This summer has been a continuation of busy - weeks of family visiting, a trip to the Midwest to see family back home, several trips to Ocracoke for NCCAT, a NCDPI digital competencies training, a Discovery Education training, a schedule-planning meeting... nevermind reading and running a Twitter book club... AND working on querying my first manuscript and writing/researching my 2nd. BUT the running commentary in my head ALL summer has been:
"what are you doing WITH your students come August 29?"
This year, I'm working WITH my students. I'm learning WITH my students. I'm reading WITH my students.
I had the pleasure of meeting inspiring, incredible educators from across the state at NCCAT in June. Being among these teachers who function daily by putting students first was a great reminder of why I'm in this profession. They, along with my PLN of rockstars, and my partner-in-crime, Tavia, always redirect me back to stepping away from the busy path, and onto the one that leads to our kids.
It's been a busy, taxing summer on me... it's been a challenging summer for our country. When our bi-weekly NC DPI email arrived in my box, I was pleased to see NC TOY Bobbie Cavnar shared a powerful message. Here is an excerpt to remind you of WHY we do what we do:
By teaching gently in a world of numbers and data, metal and machines, we can make our schools a garden of kindness, humanity and hope so that, maybe, they will build a world just a little kinder than the one we built. Teaching gently is hard, it often means putting away our own ego, forgiving when we have every right to punish, being generous even when others take advantage of it. Teaching gently is hard, but we must remember that they are our children. As Lincoln wrote about his own son, “This is a big order, World, but see what you can do. He’s such a nice little fellow...”