For My Kids
I met a wonderful teacher Thursday at the SELU meeting.
When the morning group broke off into three focus groups, the teacher group began by sharing stories. Not ten minutes into the guided discussion, one of the teachers from the south, an ELA teacher, leaned over and mouthed, “We need to talk!”
And later we did.
Together, we made our way towards the Arts Education room where lunch was served. I listened and shared a bit, as we exchanged ELA 30 stories, project ideas, and talked about our kids.
I was amazed at her willingness to share. “Give me your email, I’ll send you stuff… Have you read? Have you tried? What do you think?” As she began sharing how learning unfolds in her ELA classroom I realised that the way she embeds technology far surpasses what happens in my learning space. I wondered why I have not heard about her or her kids.
As we shared, I realized the way she embeds technology bests many educators who are viewed as exemplars. But she does not blog about her exemplary practices.
Hmm.
The other day my students were reading a post. Many of the details where incorrect, or better, twisted to serve, what we felt, was the purpose of publishing for the sake of publishing. One of my students asked if this might be why the teacher in the south did not blog; what she does, she does for her kids, not for recognition.
The student’s question is a tough one and one for which I do not have an answer.
I do know I learned more from listening to this teacher on the way to lunch than I have from reading many educational blogs this past year. As well, I came away aching to continue learning from her; oh, I wish she shared digitally about her teaching and learning.
It is so easy for me to use ‘my kids’ as an excuse not to blog.
Truth is, I seldom make time to share digitally. Truth is, I honestly believe that when I share I offer the bits of what I know and offer a space for others to interact and to learn and to provide me much needed feedback. Sharing fosters growth. Sharing is a commitment to my willingness to grow. Rats. Truth is, isn’t that what I wish for and push my kids to do every single moment?
I want my thoughts here to be authentic. I want my stories to be valuable and to be meaningful. Mostly, I want my stories to reflect the relationships I have with my kids and the passion I have for learning. I want these stories to reflect me.
I want all this, for my kids.
