So I think I’m going to like this blogging thing… I think I’m going to like it more than I should.
There is something about taking the time to reflect here at NCCAT that just feels right. Or in all honestly… critical. I would even venture to say that fully summarizing this experience would be impossible. But here I am trying anyway…
The first two days of this PD has felt like information overload in the best possible way. While It all seems attainable there have been several points where I have been way outside of the comfort zone I worked so hard to construct in my first four years of teaching… but as mentioned yesterday I think it’s time to let it redefine itself.
I also caught myself today in what I’ll call “pat on the back moments” because today I was sitting in a PD and thought to myself that idea is great… AND I’m already doing that in my classroom! When that happened today it felt a lot like receiving cool points (for the record… cool points don’t actually exist anywhere other than my mind). I created these cool points and liberally gave them to myself today when I realized I had a shared ideas with these amazing presenters called Kenan Fellows.
Then it struck me… I am in the same class as they are. Duh… I am a Kenan Fellow now too. I have joined this great network of teachers set apart with a purpose to make a difference for students and for teachers. Today I realized while giving myself my 14th cool point that maybe I will truly become a leader of teachers, or maybe I already am… That feels cool. I didn’t know I had so much cool potential.
All jokes and in my case “cool points” aside today was a reminder to me that I am not alone in this profession. For every cool point there was a connection built to another educator. A bridge if you will be built between one or more of us every time we said, “I like that idea too.” Or “I’m doing that in my classroom too.” It felt good, really good to hear that other educators share these same philosophies.
So if I had to summarize today’s learning outcome I would have to say the greatest thing I learned today wasn’t the content specifically. Rather, it was remembering that I am not alone.
Here are just some few ways I was reminded that I am not alone today:
- There are other teachers who value Project Based Learning.
- There are other teachers who want to make learning relevant and meaningful.
- There are other teachers who want to learn effective communication to relate to their co-workers, students, and parents better.
- There are other teachers who are implementing Design Thinking in their classroom.
- There are other teachers who care about integrated curriculum.
- There are other teachers with challenges in their classroom who are completing unique from my own.
- There are other teachers who feel burnt out and deflated at times from this profession.
- There are the same number of teachers who have recommitted themselves to the profession and continuing to grow.
- There are other teachers who look to assess children on more than just test scores.
- There are other teachers who care about living out their brand and being authentic people to their students.
- There are other teachers who care about Digital Literacy and the role social media plays on our students and classrooms.
- There are other teachers who care about thoughtful feedback being student oriented.
All of these reminders were outcomes of today’s PD. Whether intended or not, today I felt less alone.
It feels great to connect with a community of teachers who share this passion for learning. Who truly believe these things listed above. We talk so much about kids needing a strong network or support group around them.
Newsflash Teachers! We need the same! We can serve our students best when we have these life-giving experiences. When we have a network of people around us inspiring us to be better, we are better.
If you are not part of a Professional Learning Network (#PLN.. as I learned today in the Digital Literacy session) seek one out! Find other educators who care about the same things you do! It is out there. You are not alone.