First Steps – Part 2

Since this is my “end of the beginning” post, I thought it à propos to link this blog post to my first blog post.  In my first post, I talked about first steps and and my reticence to fully put myself out there. My aim was to not hold anything back and share my experiences relating to my action plan that was about making changes to ensure that my students are all challenged and engaged in my FSL classroom.  Here are three lessons I learned throughout this process.

Lesson 1: Tweeting and blogging is not as scary as it seems although I still think that showing vulnerability in a professional setting is not easy.

When I started Cohort 21, I was already using Twitter as a professional development tool. However, I had not taken the step of actually tweeting anything out. I was terrified that something would go wrong, that I would share something I wasn’t supposed to share, or that I would be judged for what I am doing (or not doing) in class. Like public speaking, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. I’m still not a prolific tweeter or blogger (and I probably never will be), but I am now so much more comfortable sharing an idea, a photo from one of my classes, and my reflections on my teaching practice. More importantly, I have experienced the benefits of doing so by connecting to more people who do what I do, documenting my students’ accomplishments, getting feedback on questions or ideas, and feeling good about the fact that I am contributing to a learning community.

Lesson 2: There’s no need to overhaul a system that’s working. Make sure to connect with your students to find out what is working and what isn’t. Learn to recognize the small changes you are implementing in your classroom every day.

I’m glad I took the time to survey my students as I did learn that the problem I had identified was not necessarily as bad as I thought it was. A lot of things were going right in my classroom and I needed to take the time to acknowledge them. It’s easy to say that everything needs to be changed, but of course, it is not always the most practical or efficient approach. And you may end up throwing the baby out with the bathwater. **Please see my last blog post for the full details of my action plan.

Lesson 3: I love my job.

It’ not that this process taught me that I love my job, but it did remind me of the uniqueness of what it is that I do. There are so many positive aspects of my job that I know I wouldn’t get in another work setting. I’m lucky to teach in a school that values creativity and risk-taking. That I can take a break from my set lesson plans and try something completely new is motivating and energizing. I want to thank my school for giving me this opportunity and for supporting me through the development of the French program.

And so, I will continue to survey my students, try new teaching strategies, and Tweet/blog about them. My students, my school, and I all benefit greatly. Now on to my second steps…