I had a conversation this week with a brand new teacher who expressed their thanks for talking to them about ideas to try, books to read with their children, and ways to collaborate. This teacher and I had a conversation when they first started about the importance of collaboration, simply because their teacher prep didn’t prepare them for teaching. How can we expect new teachers to be able to work in classrooms if we don’t provide them with 21st century ideas? I will never give up trying to help others learn, no matter their age. I will never give up in what I believe is the most important job in the world. We need to share, we need to provide the light for all brand new teachers and crush the notion that teaching is just not worth it because teaching is so worth it!

I won’t give up on creating opportunities where students learn in different ways.

Think how our lives would be different if we had teachers who gave up, who didn’t believe in their profession, or in the endless minds that could grow because of their facilitation? The world would be a vastly different place, one that I’m sure I wouldn’t want to be a part of. We can’t give up on teaching, on facilitating learning, and helping grow the curiosity of our students, also helping other teachers that surround us in our buildings. If I wouldn’t have had that conversation with this teacher she probably would not be continuing as a teacher (teacher even said that). One conversation, one collaboration, one comment can change the path of a teacher, either continuing to teach or find another profession. I am tired of those who try to discourage people from teaching. Do they know the impact they are making on that person? How about the impact they are making on the countless students that person will work with over the years?

How about the impact they are making on the countless students that person will work with over the years?

I will never give up on creating ways for students and teachers to experience new learning. The possibilities are endless for innovation that could help to dramatically alter the landscape of education. It’s not about technology, but about the culture of collaboration and creativity that we instill in our students and teachers. The teacher I talked to this week had never heard of or thought of the ideas we talked about. Once our 5 minute conversation ended you could see the sparkle in that teacher’s eyes. The teacher was already imagining the possibilities, the impact it could have on their students. We need to start thinking in new ways, not ways that we have always done something.

Do we make the time or say there isn’t enough time. We don’t want our students to give excuses, so why do we?

Another teacher came in to our design studio this week and mentioned how bright and colorful it was. She was intrigued by what we were doing, her eye drawn to something different that she was curious about. We need to change the culture of our buildings from same old things to different innovative ideas that stretch our students and teachers. I won’t give up on creating opportunities where students learn in different ways. If we truly want to affect change in our schools then we need to look both inside and outside the school walls for inspiration, for collaboration, for learning.

Grow a culture that strives to learn from others both inside and outside the school.

I will continue to be a learner who shows others different ways to learn, but also one who strives to learn from others. This is the culture we want to grow and so many teachers don’t feel that culture. I will continue to talk to teachers about what they are doing with students, but also looking outside of my building for inspiration. Education has changed, I am connected with any educator in the world through twitter etc. and that is a game changer. So many of the different ideas have come from others who I have collaborated with. We want this culture to be strong in all our schools, but do we truly embody that as teachers? Do we make the time or say there isn’t enough time? We don’t want our students to give excuses so why do we? If you want to get better then you make the time, you make connections, you grow as a learner. I will not give up on building a culture of creativity and innovation. We impact so many young minds that we have to change the culture of our schools, one teacher/student at a time.

Don’t be afraid to share. See the impact it makes on your learning and the culture of your school.

What will you do this week to affect change? How many conversations will you have inside and outside your building about learning? Create that change, have conversations with 1st year and veteran teachers. You never know how a 5 minute conversation will change the path of a teacher, but more importantly impact the minds of hundreds of students over the next few years. Don’t be afraid to share! Become a change agent by sharing your ideas with other teachers, your principal, your community. See the impact it makes on your learning and the culture of your school.