I have fallen a little bit behind on blogging. Which was probably bound to happen. (School hasn't even started yet... yikes.) I have, however, been writing a lot - just not online. So, I will begin where I left off by wrapping up my experience in the summer institute with the Greater Madison Writing Project.
It is difficult to put into words how powerful and inspiring my time in the summer institute has been. People talk about summer institutes as life changing; I would instead describe it as an experience that took my every curiosity, interest, passion related to education and enriched it. I regularly found myself wanting to be able to learn more faster, to take it all in as quickly as possible, all the while knowing that it can take a lifetime to become a masterful teacher (or student for that matter). After a rocky relationship with this profession, I feel refreshed and deeply recommitted. The summer institute reminded me that I love education, I never cease to be interested in it, and I am prepared in a new way for what lies ahead.
The institute left me a snow-globe brain full of ideas and things to learn more about. A few that are currently surfacing include: democratic education, Nancie Atwell's writers workshop instruction, mindfulness practices in the classroom, authentic education, habits of mind, and place/community-based learning.
In addition to sparking my interest and allowing me to rethink old ideas, I came to a few currently tangible realizations about education. They are as follows:
1. I need to come to teaching joyfully. I may have written about this previously, but I realized this summer how much my attitude has influenced my practice. For me, what this means is that I need to read and write joyfully if that is what I want for my students.
2. I don't want to ever stop being curious. There is so much I want to know more about that I just can't get enough fast enough. If this ever goes away, it will be time for me to stop teaching.
When I sought out this opportunity, I was mostly looking to find a community of professionals to be connected to. I feel so blessed to have round this network and I am excited to see how we grow together in the future. As I move forward with this school year (and the next, and the next), I feel prepared, inspired, enlivened as an educator and an individual.
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