Let’s be honest, we all love looking at photos. If it’s pretty, adorable, or bright, I’m a fan. I created a personal Instagram account in the summer of 2010 when I was living and teaching in Hawaii. At firsts, I thought it was just a photo app that added pretty filters to my photos to make them look amazing. I’ve used it for years to see photos of my niece and nephew, gaze at photos of the Hawaiian scenery that I’m missing out on, and follow my favorite celebrities.
About a year and a half ago, I came up with the idea to create my own teacher account for Easy Teaching Tools. I wanted to post teacher related things, with no intention of it becoming as addictive huge as it has become for me How in the world do I have over 1,00 followers is beyond me! The fact that I’m hosting a So-Cal teacher blogger meet up and people are e-mailing me that they are excited to meet me is flattering… and crazy to me {in the best possible way}. I’m just a teacher doing what teachers do. But be careful who you tell that you have a Teacher IG account. The teachers at my school about died when I told them. They proceeded to tell me that I need a life {joking of course}. They’re probably right, but it makes me feel better when I look on IG and see that I’m not the only crazy dedicated teacher who gets a thrill out of laminating new TpT games.
Here are a few of the reasons why I love having a Teacher Instagram:
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My teacher Instagram account is like my own little Professional Learning Community. As crazy as it sounds, I get amazing ideas from teachers who live on the other side of the Country…and the world. We share ideas, ask for help, and collaborate on ideas. It’s incredible and at my fingertips.
- It’s a great way to network and meet other teachers!
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It gave me the idea to host a Blogger meet up with all of my So Cal friends. |
- It has pushed me to get out of the teaching rut we all get in. We love using that same lesson year-after-year. But then someone will post something amazing and I’m so much more open to try it!
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There are the most adorable crafts on IG.
I never would have thought to do this. But thanks to Aris at Sailing into Second , I found this adorable door decoration. - Oftentimes, many teachers offer freebies on their IG for followers. I know I do it all the time when I finish a product. I make it free for the first few hours. It’s a huge hit and how I get a lot of my free products from my teacher Instagram friends
- My new teacher friends have given my Netflix recommendations which has left me wearing PJs most on most weekends so I can catch up on season-after-season of TV shows.
If you haven’t started this series, what are you waiting for???
- A find out about a lot of teacher giveaways on IG. I also post about all of the giveaways I host.
It’s really easy to switch back-and-forth between your personal and teacher account. To be honest, I barely log onto my personal one these days because I get so much more out of my teacher account.
A few tips:
- Link you IG to your teacher FB page so you can get two things posted at once!
- If you want to promote your TpT items, use the hashtags #teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #instateacher and #teachertalktuesday Pay attention to the popular hashtags and use those, just don’t go crazy!
- I don’t know about you, but I don’t follow people who just promote, promote, promote. Share photos of your everyday life, things going on in your class, and things that interest you. Make it meaningful.
- Interact with other teachers and leave comments. Not only are you being authentic, but you may gain followers. I can’t tell you how many times I have clicked on someone’s comment and ended up liking their page.
- Don’t post a bazillion posts per day, be polite. My rule is 1/2 the amount of posts as my followers.
- If you post student photos, make sure they’re blurry and names are not identifiable with your student. Check your school’s policy on this. It’s better to err on the side of caution.
What do you like best about your teacher IG? Leave a comment and your IG name, I’d love to follow you!
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I absolutely love this blog post…it's as if I wrote it myself…seriously! I am going to pin this post on my "blog posts to read" board" for sure! I had to laugh out loud when I read about teachers from your school finding out about your IG teacher account. I fear the day that teachers from my school find out, I will definitely have the same reaction! Ha! Ha!
Mrs. Olson’s Lucky Little Learners
I LOVE My IG Followers. I Used IG before I started My Blog. I Love All The IdeaS Out There. Especially WhEn Using The #Teachersfollowreachers. I Remember When That hastag Only Had A Few Posts. Now It Is Up To Over 50,000. Wow! You Can Find Me By Looking For A Classroom Full Of Smiles.
Love this post!!! I How do you link your IG with your Teacher FB? Other teachers are always asking me, "Where did you get that idea from?" I tell them IG. I am always campaigning for others to create an IG account. I hope you didn't take that comment from your colleagues to heart…"Get a life." NO, don't get a life because you are inspiring others on IG. If you don't mind, I would like to write a post encouraging teachers to create accounts as well. If it weren't for IG I would be the same burnt out teacher ready to make a career move. It's refreshing to see other teachers with so much creativity and energy. I will admit this…I sometime get annoyed with some of the IG hot shots. A few times I have asked questions only to receive no response. If my IG blows up and becomes big time, I will make every effort not to snub other followers or get to big for my britches. Like they say, "Don't forget where you come from."
Hi my fellow hilarious IG friend,
Here's a link that will help you link your IG to your FB teacher page. I'm so glad you found this post helpful. I swear, IG has changed my teaching! Granted, it's also cut into my sleep and social life!
http://help.instagram.com/409419892503165
Kristen
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haa haa!! I agree with you about IG cutting into your social lie and sleep. I need to come up with some kind of schedule. I am getting a little out of control.
Please follow me! @firstgradeteamies
This blog was so helpful! I would love to gain you as a follower! My IG is OnceUponAnIvey8