Every now and then, we all need to be reminded what our priorities are in education. We spend way too much time arguing about things that are not in the best interest of our students and too often they have nothing to do with teaching and learning. These discussions can be depressing and they can take momentum from many of the positive strides that are being made.
Add to this that certain times of year tend to be ripe for anxiety and dysfunction. In fact we are entering one right now as we (in our part of the world, Burlington, MA) head towards our annual Thanksgiving break with our Holiday season not far behind.
One of the songs we often hear has the words - "It's the most wonderful time of the year." However in our schools where people come from so many different individual sets of circumstances it is often times one of the most difficult times of the year. Having said this I feel fortunate to have a wonderful Personal Learning Network on Twitter where I can find words of wisdom that "put the wind back in my sails.We all need to have places like a PLN where we can turn for a boost of positive energy.
All of these quotes from some of the people I follow on Twitter have come through in the last two days and they have been a great motivating factor for me as I continue on the never-ending path to professional and school improvement. They help remind me of the moral imperative that educators must take stock of daily.
- I learned a long time ago that it isn't time, it's priority. If it's a high priority you will find the time. Shelly Terrell, Teacher Reboot Camp
- Today, it is not important to measure what our children can be taught. In stead, we should figure out how to measure what they can gain through their growing skills of learning, curiosity, resourcefulness, and caring — and what they can do with what they’ve learned.The world has become more cooperative, not competitive. The world has become a lot more interesting…"David Warlick, 2Cents Worth.
- Effective high school redesign is not about the amount of time spent in school but rather how students are learning before, during, and after school. Linda Mariotti, ASCD
- So how do you motivate the unmotivatible? You can't and you don't. Those that are never going to integrate can't be changed. Efforts need to spent with those that are willing and want to learn and are eager to try. Then you might start to change minds. Steven Anderson, Web2.0 Classroom.
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