I use WordPress because it is a free, open (CMS) Content Management Service. I understand that Blogger, Edublogs, Wiki, and Google Sites are free as well. I have nothing against those sites, and have used them in the past. WordPress and the community that supports it, is an evolving ecosystem with millions of parts working together to make the ecosystem better for everyone involved. I enjoy this ecosystem. There are thousands of how-to sites and video tutorials that take me through every question I have ever had. And as a teacher I enjoy free.
I use WordPress for the millions of Themes/Skins that I can use to express my self and the way that I want to organize my classroom website. I have used probably eight or nine different Themes over the past five years, and each year I change the look and feel of my site. It allows me to adapt to how my students use and see websites. It allows me to create engaging sites that my students will want to use. For example this simple Forum, which will allow my students to take the classroom conversation home.
I use WordPress for the plugins. I use SEO plugins, Forum Plugins, Comment Plugins, Syndication Plugins that share information from my website to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or wherever my students need to find the information. Plugins allow me to ad functionality and purpose to my site, without compromising style and function.
I use WordPress because it is Search Engine friendly. In fact, you probably found my site because you are looking for a Common Core reading list of some sort. I created these lists almost three year ago when we were tasked with jumping into the “New” Common Core 100% as a pilot program. I figured that others would want to use the lists as well. They have. Many of my Booklists have a number one ranking on Google and Bing.
I use WordPress because it is open source. This allows any programmer from anywhere in the world to build or add something to WordPress to enhance it’s usability and functionality. Many hands make easy work.
I use WordPress because it is not going anywhere. WordPress is nearly ten years old and all of the pains and quirks have been worked out. Even though the WordPress crew is always refining and updating, the bugs are all but gone, and updates now make things even easier.