10 Ways Twitter has Made Me a Better Educator

Last summer I sat with a colleague outside a coffee shop and she introduced me to Twitter. Here was my previous knowledge of Twitter; zero, nothing, nada. I had heard the word Twitter and was under the impression that it was simply a way for people under 20 years old to broadcast every inane thought that popped into their heads.  I had so many questions but was afraid to ask.  Instead I scoffed at the idea of using Twitter professionally.  As my friend talked I became very anxious.  I was nervous.  I was scared.  Were people going to take me seriously if I tweeted anything?  Who should I follow?  Who in their right mind would ever follow me?  I thought that # was called pound, what is this “hashtag” she keeps talking about?  Then it occurred to me, I was turning into that person I often grumble about, you know, the one who is afraid of change.  I am proud to say that I gave Twitter a shot, and with support from experienced “tweeps”, it has truly changed my professional life.  By the way, you should follow me on Twitter @ginosangiuliano, I promise not to post too many inane thoughts.

• Having one of my tweets “retweeted’ or “favorited’ gives me confidence
• I am a big fan of education which means I actually enjoy reading about it
• It has been the pot at the end of the rainbow filled with resources
• I have developed friendships with people I’ve met on Twitter
• I have learned an incredible amount about neighboring schools and districts
• Twitter has provided me with a national perspective on education I was previously missing
• Twitter has connected me with people who offer insight into content and grades I do not currently teach
• My professional learning network has exploded, and as a result I have been given new and exciting opportunities I never imagined
• As we think about global education, Twitter is an authentic way to have meaningful and professional dialogue with teachers around the world.  I also think that it’s kind of fun
• Interacting with like-minded professionals is extremely rewarding and inspiring 

10 Bruce Springsteen Songs that could have been about Teachers

Bruce Springsteen is perhaps the most prolific songwriter of our generation.  His music and lyrics speak to people of all ages around the world.  To my knowledge, he has never written a song about teachers, but some of his song titles could certainly be interpreted as educational anthems.

Tougher than the Rest (Tunnel of Love)
Teachers are faced with challenges every day, many of which are beyond our control.  For the sake of students we need to remain strong and carry on.

Jack of All Trades (Wrecking Ball)
What do your students need from you today?  Whatever it is you will provide it.

We Take Care of Our Own (Wrecking Ball)
The definition of “our own” has certainly evolved over time.  Whereas it once meant a single classroom its definition is now much broader.

Working on a Dream (Working on a Dream)
Our students have dreams, and it is our responsibility to provide the learning opportunities that will help to achieve them.

Living in the Future (Magic)
The future is now, we are living in a time without limits.  Classrooms are no longer confined to a single room or school.

Better Days (Lucky Town)
As professionals we have the choice to believe that these are better days in education, and if we don’t it is our obligation to advocate for change.

Growin Up (Greetings from Asbury Park)
Students are not the only ones growing, through quality professional development and reflection teachers grow also.

Leap of Faith (Lucky Town)
Teachers and students alike will thrive when encouraged to take risks and given the opportunity to think outside the box.

Reason to Believe (Nebraska)
Sometimes you may have to search, but your students will give you reasons to believe in them every day.

Talk to Me (The Promise)
Communication is crucial to a school’s success. Between administrators, parents, teachers, students, or any other stakeholder, keeping one another informed and in the know helps create a culture of trust.

Sights and Sounds that can make any Teacher Smile

Having been “on the road” as an Induction Coach the past two years there were many things about being in one school every day that I didn’t know I missed.   It doesn’t matter what or where you teach, there are just some sights and sounds unique to schools that simply remind us that we chose the right profession.

• Academic conversations among students
• The buzz as students enter the building
• Youngsters lost in books
• Children on the playground using their imagination
• Taking part in a morning meeting
• Learning alongside your students
• The magic moment that a student “gets it”
• The genuine excitement and curiosity when a new topic is introduced
• Collaboration amongst students and colleagues
• Meeting involved and supportive parents

Advice to get you over the “Humps” of the First Weeks of a New School Year

I am not exactly sure what it is about a camel walking through an office asking, “What day is it?” that makes me laugh whenever I see it, but it does.  Of course from now until the end of time, every Wednesday, someone, somewhere, will shout, “Hump Daaaay Whoo Whoo!” 

The first weeks of school inevitably bring challenges to teachers and there will certainly be many “humps” to overcome.  The sooner you get over these humps, the more relaxed, happy, and productive you will be.

The Curriculum Hump:  Chances are that if you are reading this your school or district is implementing a new program, system, or curriculum.  This is a hump you can overcome with your colleagues.  Utilize the resources that are made available and collaborate.

The Personnel Hump: Each year there are bound to be new additions to your staff.  The importance of collaboration cannot be overstated, but it begins by forming professional relationships based on mutual trust.  You won’t know what others can offer to your practice if you don’t take the time to get to know them.   

The Balance Hump: The initial days of a new school year are usually described as overwhelming and all consuming.  It is sometimes easy to forget the other parts of your life in the midst of the chaos.  Once things are under control, make time for yourself to do what you love, it will make you a much more effective teacher.

The Relationship Hump:  Spend time early in the year finding out as much as you can about the learners in your charge.  This investment of time will yield dividends throughout the year.

