I Am a Teacher

I am a teacher.  I have been ever since I realized that this was my life's calling, my passion unfolded, my dream in life.  I don't become a teacher when I show up at school at 7 AM and then turn it off when I leave hours after my contract time ends.  I am a teacher every minute of the day, every day of the year, with every breath I take.

I am passionate about teaching.  I spend hours every day at home thinking of how I can reach my children better (the students are all my children), how I can make their day better, how I can enrichen their lives.  I discuss, reflect, and I dream bigger, better, and more every day.  I lead, I comfort, I support, and I dare to believe in all of my students and what they can offer to the world.

I love my students.  I ride with them through their journeys in life; when they celebrate I cheer with them, when they grieve, I cry with them.  But more importantly, I teach them.  Every day they show up to school and even if they don't, I always continue teaching.  I see my job as an honor, as something only a select few do really well.  My job is not just a job, it is who I am.

Teachers are not made in college, they become them in the classroom.  Teachers reach out to anyone that enters their worlds, and they impact every single aspect of this American life.  Support them, cherish them, and right now, fight for them and their rights.  We are here to help America succeed and grow, not to take the blame.

Just an Every Day PLN Moment

I, too, have joined the ranks of the faithful PLN supporters; the ones that proclaim all of the amazing things that have happened to us because of our connection with others whether we choose to call it a PLN or simply a community.  And yet, today I was reminded of just how big of an effect my PLN, or whatever you want to call it, has had on my everyday life.

In the last 2 days, my PLN has helped me with:

• Convincing my principal that less homework = more learning.  Thank you to @Nunavut_teacher for sending out articles that I was able to pass on to my principal.  No meeting needed, the research spoke for itself.    
• Share Everyday Math Resources with my school from another tweet.
• Create a Google Map for the Global Read Aloud Project as prompted by the wonderful Laura Fleming.
• Strengthen my argument for limiting grading in the classroom through conversations with @MrMacnology and @Joe_Bower. 
• Purchase 8 Flip Camera's for the price of 4 thanks to a link sent out a long time ago on Twitter (if it was by you - thank you!)
• Work out again - thanks to the fantastic people involved in #temt, now I don't want to be lazy.
• Promise 500 people that I follow that I would get them a free IPad - thanks Twitter hacks.

This does not mean that I couldn't have figured this all out on my own, but the point is that I did not have to.  My PLN did all the legwork for me and in turn I tried to help them out.  

So thanks PLN, every day you make my life a little easier; my students (and husband) are grateful.