In my Twitter bio, I describe myself as a passionate educator. Sadly, at the beginning of this school year I started to wonder if that was the right word to describe myself. In this anomalous year, finding my passion hasn’t been easy, but it’s always there. I just need to dig a little deeper to find it. So where does my passion for education come from? And how can I tap into the energy I need to be innovative, creative, and excited about learning?
For me, it comes from getting involved and giving back. My vigour for teaching comes from joining new initiatives and engaging in conversations within and beyond my teaching sphere. I thrive on sharing new learning with my students and colleagues. I flourish when I can learn from other educators and contribute to a world that cherishes creativity, new ideas, and best practices.
So this fall, I’m trying out these three steps to make the most of a very unusual and unpredictable year:
Maintain professional connections. Connecting with the vast world of educators beyond the walls of my school and classroom has had a profound impact on my professional growth throughout my career. Twitter opens automatically when I launch my browser allowing me to connect with educators across the globe. Professional development continues in different, although surprisingly effective, formats. I’m being very selective and giving myself permission to say ‘no’ while still making time to stay involved with the things that are closest to my heart.
Rekindle past relationships. There are many educators, initiatives, and teaching strategies that I have found helpful in the past, so I’ve decided to reactivate some of these great resources. Becoming more actively involved with Cohort 21 has definitely been a step in the right direction for me. I’m also digging deep inside my bag of Gr. 3 tricks after a few years away from the classroom and finding some real gems that I know will bring some pizzazz to my classroom this year.
Find my spark. If I really whittle it down, I know my deepest connection to education comes from my passion for literacy. My experience as a school librarian has led me to an upcoming opportunity to facilitate librarianship courses for budding enthusiasts. Searching for, writing about, and promoting books for children is something I can spend hours doing without even realizing that half of my Sunday morning has disappeared. For me, it’s time well-spent when I can focus on something I love and let go of the mental detritus floating around in my brain.
Are you starting to get a little suspicious? Are you beginning to think that all of this sounds a lot like spending more time on things when time is more precious than ever before? It may seem counterintuitive to spend more time in the Twittersphere or reconnecting with your past or volunteering for new initiatives, but maybe that’s the way through the darkness. Maybe giving back is actually what will keep us all going.
I’m going to give it a try. I invite you to join me.
@dneville this post resonated with me; I only wish I had read it closer to its publication date. I too was struggling with passion earlier this year and I appreciate how you laid out clear steps in order to find your way back to your passion. I’m curious, what has worked and what hasn’t? For me, it’s been trusting in myself that I have my students’ best interest in mind and this is confirmed in the one-on-one conversations I have with them in the classroom. Where might you be able to find such reassurances for your context? Sometimes, they are found in those small, seemingly insignificant moments.