Slice of Life - #nctechat

  I love participating in Slice of Life, started by Two Writing Teachers and writing a story, reflection, or musing at least once a week.

 

     On Sunday night, I co-hosted the #nctechat with Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) about summertime professional learning.  It was a whirlwind of a chat, just like most Twitter chats I've been a part of, but it was the first time for me to host one.  I was nervous, but Nick reassured me, and we prepared together.  He recommended Tweetdeck, which is DEFINITELY the way to go!  It makes participating in a chat a hundred times easier!  I'll write more about that in Sunday's Digilit post.  For now, I want to write about all the teachers across the country who continue to learn throughout the summer.

 

Tweeted by @EduNut

 

     Our first question was "Why would you choose to give up parts of your summer for professional learning?"  Answers started pouring in.   Here were some of my favorites:

- For me, I never look at it as "giving up" something.  I'm actually gaining something wonderful wit summer PD. - @thenerdyteacher

-  The learning never stops for me.  Learning=playing, in my world. - @ShawnaCoppola

- As a professed lifelong learner, I don't view it as "giving up" time; I love teaching and want to be the best I can for my kids. - @dashthebook

- If you're a teacher and not passionate about learning, then I worry you might not be in the right career path. - @BethShaum

- Teaching is a year round job.  Summer pd is a chance for me to better myself and my classroom practices. - @my4ccoa

- I can choose what inspires me.  Last summer, paid own way for a 3day Kelly Gallagher writing wkshp.  Best PD I've ever attended! - @sandyrotto

- It's the best time for me to pick an area to focus on to become my very best. - @ACommaQueen

 

     There are many, many more, and we went on to ask how teachers prioritize personal and professional learning, their  favorite PD opportunities. plans this summer, favorite PD books, and how they will implement their learning in the fall with students.  There were SO many passionate teachers sharing ideas and thoughts.  It was inspiring, and made me proud to be a teacher.  I hear sometimes that young people are being talked out of becoming teachers because of the "state of education today."  That breaks my heart.   When you join Twitter chats, attend conferences, read blogs, and books and meet all the amazing educators out there, you get a different understanding of the"state of education."  It is definitely something I want to be a part of, and I hope that anyone with a desire to teach is not talked out of doing so! 

 

     Thank you, Beth Shaum (@BethShaum) , for asking me to co-host this amazing chat, and thank you, Nick, for c0-hosting with me!  If you would like to go back and read the archive, just click here.

 

Tweeted by @DUBIOSEDUCATOR

 

PD books:  Tweeted by @CHERYLTEACHES