Monthly Advice–March 2022

It may be too soon for some, but hiring season for the start of next school year (August 2022/September 2022) is here.

My advice for this month: think about next year, now.

Whether you decide to stay at your school, your school network/charter/district, or the profession altogether is a conversation and critical conversation at that.

I think staying at a school is arguably easiest. The routine, community, expectations are known. Moving classrooms or grade levels can be done in a day, maybe two. It is arguably the safest route–safest in the sense of the known, the continuity of it all.

The hardest, without a doubt, is leaving the profession altogether–and this is a relatively recent choice, conversation, and common-enough occurrence of late to be a much more serious option for a lot more people.

Wherever you land on the spectrum of what to do, or what you’re considering, it’s time to think about next year . . . now.

Talk to colleagues, look at your contract papers/letters of intent, discuss it with family and/or friends, do what’s best for you and make a plan for next year . . .

Photo by Isabela Kronemberger on Unsplash

Summer time . . . New Year, New Job

I have done my best to post here and there through the summer because August and September start a really big chapter in my teaching career: new school, new location, new life!

I am starting a long-held personal and professional goal: to work abroad/to teach abroad.

I am moving from California, USA to Turkey. I will be going back in the classroom, back in kindergarten–where my career began–but in a whole new country! I am allowing myself some time away from writing to enjoy the remainder of my break, and to allow myself the necessary time to transition into this new world and chapter of my life; I will be back in mid-to-late September with new content–really new, as I imagine this experience will give me a whole lot of learning to write about!

Until then–görüşürüz (see you)!

Summer Learning!

A repeat of all my work this past year–replete with additions, updates, and clarifications based on my initial presentation(s) and feedback. It’s been quite the July — and I still have a certification series to go!

Already presented (and available on-demand):

July 13, 2021: English Language Learners: Immediate Implementation Tips For Instruction
July 15, 2021: Diverse Literature: How to Make the Right Choice

A series to go:

July 26-30, 2021: Inclusive Schools And Teaching Professional Certification

These webinars have served as a tremendous growth opportunity for me. I have had to review what is most important to my work and research for every topic. I have had to play with technology and visual organization. I have had to rehearse definitions, arguments, concepts, frameworks, and possible Q & A. I feel more and more prepared, more and more inspired with each presentation–and I hope you can join me, share this opportunity, or provide me with added ideas as I move forward and keep presenting!

Oh May . . .

My first year of teaching, at the end of April, I was told by a veteran teacher: beware of May. She didn’t explain why or what, she just said enjoy the rest of April because May isn’t easy.

Every year I have taught I think of her, and her warning. And while every year I do make it through May, it’s definitely rough.

This year I finished a professional development series–as the instructor, I had presentations, portfolios, and paperwork making me anxious the first two weeks of May, and then consuming all my time the last two weeks of May. On top of that, I presented my final education webinar, and I finished three large editing projects.

May is a month of celebrations, and deadlines. Culminating projects, and closing paperwork. It’s a big month in the world of education. So, I apologize for falling behind here, but I did make it to the other side so that’s something to celebrate, right? 😁

Why do I teach?

Installment #10:

I teach because it is essential.

If there’s one thing I learned in the past year, it’s that there are certain professions and industries which sustain our entire existence; there are certain professions and industries that hold up the entirety of society.

Schools, teachers, education–we function, we thrive, thanks to the (public) education system(s).

I knew implicitly how much schools provided, but I don’t think I understood the reach or magnitude until the buildings closed, and the way of schooling transformed, overnight. And I know those who had no idea previously, were even more shocked.

Teaching is essential. And to be able to provide such an essential service, to teach, is an incredible opportunity and noble work–and for that, I teach.