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Here it goes…my first blog EVER!
I do not even know where to begin. With juggling work, life, and Cohort 21, I feel myself constantly treading water (which is why it took a while to write this post!) I know I am not alone, but sometimes it feels like it.
As a teacher of almost 20 years, I have had my fair share of challenges and have somehow managed to overcome them. One of my biggest challenges is trying to juggle too much at once. I have been told that I am the type of person that likes to “make work.” I admit that that is a tad true. However, I have a good reason for it. I swear! I am always looking for ways to enhance my teaching and my program. When I heard about Cohort 21, it seemed like it was right up my alley. Although the first F2F was daunting, I realize that this IS the right PD for me. I like that it is personalized, we choose the problem/goal, and we have a supportive of group of like-minded individuals who want to help us achieve our goals.
During this PD experience, I am hoping to:
- Gain a better understanding of the tools out there that will enhance my program. When I was first introduced to Google Hangouts at our first F2F, I was lost and confused. Since then I have reached out to an ornithologist and had the opportunity to connect with him via Google Hangouts with my grade 2 class. In addition, we will be meeting with a zoologist next week in the same manner. Who knew? Having these experts in the classroom was an amazing way to collect information for our research projects.
- Collaborate with other teachers to help put my action plan into place.
- Reflect more on my teaching practice. I have to admit, with my hectic life; sometimes it is very hard to find time to do this.
- Take more responsible risks by trying new things. I know that some things will work and others will not. I am sure that getting me out of my comfort zone will open more doors for me and will help improve my practice.
I am sure I am missing something, but for now, I have to make lunches, fold laundry, write report cards, and if I am lucky catch a few ZZZZZZZs!
@lwoon Congrats on your first post! You are not alone in this feeling. Having taught in independent schools almost as long as you I can can confirm that it is not the same job anymore. You are juggling and managing more than you did two decades ago and that has a lot to do with the world around us. It is has sped up and connected us in new and wonderful ways but at the same time left us with more to manage and do. It is no wonder that “mindfulness” is popping up on everyone’s radar. It is quickly becoming the most important skill of our time.
You have come to the right place for your PD. Take these next few weeks before the 2nd F2F to look at your classroom and identify some of the current challenges you are facing and how they align with your own professional goals for the year. In there somewhere is the perfect actions plan.
@gvogt @tfaucher @nbendle
Thank you for your support! I have taken some time over the past few weeks to identify some of the challenges I am currently facing…unfortunately there are too many! I have ideas about PBL, STEAM based learning, using more tech in the classroom, and assessment, just to name a few. I need to start prioritizing and figure out where I want/need to focus my attention on the most.
A great first blog post, @lwoon! You have captured how I (and I am sure a lot of us) feel so well.
I love how you have brought experts into your classroom via Google Hangouts! I think this demonstrates your willingness to model responsible risk taking for your students. I know the first time I used Hangouts in my classroom it felt like a risk, but in the end, it worked and the students loved/learned a lot from it.
Your thought, “I am always looking for ways to enhance my teaching and my program” sounds like the beginning of an action plan. My thinking is along the same line as @jmedved — do you have a specific element of your practice you’d like to enhance? Is there anything holding you up/challenging you at the moment?
Looking forward to seeing where this goes!
@gvogt @tfaucher
Yes @lwoon ! Great first post. Indeed – “always looking of r way to enhance my teaching and my program” – you are well-positioned to have a rich cohort21 experience. Amazing too that you’re already discovering the value of the cohort toolkit beyond the specific cohort21 experience, and what an an amazing use of hangouts. It is kind of a cool outcome of this experience that you emerge as a expert of many new applications. And I think you discover many exciting “tools” from beyond the toolkit to enhance your program.
You’re clearly alive with ideas and that’s a great place to be heading into the next F2F. I will be excited to watch your ideas take the form of action through the Design Thinking process.
@tfaucher @nbendle
Love the post, Lisa, congrats! Remember to ask your fellow Cohort 21ers for help/advice when you’re deciding “make work” (I love this by the way!), as someone may have an activity for you, saving you from having to reinvent the wheel.
@lwoon These are all such great goals. I am excited for you to really develop a strong relationship between #3 and #4. The more you take time to reflect, even if it is just a few minutes during the drive home, the easier it will be to see where you can take risks. Reflection is such an key part of risk taking! What went well, what do I want to share with my colleagues? What surprised me? What do i want to change? What did I learn? The more cyclical this becomes, the more natural it will feel. What an exciting journey you have launched your self into! Looking forward to watching it all unfold!
Tracy