As I think about the impact that my summer Kenan experiences will have on my learners, I couldn’t help thinking about the classic Dr. Seuss title “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.” As the quote above states, that impact of my summer experiences will be felt in ways even I can’t imagine!
Even before officially starting the school year, I have been able to make a far stronger impact as a teacher leader at my school. During our ELA 2-day professional development, I was able to share my DPI Summer Institute TEXT COMPLEXITY training with my Curriculum Facilitator. Out of the sharing, we have begun collaborating on how to properly bring a more in-depth training to ELA teachers on staff. We both are excited about completing the 15-week DATA LITERACY training together. This, too, is an area that can strengthen our entire staff and will have an impact beyond my own classroom doors.
As I continue to plan my units for the year, I feel extremely blessed to have the added resources and strategies that I gained throughout my summer externship. As I continue to undergo my own professional paradigm shift- from the way I create lessons as a result of my collaboration with my DPI mentor and Kenan cohort, to gained strategies on optimal stakeholder communication and beyond- I am already seeing the increased benefit for my learners. Even at the end of week 1, the atmosphere in my classroom has positively shifted. Learners truly are able to see that Mrs. Sanderlin is vested in them as a unique learner- not just a # in a classroom. Kids are upset that it’s time to change classes and eager to come back the next day. Maybe it’s just me experiencing the “beginning-of-the-year-bliss” but I truly feel MORE CAPABLE of making a substantial impact on the lives of ALL learners for which I’ve been blessed to service this school year.
Signed,
EXTREMELY Excited 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher