I am one of those people that worry about everything. If you aren’t worried, I will worry for you. I really don’t voice my opinion publicly or share what I am thinking, unless I know the person very well and feel comfortable. Deep down, I am a very shy person and very afraid of ridicule. I have tried to change my negative thoughts and push myself to not worry so much. Creating this blog and having to share my feelings and thoughts publicly has really taken me out of my comfort zone.
When I started to think about Schoolgirl Style, I knew that I could potentially inspire teachers all over the country. Being able to help teachers and students enjoy school on such a large scale was very exciting! I wanted to take my talent and give back to the profession that I love so much. I won’t lie to you – I was very, very scared. Creating a blog meant that I had to “speak” publicly to the world! Of course, I was worried what everyone would think – I hoped that everyone would like what I was doing and also like me. After much thought, I decided that I couldn’t worry about people not liking me and that I needed to be myself. In order for you to get to know me, I couldn’t censor my personality either. My posts needed to be real and from the heart. I decided I had to overcome my fear of worrying so much, especially about what other people thought. I have learned to write and publish my posts without ever looking back.
This evening, I received an email from a reader who pointed out a grammatical error I had made in one of my posts. After going back and reading it, sure enough, I did make a mistake. Instead of pointing out the error in a positive way, the email went on to attack me personally and professionally. To be honest, I was in complete shock. I am also very hurt. To suggest that I might not be a good teacher is simply ridiculous. My worst fears just came true.
Am I going to stop writing? Absolutely not! Despite a grammatical error here or there, I KNOW that I am inspiring teachers. I have several emails from teachers telling me how excited they are to go back to school this year. I have teachers thinking about their classroom environment differently and with their students in mind. Do I think I am a bad teacher? Absolutely not! I KNOW the difference I have made in those 400 students I have had the pleasure of teaching. I have loved each and every one of them and they know it. I sat proudly as many of my former students graduated with honors this last spring, knowing that I was the one that taught them how to read.
I tend to write the way I talk. I write with enthusiasm and passion – the very things that motivated all 400 of my students. I teach with enthusiasm and passion. I love what I do. I love that I am inspiring others. I am not writing a term paper, an essay, or an action research project (by the way, I have done hundreds of these during my nine years of college and four degrees later). I am writing from the heart. I hope, you too, will feel that enthusiasm and passion in my posts! Thank you to all of my loyal fans and friends out there!
Melanie
xoxo
I wish this were like FB, where you could simply “like” a bog. I’m so glad you did not take to heart whatever this one individual said to you in the e-mail and I’m glad that you understand what a difference you make in so many children’s lives. In so many ways, I wish I had half the talent and passion that you have for teaching. I hope that you continue to have the opportunity for many, many more years to come, to sit and watch former students walk with honors across that stage!
Thank you so much Patti. You made me cry. Your email was very uplifting – I sure needed that!
Hon, I make mistakes ALL THE TIME! I have had those kinds of emails too. Now I just politely say thank you for pointing that out and just move on. Kill them with kindness. Who cares if I spell you’re or your? I have always been a BAD speller and it took a LONG time for me to get over it. I hid it for a long time and what I learned was that while I was hiding I could do nothing to fix the problem. So now I spell check everything and I still make tons of mistakes but you know that it part of me and if you don’t like you don’t like me.
Keep posting I don’t care how many mistakes you make I’ll keep reading. 🙂
Ms. M
Ms.M’s Blog
A Teacher’s Plan
You are the best, thank you so much!!! 🙂 Your nice comments mean so much to me!
Are you serious? Usually, the people who are behaving that way are unhappy with themselves. Your blog makes me smile. I have two children who have wonderful teachers, and would love to have a teacher as dedicated as you. We all make errors, I have even seen some on the “bigger” blogs that I love. I hope you have a wonderful day, and keep up the good work!
Jessica
http://mom4realky.blogspot.com
p.s. You and I must love the same colors, because our blog color schemes are exactly the same! Love it!
I love your site and visit often!! You rock!!!!
Thank you so much, Kelley! That makes me feel good – I definitely needed that today! 🙂
Ignore the haters, Melanie. They will always be there. Last time I checked, no one is perfect! I love this project of the heart that you have started. Live the dream, girl.
I suppose that’s the scary part, Melanie…putting your thoughts and ideas out there for the world to see. There are jerks everywhere–people who are just waiting to pounce on anything they can find to criticize. Don’t be discouraged! I look forward to Schoolgirl Style each day….inspiration….true love for the noble profession of teaching. You are wonderful and doing a wonderful thing with your blog!!!
Some people are unbelievably RUDE!! Lucky for me and the rest of your dedicated followers, you are UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING!! Thanks for putting your heart into everything you do. Sharing what you do with others and not expecting anything in return is WONDERFUL! You inspire me! You inspire MANY others too! Keep it up! 🙂
Oh my gosh…thank you so much, Marissa! Your comment means so much! Thank you – you are definitely one of my sweetest fans! 🙂
Melanie – you are just going to disregard that silly person’s e-mail….BECAUSE WE NEED YOU.
I have been so inspired by you. This year I created the most gorgeous lab with ideas from you! I will take pics this week and show you how inspiring you have been. When I walk in my room, I think W
WOW it looks beautiful!
My classroom is set and I am still coming back here for inspiration! This is my 18th year of teaching and I just feel so inspired by you. That has to be worth something right?
