Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of
God is, that which is good, and acceptable and perfect.”
How many times do we hear (or catch ourselves saying) “Oh
no, it’s Monday!” or “I can’t wait for Friday!”? As educators, it is easy to become
overwhelmed by the multitude of daily tasks and classroom routines that have
become a habit instead of a joy. Our
students often pick up on that and adopt the same attitude. Weekends and holiday breaks are a welcome and
refreshing time of rest, but teachers and administrators need a way to recharge
and renew ourselves in addition to that rest.
While some may find new learning and motivation from one of
the many professional books available today, nothing can compare to the
personal relationships we build when we connect with other educators. The interaction and feedback we receive is
invaluable for personal and professional growth.
Connecting with others in our profession can happen in many
ways. The relationships we build with
our coworkers is a great place to start, but when we step out of our comfort
zone and make connections with others outside our own district is often when we see more growth. Opportunities like
conferences, workshops, and EdCamps are perfect places to make those
connections.
If money or time is an issue, then Twitter is a great
alternative. Twitter is a free app and
works well with any schedule. Through
Twitter we have the opportunity to connect with coworkers, authors, and other
innovative educators from around the world!
Just by following other educators, anyone can learn about #STEM
activities, #coding, #makerspaces, and #literacy just to name a few. Many educators share resources on a regular
basis.
Responding to questions and others’ posts on Twitter
encourages reflection on our own teaching and learning. In the words of Todd Whitaker, “A teacher
never stops learning, and a learner never stops teaching.” As educators, we owe it to ourselves and our
students to be the Lead Learner in our own classrooms or buildings.
Todd Whitaker also said, “we define connected educators
simply as ones who are actively and constantly seeking new opportunities and
resources to grow as professionals.”
How are you going to connect, recharge and renew?
Kimberly