I have never felt this much peace before the start of a school year.
Tonight as I reflect on my previous school year, I know my PLN (Professional Learning Network) is a big reason why I feel such peace. They helped me rise to challenges, and they gave my students the opportunity to connect globally. Most of these educators I have never met, but they know me well. They know I want to continue to have a more student led classroom. They know I want to help each student learn at his or her own pace. They know I have a big heart and a passion for reaching every student. They know I want my students to love learning, to explore their passions, and to develop their gifts. They know I want my students to be good listeners and to continue to be globally connected. Most importantly, they know I want my students to have fun in school.
Every day I seem to encounter a new concept or idea thanks to my PLN. When I don't understand that idea my PLN points me to resources that will deepen my understanding of that concept. Podcasts weren't part of my life last summer, and now they are part of my daily routine. The number of books on my Kindle app has multiplied rapidly since last summer because of my PLN's recommendations. My PLN has helped me rediscover my love of learning. My PLN has taught me to trust my students.
What did I learn from my students last year?
My students taught me to listen, to really listen. They also taught me to let go. When I let go of the idea that I had to set the pace for every activity we did, my students created masterpieces. My students learned to listen and to collaborate while building with Legos. My students learned to trust their imagination while they wrote their secret missions. They showed me they were capable of so much more than I envisioned. They showed me possibilities I never pictured while writing my lesson plans.
My students taught me to listen, to really listen. They also taught me to let go. When I let go of the idea that I had to set the pace for every activity we did, my students created masterpieces. My students learned to listen and to collaborate while building with Legos. My students learned to trust their imagination while they wrote their secret missions. They showed me they were capable of so much more than I envisioned. They showed me possibilities I never pictured while writing my lesson plans.
I am excited to see what seeds this year's class will plant to help me grow as an educator.
If you haven't figured out what my second one little word for 2015 is, it's LISTEN. If I continue to focus on improving my listening skills, I will continue to grow as a teacher. I will continue to grow as a lead learner.
Special thanks to my Twitter friends @ShiftParadigm and @Ranal55 for their photographic inspiration. Their efforts show me the infinite positive possibilities created by simple acts of kindness.
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