A Little Like Casablanca

My Twitter experience and the start of this blog two weeks ago today is much like what Rick said to Captain Renault in the 1942 movie Casablanca, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

I’m amazed at the number of people I have met, the incredible resources they are so willing to share (or find) 24-7 across this magnificent world.  Dedicated educators committed to making a difference in the lives of children.  Two weeks ago, I had no idea the power of virtual colleagues.

As I write this now, I feel empowered.  My newly started PLN is what I’ve always needed and wanted in my professional career.  Teaching is all about relationships.  Relationships with our students, our colleagues, our parents and community.  But now, my vision is expanded and it doesn’t have walls or boundaries for either teachers or students!  The possibilities are really endless! Thank you, PLN!  This really is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

Do You See Me?

I participated in my first #edchat this week.  It was hard to keep up, but I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the conversation which focused on how we provide effective and meaningful feedback to students.  To me, it starts and ends with creating relationships and building trust. Without them feedback is meaningless, so is learning.  Anyway you look at it, it’s a two-way street and we are responsible for modeling what it means to build positive relationships in our classrooms and schools.  Thanks to Twitter and @stumpteacher for sharing this must-see YouTube: The MHS LIP DUB: FIREWORK.  This is exactly the type of culture we need to develop in our schools.

One of  my #edchat posts says it all.  It confirms my belief for building and sustaining relationships with our students: “do you recognize my efforts, do u notice my attempts, do u respect me? do you appreciate my gifts & talents & celebrate them?” If we can do this in our classrooms and schools we can create a culture and climate that resembles what Magnolia High School demonstrated in their school video: a school that recognizes and appreciates the individual gifts and talents of each and every student.  When this happens providing effective and meaningful feedback will become a two-way street.

Make it a point to see me.  Recognize me.  Appreciate me.  Celebrate me.  I’ll be willing to go the extra mile for you if you do!