You are so so so sweet! I can’t thank you enough for the kind words – you brought tears to my eyes. Your comment means a lot – thank you!
I hope you never stop blogging! Your creativity and the creativity of the other bloggers I follow inspire me with ideas! I love the brightness and happiness your classroom themes inspire. If I was a child each of the themes you created would make me want to come into that classroom and learn! Keep up the wonderful work!
Hi Elisabeth! You are so sweet! Thank you so much! xoxo
Melanie, you are doing a wonderful job as a teacher and blogger, don’t let other people’s insecurity get you down. We all make mistakes, that is what makes up human! Shame on that person who sent the email! Keep doing what you are doing, I love seeing it all!
Awwww! Thank you for the kind words! xoxo
My Dear Friend…I love, love, love reading your blog. I am so proud of all you have accomplished! I am so excited to share your website with teacher friends and say…”This is MY best friend! Isn’t she great!” We have held each other’s hand through 11 years of teaching ,2 college degrees and more drama/negativity than we would like. Through it all, you have been one of the most positive people able to overcome any obstacle, big or small. Carry on friend…I am so excited for you!
Awwww! You are making me cry! We have been through a lot together and you HAVE held my hand every step of the way! Thank you for being one of my biggest fans! Love Ya!!!
You know, you just have to remember what we tell our students. People who are rude and ugly to us (in other words, BULLIES) are people who are trying super hard to pump themselves up by bringing others down. Never, ever, EVER let someone like that tell you that you are less than you are. You’ve have been a phenomenal teacher to TWO of my very own family members (niece and nephew) and I can personally attest to how much you do to make sure they know they are loved and appreciated by you. Then you add Schoolgirl Style to the mix and you help us adults, too? Pish. That lady needs to crawl back in her perfectly punctuated world and stay there!
Oh Colleen, you made me laugh!!! Thank you for my little pep talk! I love the “perfectly punctuated” comment! 🙂
Excellently said. I’ve thought those same things MANY times before. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Christy! 🙂
Melanie-
I can’t believe some people can be so rude and hurtful for absolutely no reason. You are a WONDERFUL teacher. Don’t ever doubt that.
Thanks, Melissa!
Gosh, if someone emailed me about my spelling or grammar mistakes….my inbox would always be full! You have a beautiful blog and I am so glad to have found you:)
Thank you! I am enjoying your blog as well, Annie! 🙂
Teachers are human and we make mistakes too. I am a future teacher and I absolutely love your blog; everything about it is inspiring! Thank you
Awwww! Thanks so much, Erica! 🙂
When I was doing my student teaching back in 2003, I was presenting a unit on the reproductive system (I teach science). My college advisor and master teacher were both sitting in the back of the room observing. In large letters across the whiteboard I wrote “menstration”. I taught the entire lesson before the college advisor (a man no less) finally raised his hand and in front of all the kids announced “there is a U in menstruation!”. Needless to say I was mortified! Looking back it is hilarious, but at the moment it shattered my confidence as a new teacher. I’ll tell you what- I never misspelled that word again! I love my job, and I know I am an effective teacher. I never misspell the latin scientific terms (because I’m a science geek) but I do occasionally catch a typo or grammatical error on the notes or on an assignment. OH WELL!!!
That is hilarious! Thanks for making my day! 🙂
Hey! I just came across your blog while on my new favorite site, Pinterest!! Your blog is awesome and is so inspiring to me! I teach 5th grade, and I LOVE the ideas you have here. Thanks for putting yourself out there like this. You ARE inspiring teachers. I think it is just a trait of a wonderful teacher to be like you and worry what people think. Sometimes we need to just remember to practice what we most likely preach to the children and not worry so much about what others think. You are doing a wonderful thing, and inspiring many! Thanks!
I too stumbled across your blog only last night after following a link from a link from a link…you get the picture! Being someone who has many ideas and a vast amount of creativity and imagination yet also someone with not a decorating bone in her body, I’ve sat literally riveted to your blog. While I tried a few decorating ideas here and there in my classroom this year, I certainly didn’t come up with a cohesive theme or concept. Your blog has shown me the myriad of possibilities, and I’m already pumped for next year! LOL Isn’t that sad? 🙂 I will never understand why some people feel the need to rain on others’ parades. It’s rude, it’s childish, and it says much more about that person’s character than it ever will the person on the receiving end. I raise my two children (as well as the 260 students I’ve had over my 13 years in Kindergarten!) to steadfastly follow the ‘Golden Rule’. If we all followed the ‘Golden Rule’ of treating others the way we would like to be treated, there wouldn’t be much necessity for other rules. I also know what it is like to ‘put yourself out there’ as I recently started my own blog, though it is of a personal nature rather than educational. When you author a blog, you really do pour your heart and soul into the words and images. It’s silly and immature to point out what probably amounted to a typo. In the grand scheme of life, was it THAT important for someone to spend a portion of his/her day pointing out something so insignificant? And in turn,was it that important to make someone (YOU!) – who is obviously only wanting to brighten our (meaning teachers’) little corner of the web – feel hurt over something so trivial? When you look at it like that, it kind of puts it all into perspective, huh? I say, “You go girl!” – grammatical errors, typos, fragments, dangling participles (tee hee!) and all! Your blog is amazing and is one of my new faves! (I also am following you on Pinterest!) Thanks for putting yourself out there. Let the haters hate. They are only hurting themselves!
Kristin