What is the purpose behind a meeting? Last week I attended a conference, it was a fantastic experience. It gave me information and ideas to take back to my classroom to inspire my teaching and make it better. Every week my school district has PLC time (Professional Learning Communities.) This time is intended for collaboration and professional development. It is supposed to be a time when teachers can come together and share ideas to enhance their teaching, learn from each other, and build a more cohesive district b;y sharing resources. Instead, it has become a time where the inspiration I feel is drawn out of me. It is a time I listen to my fellow educators complain about the task at hand, about our lack of resources, about the administrators of our district. It has become a time of absolute dread for me. It is so disheartening because I have experienced being inspired by fellow educators. I have learned from other educator's experiences. I have left a session feeling so excited about being a teacher it makes me want to be a better educator. So, I ask the question: What is the purpose of meetings? If you are a person in charge of a meeting make sure that there is a purpose for the meeting. Make sure that the people in the meeting are provided with an inspirational motivator. Ensure that the purpose of the meeting is clear and that it is relevant. Meetings should leave the attendees feeling inspired and should not leave the attendees feeling as if their time was wasted. Think about what you can do to inspire others.
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Every year, I write a professional goal and a personal goal. This is a habit I have gotten into thanks to one of my former principals. Even when I was a teaching assistant she would have us write goals for the year. I have found this practice to be very important. Setting a goal for myself forces me to look ahead, to stay fresh, and to go out of my comfort zone a little bit. Last year, I had (along with a co-worker) set a professional goal to present at a conference. This year, we have achieved that goal. Yesterday, October 23, 2014 my colleague and I presented at a the 2014 WIDA National Conference. We presented to a packed room, they had to bring in extra chairs and even with that people were still shoulder to shoulder sitting on the floor. (We later learned people were turned away because it was too full!) Presenting at a conference is pretty exciting but the incredibly positive feedback we received has been so rewarding. Never would I have imagined that I would be a part of something so amazing. I am incredibly grateful to my colleague that she includes me in her ideas and encourages me to grow. Together we make a great team. I encourage you to reach beyond where you think you can reach. To set goals for yourself and when you achieve that goal set a new one. Do not ever stop achieving, dreaming, reaching.
I have always been attracted to quotes and sayings and if you follow me on Pinterest, you will know just how much I like quotes. Looking through various quotes on Pinterest the other day I came across this one, "People too often forget that it is your own choice how you want to spend the rest of your life." (Rachel Wolchin) This one has been rattling around in my brain ever since I read it. Especially since so many people I know are accepting their life right now and blaming their "bad fortune" on others. This quote reminds me that we are all in charge of our own life. We have the power to change it. We have the power to say this isn't good enough and then work towards making it so. Our life and how we live it is our choice. I do believe you can choose happiness. Sure, others may influence our life for a bit but, if they are not contributing in a positive manner towards your happiness it is up to you to make a change. Never settle for less than what you deserve. Find something that inspires you, something that reminds you that you deserve to live happy, and keep it near you always. Don't let yourself settle. Live, love, and be happy.
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Do you like what you have read? Do you know someone who will benefit from reading this blog? Feel free to share it.A bit about me:I am who I am thanks to God, my parents, my family, and my friends. My life is driven by faith. Oh, and I am a cancer survivor. Archives
February 2017
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