[Note from the Proprietor: In case you're wondering what it's all about, well, we're smack in the middle of BLOGAPALOOZA! Hey, you're welcome to join in the fun if you like! All ya gotta do is click that cute little link and read all about it!]

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Guest post by Linda Clinton who writes over at Literacy, Learning and Sharing

January: Who knows what happened?

February: Getting “Hooked” on Writing In this post I learned the value of linking, as the company I linked to commented on my blog and added me to their blogroll-my first connection out in the blogosphere!

March: Blogging and Student Writing I learned that students and teachers can have meaningful, engaging dialogue through a blog, and loved watching them grow as writers. This blog is proof that giving students an audience for writing helps them find their voice. Gessika became one of my favorites.

April: Spring Break!

May: Another Classroom Blog This is the blog of a special education teacher in one of my buildings. It provided me with another opportunity to interact with students and teachers, connecting literacy to technology.

June: Making a Difference I think this is the point in my blogging where I started to become more reflective in my posts, and have the courage to put my beliefs “out there” for the world to see.

July: Breaking “Rules”

August: Vacation!

September: Less is More With this post I learned if you want people to comment, invite them! I sent an email to some folks (this was BT-Before Twitter) with the link to the post and voila! Comments!

October: How to Get More from the Web? Twitter!!! I think the title says it all.

November: Who’s Your Colleague? This post showed me that I do have a voice and I’m coming into my own as a blogger. My evidence? I received a DM from a follower who said “after reading [this post] I feel like I know you.”

December: A Powerful Experience The power of technology and 24/7 on-demand PD.

Bonus: Imagination…Is it for Kids Anymore? I figured out why The Secret Garden was my favorite book as a child.

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I am a Literacy Coach in a K-12 public school district in Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan.

I created my first blog on October 19, 2007 at a technology tools workshop under the guidance of Jim Wenzloff, who was a technology consultant at Macomb Intermediate School District before retiring later that year. That was also when I learned about this whole “Web 2.0″ thing, opening my eyes to many new tools and opportunities.

At first I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to blog about, or even if I’d be good at it. In 2008 I only posted a few times a month, and sometimes I didn’t post at all. But I have learned a lot. This list is a combination of WILF and favorites. Now that I think about it, maybe I learned the most from my favorite posts.

In 2009 I started a new blog, E-flections of an Educator as a place for my personal (e.g. non-work) thinking and sharing, and the Literacy, Learning and Sharing blog will be focused on my work.

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[Further note from the Proprietor: Hey, if you're interested in having your own "best of 2008" posts highlighted right here at the Middle Zone, then by all means, click on this link: (BLOGAPALOOZA: What I Learned From 2008) and read all about it! BLOGAPALOOZA will be open for entries from now until Sunday, January 25.]

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