Inspiration is easy when excitement is sparked within you and happens every day. I have to say that joining Twitter, hooking up with a great PLN, and discussing the most interesting, uplifting, and authentic topics for the last month or so, has been the best thing I've done for my career, and well. . . life! If you ask people around me, they would probably tell you that I generally come up with new and innovative ideas to share with staff and students through my years at my current building. In fact, just last year, one of my staff said, "ok, so what are you going to do next year that will keep us on our toes?" Remembering last year- we presented what we were doing at a Gala Event!We worked tirelessly to create an atmosphere that was inviting and warm. I was determined to get out the message to our district about what amazing things were happening at our school. We've been a PBIS school for 3 years and our students are working hard on behaviors, they know our rules and expectations, and they're making great strides. Why wouldn't I want to yell from the rooftops to the district office, along with many, many community members (that, by the way, still feel our school's poor reputation from years of negative talk--"pre me") We sent out 200 invitations. I wanted to make sure that other administrators in our district knew exactly how far we've come and what our plans were in the years to come. Yet, only about 50 people showed up, very few from other schools, a handful from the district office, and a bigger number from the community. What did I do? I started planning for next year's Gala! It's going to be bigger and better and WE WILL get out there and talk about our school, how great it is, and what we're doing now and will continue to do as the years pass. Fast Forward to June 2017In June, after reading many books, I decided to open up a Twitter account to work on my Professional Learning Network and reignite my fire (that, well, dimmed after the poor attendance at our GALA). It worked! It's truly an inspiring environment when you get to interact with those that you've only read about, or read their work! So many inspiring folks with positive attitudes to move forward, not to mention all of the wonderful connections I've made to roll out the true STUDENT-LED/STUDENT-OWNED classrooms I have in my head. Twitter has created a fire within to take our team to the next level. You say, "some social media has done this"? YES! I know it's simple, but it's great!
My excitement has definitely boiled over to staff working with me this summer. I come to work every day with new ideas, new inspirations and I am not afraid to let all that wonderful information out of my mouth! In turn, staff has been inspired to create beautiful pictures/sayings on our bulletin boards, they've found new ways to interact with one another that can carry on into the classroom, and best of all, they are working with one another as a team; a family! My #PassionatelyPositive theme is coming together the way I've envisioned and we have not even started back to school for the regular school year yet!. I am looking forward to our 17/18 School Year!
0 Comments
So far, I'd say this has been one of the most inspirational and informational summers that I've had in a long time. I've been reading, reading, reading, not to mention I've HOOKed into one of the best PLN's (Professional Learning Networks) one could possibly get HOOKed into. . . TWITTER!
I had already decided this year that our theme was going to be POSITIVELY PASSIONATE! Little did I know how much more this theme could take me in reading all of the books about PIRATES, MYTHS, DUNK TANKS, DITCHING TEXTBOOKS, SOCIALLEADING, creating SPARKS, SHIFTING and using 14,000 hours to EMPOWER the greater good that KIDS DESERVE! With all of this new found information swirling around in my head, I started planning. I LAUNCHed on to an idea; and there you have it, a plan was put into motion. Currently, I am at T minus 40 days until I cast off with my crew and still so much has to be worked out before they arrive, but I am certainly rejuvenated since last school year and ready to positively take on anything! When I look at the list, I am excited to take this journey, and think, what a fantabulous year this will be! We will: Live the PIRATE way Create STUDENT-LED classrooms Find the PASSION in our students and staff Give our students VOICE and CHOICE I promised myself that I would begin blogging, and to tell the truth, I do like this form of creativity, but I have to be honest, with all of the swirling around in my head right now, I am focused on plans and moving forward. In the future, I hope to write more in my blogs, but for today, I've kept it short and sweet, along with giving only a snipet of what we are up to here @WhaleySchool. More Later. . . |
|