Layers of Learning

Students make connections in my classroom every day.  During our read-aloud or a discussion on a topic,  one mention of a word or place reminds them of an event or memory in their lives. They raise their hands, and their faces light up when they hear something familiar or have an experience to share. They cannot wait to tell you all about it! They are so happy to tell you. They MUST tell you.

The same things happens to their teacher ---me-- too.

For example, I might attend one committee meeting one day where we might discuss a topic I happen to be thinking about. Then at another committee meeting--on an entirely different day---I might hear the same term again. It continues in my reading. I might hear that same phrase in a blog post I'm checking out , or come across it on Twitter.
To really drive it home, I might be having lunch at a conference with people I've just met, and one of them will mention this same term yet AGAIN. I'm interested. I listen. I learn. I ask questions. The cycle continues. And then I know:

These are not coincidences.

Because I am constantly pursuing literacy, books, writing, learning, reading, technology, innovation, etc., my worlds are continually colliding--in a great way! One aspect feeds gloriously into the other. One avenue takes me down a path I've just traveled. The results: a constant layering of experience and learning that never gets too stacked up or unruly. I can pile on the stack because unlike a tower of cards, it won't ever topple.

I know what my students feel like when they say, "I've heard of that!" I know exactly how hard it is NOT to share it!

Now, I actively seek those connections. I've stopped waiting for them to appear. In every aspect of my day-to-day, I'm connecting one thing to another.

But I don't raise my hand to share it! All I have to do is BLOG!

PD That Makes You Think

Have you ever been to a presentation where the speaker said so many interesting things you just wanted to write them ALL down? You try to write it all, but you just can't keep up. So many insightful things said. So many things you want to remember but just can't keyboard fast enough.

This was the case for me tonight. Luckily, I had Twitter, so I just tweeted out as much as I could.

Our speaker was Angela Maiers. She's an educator/speaker and the author of Passion Driven Classroom: a book I read this summer for a group study. Angela spoke about Twitter and its value. I'd heard her speak this summer, but this session was different and I learned more tonight.

But before she spoke to our faculty tonight, she stopped by my classroom this afternoon (accompanied by my principal). Imagine how excited and nervous I was!
My students showed Angela our classroom blog, and she had a GREAT discussion with them about blogging and tweeting (we just started tweeting as a class).

Angela Maiers in my classroom showcasing our blog!

I watched in pride and amazement. My students answered her questions with a brilliance that made me think just how privileged I am to be a teacher. Even though we've just been together for three weeks, my students have learned so much & all the credit goes to them! I realized then just how much we teach when we model in front of our students. Every time we blogged together, every time I modeled my own writing, and every time I shared my thinking with my students, learning was happening! I was so proud I couldn't speak.

At her presentation, Angela said a lot of insightful things about being connected and the value of information. But there's one concept that I am taking hold of tonight. And I'm blogging to share it here:

Our students must be digitally literate, and teachers must model this literacy just as they model reading and writing. (Book recommendation here: THE DIGITAL WRITING WORKSHOP by Troy Hicks. I read this one for my National Writing Project Summer Institute.)

This was my big AHA moment. This made me appreciate the importance of my contribution and participation. Every time I take part in digital forums & spaces, I experience something that prepares me to teach my students to do the same.

Reading, connecting, writing and learning! My students and I are on this journey together, but I'm traveling ahead to be ready!