You're going to find a lot of Sarah Brown Wessling on this site, because she is my personal inspiration. In this First Day of School blog post, she talks about how she prepares for students and a pledge that she shares with them. It's simply beautiful. Check it out and then comment below- what is your pledge to your students this year?
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Meet our 2016 National Teacher of the Year, Jahana Hayes, here, where you can also see President Obama sharing her story in this year's National Teacher of the Year ceremony.
I attended a national ECET2 (Elevating and Celebrating Teachers and Teaching) conference this past summer, and one of the highlights was participating in the #WhyITeach station. The concept was simple- all of us got a speech bubble, reflected on why we taught, and posted it on a large board. By the end of the first day, there were hundreds of #WhyITeach statements. Each one was personal and beautiful and moving. Collectively, they made a powerful statement about our profession and why the work of teachers is so completely complex, fulfilling, and rewarding. I left the conference feeling so humbled and proud to call myself a teacher. I vowed to bring this activity back home to our beginning teachers. At our spring New Teacher Orientation last month, I opened with one question- Why do you teach? Teachers silently, individually reflected on their speech bubbles. They got together in pairs to talk about it and tell their #WhyITeach stories, and then their words started going up on the walls. We left the teachers' words on the walls all day, going back to them and reading them aloud throughout our time together. At the end of the day, the teachers took their words off the wall. My hope is that they took it back to their classrooms and posted it in a place where they could always look to in order to find their own inspiration. That in those moments when the work seems daunting and overwhelming, that their own words will come back to them and they will remember exactly why they're there, and exactly why it is truly a gift to be a teacher.
Check out this 2 minute video compilation of some really inspiring TED Talks by teachers. Their words will remind you of the beauty and power of our profession.
You NEED to check out my favorite new spot on the web, created by one of my favorite people on the planet, Sarah Brown Wessling (2010 National Teacher of the Year)! I have had the opportunity to meet her and hear her speak in person, and her warmth, passion, and thoughtful reflections about teaching and learning inspired me more than I can express.
If you search the archives of this mentoring website, you'll notice that I've already woven in quite a bit of Sarah Brown Wessling for you- often linking to her blogs or Teaching Channel videos. But with Sarah's new website, you can get her gifts directly. Take your time exploring her site and soaking in her words, and then register for her free weekly newsletter (I did and I absolutely love it). You'll leave her space refreshed and inspired to keep growing in your own beautiful space with your students. I came across an article this week titled, "Hey, New Teachers, It's OK to Cry In Your Car." It's a good read, and it took me right back to my first year of teaching. I often share with new teachers that I cried (a lot) during my first year. A colleague warned me that sharing this might scare new teachers, but I think that what would be more scary is being a new teacher and thinking that I was the only one sitting alone and crying at the end of a hard day. That's when you think that maybe you're not cut out for teaching... that it really shouldn't be this hard... that every other teacher seems to be doing easily what you're struggling to do, so maybe it's better if you start looking for another job. The New Teacher Center's research has shown that this time of year is especially difficult for teachers. If you feel you might need some motivation and inspiration, check this FREE disillusionment power pack out! Once you sign up, you'll get e-mails every couple of days for one month that share stories and captioned photographs of a veteran teacher who writes about that first very tough, but rewarding year in the classroom.
I urge you to sign up if you feel like you're in a place where you want a safe place to reflect and breathe, and a bit of reassurance that you're not alone. And as always, call me if you want someone to talk to! I promise that I've been where you are. |
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