I am so excited to see that my brainchild, Teaching and Learning Consulting Network, LLC is live on the web! When I decided to retire, I believed (and still do) that I still had much to offer schools and teachers to help them with improving teaching and learning. I simply needed to be a little closer to home for a number of reasons, and spend a little less time in the car. The idea of forming my own consulting company kept spinning in my head. I talked it over with my network of friends and colleagues and they thought I could make this work. So now, after spending the summer thinking over all the aspects of being a small business owner, I'm ready to hit the ground running on yet another road trip in my life!
Notice in the previous paragraph, I said I talked to my network of friends and colleagues. I believe those conversations are the key to improving teaching and learning: being able to collaborate and help each other get better. I send drafts of ideas to my network, listen to their feedback and implement what I can so that I can improve my product. Isn't that what we want to do in schools as well? Yet how often do schools isolate the teachers or administrators into their classrooms or offices without finding ways to help them connect with their colleagues to share ideas and provide support? Yes, sometimes we even isolate ourselves, believing that we are just fine, or if we ask for help, it is a sign of weakness. I hope that you will find a way to regularly reflect on your practice, share ideas, and learn from others...even if it's in the hallway between classes or over your 20 minute lunch.
My other belief is that if we stop seeking improvement then we just stop. Our nature is to need to feel productive in this life. One way to do that is to be a lifelong learner. Seek to revise and make yourself and whatever you do better. With the Olympics just concluding we have seen many medals won and stories of hard work and sacrifice in order to just be there. And even when the world's fastest man won yet another sprint, he said he intended to enjoy it for a short time and then set a new goal! As educators, a new school year is upon us! What is your new goal for this year?
In the days and weeks to come, I hope to talk about some of the issues facing educators today and offer some ideas and support to help make their jobs a little bit easier. Welcome to my blog! I hope to see you checking back often to see what I learn and share with you!
Notice in the previous paragraph, I said I talked to my network of friends and colleagues. I believe those conversations are the key to improving teaching and learning: being able to collaborate and help each other get better. I send drafts of ideas to my network, listen to their feedback and implement what I can so that I can improve my product. Isn't that what we want to do in schools as well? Yet how often do schools isolate the teachers or administrators into their classrooms or offices without finding ways to help them connect with their colleagues to share ideas and provide support? Yes, sometimes we even isolate ourselves, believing that we are just fine, or if we ask for help, it is a sign of weakness. I hope that you will find a way to regularly reflect on your practice, share ideas, and learn from others...even if it's in the hallway between classes or over your 20 minute lunch.
My other belief is that if we stop seeking improvement then we just stop. Our nature is to need to feel productive in this life. One way to do that is to be a lifelong learner. Seek to revise and make yourself and whatever you do better. With the Olympics just concluding we have seen many medals won and stories of hard work and sacrifice in order to just be there. And even when the world's fastest man won yet another sprint, he said he intended to enjoy it for a short time and then set a new goal! As educators, a new school year is upon us! What is your new goal for this year?
In the days and weeks to come, I hope to talk about some of the issues facing educators today and offer some ideas and support to help make their jobs a little bit easier. Welcome to my blog! I hope to see you checking back often to see what I learn and share with you!
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