Why Twitter?

You may be thinking, "Is Twitter really all that?" I know when I made the transition from using my Twitter account from personal to professional use, I was skeptical, as well. Previously, I'd used Twitter to follow celebrities and athletes. It was great, but I was using it strictly for entertainment purposes only.

Over a year and a half ago our school district made Twitter a focus and urged administrators to start using it professionally. It was presented to us as a billboard for our school. Who is going to tell your school's story, if you don't? So, I made the transition. I cleaned out my followers/following lists and deleted silly twitter posts I had made years ago with meaningless content such as what I had for dinner that night, etc.

We also created a school Twitter account to give our school a presence on Twitter. We began posting pictures from events and reminders about events coming up. This I totally got from the get go. What took some time for me to understand was how I could use my personal Twitter to help me grow professionally.

I'm not sure how long it was but there was a period of time that I didn't really see the point. For instance, Twitter chats, what's the purpose? Do people really get anything out of these?? My school system started having scheduled Twitter chats. I participated and promoted these with my staff. It was kind of an evolution for me. In addition to these chats, I started exploring others. One of the first outside chats I participated in was #KidsDeserveIt and then #Tlap (Teach Like a Pirate). My eyes began to open to a whole new world educationally. I began making connections with like minded people who were experiencing the same struggles as I. As I put myself out there in these chats, I began following amazing educators, and they followed me as well. Over time my Professional Learning Network grew significantly, and it changed me forever! Does that sound dramatic? Maybe, but it is definitely true! I now meet people in person that I have already engaged with on Twitter. We already have a powerful connection. We are connected by our desire to make a difference.

Presently, I'm constantly encouraging teachers to engage on twitter, with various chats #pesdragonspln, #PepperellPride, #floydpln, etc. Why? Being connected is powerful. If I could sum it all up, that is what Twitter is all about. It's time for us to stop teaching on an island and get connected. You are not alone!

If you are still wondering why and just don't get it, keep exploring and building your PLN. Eventually, you will have an amazing PLN and wonder how you ever taught before without it. We are better together!

 

My First Blog Post - Why?

Anyone that knows me, knows that blogging is not something I would typically do. I'm definitely a left brained kind of person and have never been much of a writer. Nevertheless, after some encouragement from my assistant principal, Suzie Henderson, I've decided to give it a try. Please bare with me and excuse my writing ineptness. :)

My intention is to use this blog to reflect on my own learning. My hope is that blogging will help me organize and categorize the information I have read/heard. If someone gets something out of reading it, then that's just icing on the cake.

Let's get started by talking about one of my favorite topics -  What is your why?

I think I'm fascinated with this topic because everything we do as educators stems from this. I challenged my teachers several months ago to do a Flipgrid video explaining their why. Listening to their stories were inspiring. Oftentimes, I hear teachers say it is a calling which I agree it truly is that. In Rita Pierson's famous Ted Talk, she says we were born to make a difference!


But why is it important to connect to your why?

Simon Sinek wrote a book about it, Start with Why. In his "Golden Circle" he explains that your why is at the center, surrounded by your how and what. He contends that great leaders inspire others to action by leading from the inside out. I agree but I think there is more to it.

This past week, I attended a PLC training in Atlanta. During the opening keynote by Tim Brown, he brought up this very topic. He played the following video in which the comedian, Michael Jr., summed it up best.

It is a simple illustration but what a profound statement!

When you know your why, your what has greater impact because you are walking in and toward your purpose!

That's it! Your why connects you to your purpose. So no matter what the what is, it is worth it and means more when you know why you are doing it. 
So when you are having a bad day, go back to your why.
When your students are having a bad day, go back to your why.

But it is not just about us and our own feelings. is it? When you know your why then your what has greater impact. So to be the best we can be for our students, we must connect to our why. Our kids deserve our very best each and everyday. 

Teaching is not always easy, but when you go back to your why it is always worth it!