Teachers Are Busy

Over the break Gary Rubinstein pointed out a conspicuous lack of mid-year reflections from new Teach for America teachers. His theory about this lack of (public) reflection is that because TfA's training is inadequate, their new recruits are struggling too badly to blog. If they were doing really well in their new classrooms, he says, "6,000 people is a big number to be so closed-lipped" about it.

Maybe, maybe not. What fraction of all teachers regularly maintain public blogs? And is it really so remarkable that new teachers with challenging placements have neither the time nor the desire to discuss their first four months on the job?

I had a great deal more training than TfA provides - and a previous history of blogging - but during my first year in Oakland teaching, planning to teach, and completing other responsibilities (e.g., induction) took up rather a lot of my time. And even when I had the time the work was mentally draining enough that I typically wasn't in the mood to publicly reflect on it.

Yes, if I'd had a wildly successful first year as a teacher, I may have been inclined to use my spare time to blog about it. How many teachers , though, have both great first years and a desire to blog, regardless of how they earn their credentials? I think the answer is "not very many," so I doubt it's relevant that these particular teachers happen to be affiliated with Teach for America. - PB (@MrPABruno) (image source)