Reflections on the Greater Madison Writing Project Summer Institute

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.

Greater Madison Writing Project or What I have been doing for the past two weeks.

Yesterday my friend Liza asked me to re-explain what I am doing in the writing project, and I realized it perhaps needs revisiting on the blog. In April, I was accepted into the first cohort of the Greater Madison Writing Project, a branch of the National Writing Project (NWP). All participants take part in a Summer Institute (SI) which for me, is Monday-Thursday from 9-3:30 in Madison at Olbrich Gardens throughout the month of July. Everyone who is involved is related to the education system: teachers (elementary, middle, high, post-secondary), librarians, instructional specialists, and graduate students.

The general philosophy of the NWP is that educators possess knowledge of best practices which often goes unshared; in the SI, each participant produces a "Teacher's Workshop" wherein they share what they are doing or plan to do in their classroom related to writing. So far, we have heard presentations about homeless and highly mobile students, Deborah Meier's Habits of Mind, authentic instruction, mindfulness practices, digital writing, writing workshops, and collaborative rubric writing. The wealth of knowledge amongst my peers is overwhelming and inspiring. In addition to this sharing, we spend a great deal of time reading, writing, and discussing various topics related to educational interests.

I feel blessed to be a part of this group; I am challenged and enriched by them every day. I have learned so much already and am excited to see where the next two weeks take us. This week, I had a realization as to how I am growing as a teacher and as an individual. It took the shape of a poem and I thought I would share it with you all here.

For a long time my voice was silenced
my own comparisons to others
and insecurities
telling me
"You are not as smart as they think you are"
"Yours is not as good"
"If you just worked harder, you would be better"
For a long time
I listened

All the while
(as all good hypocrites will do)
I worked every day to get my students to feel
good
strong
smart
about themselves
their work
their ideas
and their place in the world

But those words
lessons
truths
were for my students
not for me

I don't know why I have always been so hard on myself
Maybe the media's idea that women can be everything and nothing at the same time
Maybe my father's legacy of never feeling as though he achieved enough

Everyone told me that your 30's are better than your 20's because you know yourself better
and you don't worry about things so much anymore
I turned 30 last month
and I think it is starting to take hold

When I went to orientation for the GMWP, Melissa told me how powerful my writing was
I was sure she had me confused with someone else
Such a compliment from the director of the UW Writing Center (a huge force in my education)
was like gold to me

The voices and the insecurities started to build
but I stopped listening to them so much

I started a blog (!!)
people read it
and liked it

I go to the summer institute every day
and don't compare my work to others
but appreciate it

I share my work
writing
ideas
and have confidence that they are valuable

Someone brought up the idea that if we want it for our students
it has to start with us

It will be impossible for me to erase all of my insecurities
but I have a stronger - more supportive voice now
for my writing
for my students
for myself