The Parent Hump:  Make the effort to reach out to the families of your students before they reach out to you.   This may be via a phone call, email, meet and greet, or a ten minute conference.  It is extremely important to establish that you are accessible and approachable.

The Evaluation Hump:  Probably the most controversial hump to get over.  It is important to educate yourself with the process and become knowledgeable of the standards you are being evaluated on.   If you regard the entire process as an opportunity to reflect and grow you will find it far less daunting.  

The Planning Hump:  You don’t need every detail of every lesson planned out weeks in advance.  In fact, you will want to wait and let your formative assessments and student interests guide parts of your instruction.

 

The Technology Hump:  Don’t be intimidated by technology.  The more you use it the more comfortable you will become.  Spending time just mucking around with technology is the best way to practice and learn.

The Scheduling Hump: The need to be flexible is essential! School scheduling is a myriad of moving parts that involves room availability, contractual consideration, service providers, and student needs.   The sooner you come to terms with the fact that your original schedule may change, the quicker you will get over this hump.

The Procedures Hump:  Keeping our students safe is a responsibility that falls upon us and must be taken seriously.  Yes, it is sad and unfortunate that we have to prepare for the unthinkable.  Lock downs, buzzers, evacuations, and drills can be inconvenient, but reminding yourself you could be saving a life will help get you over this hump. 

New Initiatives: 10 Stages of Acceptance

If you are a teacher, this scenario may sound all too familiar.  You arrive at the designated meeting location on the opening day exercises of the new school year.  You spend time catching up with friends and colleagues, smiling and ready to take on the world.  You feel great because you have spent time over the summer reflecting and preparing for the upcoming year.  Then it happens, your district introduces a new initiative.  You begin to panic and look around the room.  Is this really happening?  The pit in your stomach grows as summer vacation suddenly becomes a distant memory.

If you have been in education for even a few years, you have probably experienced something like this already, and most certainly will again.  Relax, you are not alone! Change can be difficult but it can also be good (see Change Can be Good). The process of coming to terms with seemingly impossible demands is different for everyone, but recognizing your feelings is a good place to start.

• Shock:  “We have to do what?!”
• Denial:  “They can’t really expect us to do this, can they?”
• Anger:  “I can’t believe they are doing this to us!”
• Resistance:  “There’s no way I’m doing this.”
• Acceptance:  “Fine, I guess I have no choice.”
• Learning:  “OK, I kind of get it.”
• Experimentation:  “I tried it,this is pretty good.”
• Practicing:  “I am getting much better at this.”
• Mastery:  “This is great, I’m on a roll now!”
• Sharing: “It’s easy, let me help you with that!”

What are you doing in your daily practice now that once caused stress and anxiety?

What Teachers Need to Know but May be Afraid to Ask

The other day while on a walk with the family, my 10 year old asked us to solve the following riddle, “Mary’s mother had four daughters, their names were April, May, June, and what was the fourth daughter’s name?”  He smiled knowingly while the rest of us paused to consider the question and attempt to solve it.  Of course it’s one of those questions that you know the most obvious answer is the wrong one and the correct answer is right in front of you but you don’t see it.  When someone is new to the profession, or even just new to a building or position, there will be many questions and often time’s people are afraid to ask for fear the answer is right in front of them.  As you walk down the freshly waxed hallways this September and see the faces of your new colleagues, remind yourself that what is obvious to you may not be to them.  The fourth daughter is named Mary.

• What does that acronym stand for?
• What assessments am I required to give and when?
• How do my colleagues and fellow staff members prefer to be addressed in the presence of students?
• How do I get the supplies and materials I need?
• What protocols are followed if I am having a volunteer or guest speaker visit the classroom?
• Are there any passwords I need to have? (Copiers, printers, laminators, computers, tablets…)
• Who are the individuals I need to introduce myself to as soon as possible? (Custodians, secretaries, specialists, department heads, technology director…)
• Where is that room located?
• What committees should I consider joining?
• What traditions exist?

10 Aha! Moments I Experienced at the EdtechRI Technology Un-conference (Spoiler alert: None of them have anything to do with technology!)

Today was a very special day.  No, it wasn’t my birthday or anniversary and it wasn’t even the start of a long weekend.  No, it was special because I was part in an amazing learning community.  I’ll save you the trouble of looking at the date, it is August 2 and it is summer vacation.  This was not a district mandated professional development and no money or course credits were exchanged.  Nevertheless, nearly 60 educators from over 12 districts in 2 states descended upon the Barrington High School Library to learn about technology…from each other.  No presenter, no agenda, no assignments, no rules.  The tablets, smart phones, laptops, and netbooks were aplenty and much technology was shared.  For this list however, I am choosing to focus on a few other things I learned today.

• It’s important to broaden our professional learning networks to individuals outside our own districts
• When learners are given choices they are active and engaged (even adults!)
• When you are given permission to “not know everything”, you relax and become a better learner
• Teachers think about school in the summer…they really do
• Teachers embody the phrase “life-long learner”
• Educators of all grade levels and any content areas can and should learn together
• Shared leadership is a wonderful thing
• Collaboration is vital to success (for more on this check out http://goo.gl/FhSKea)
• We all have something to contribute
• Stepping outside your comfort zone can get pretty comfortable

Special thanks to http://teacherahamoments.wordpress.com/ and http://writesolutions.org/blog/