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Secrets from a non-tenured teacher- Guest Post
Guest Post by |Erin Klein|
What I’ve realized from my brief, yet ever-exciting, career as a teacher is that there is so much that we aren’t prepared for as we sign our names on our much anticipated contracts. My first year, I was laid off, or ‘pink slipped,’ and had to draw a straw in our elementary hall-way with the three other ladies that were all hired the same day as I was that year. I drew the short straw, literally. My administration reassured me that they would find a spot for me in the fall. It wasn’t my first grade classroom that I had previously had but rather a newly created position at the middle school, funded by Stimulus dollars, in effort to support students needing literacy intervention. Though we had intervention classrooms, Literacy Workshop was special because we infused the reading intervention into the social studies and science classrooms and monitored their progress throughout. Well, because that position was only temporary, I found myself doing yet another unique role the following year, co-teaching. Now, I’m curious as to what my role will look like for year four (2011-2012)…
I often wonder if this evolving path has been a blessing or not. Then, as I reflect, I realize that the biggest secret that I’ve come to discover is that being exposed to so many teachers, administrators, and opportunities only reaffirms what seems to often be forgotten: It’s not about the program, it’s about the teacher.
Those words were actually told to me as inspiration to work in these new positions. Having my Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, I enjoyed researching and trying out new programs and strategies. Of course I believe in strong programs, but as I’ve stepped into more and more classrooms, I’ve realized how the teacher delivers the program and engages his or her students is the more powerful tool. So, I began to network with as many teachers as possible – trying to find out their inspiring ideas.
By attending numerous quality professional development conferences and workshops, I became an intellectual sponge filtering and filing all that I could absorb. My classroom became my work shop for taking those ideas and turning them into practice. My students didn’t become sponges soaking up what I was delivering but rather my team for figuring out what was working and how to enhance what wasn’t working. They were now the pioneers of their success, taking ownership of their learning. Our team looked similar to Gregory House’s medical team, without the satire, bouncing intelligent ideas off of each other – turning to their guide to facilitate their learning. Students were inspiring each other each day and growing exponentially. Our lessons came alive, collaboration was second nature, and active engagement was automatic, not encouraged.
Having a compulsive personality, I couldn’t get enough… I needed to extend my network without waiting for the next workshop or conference. Thus, I turned to the Internet. I was amazed with how many teachers were willing to share not only their ideas but also their resources. After compiling a hub of my personal favorites that worked for my classroom, I decided to start my own resource sharing blog, Kleinspiration. I wanted to share the inspiration that I had gained from web 2.0 sites, Apple applications, brilliant teacher’s blogs, and best-practice ideas; hence, Kleinspiration was born. This blog is still in its infancy as it was started two weeks ago, but I work daily to update it with the best of what others are sharing and creators are designing along with how it can be applied directly to practice within your classroom. With being a follower of Kleinspiration, you will find inspired ideas to bring to your class right away that are free, user-friendly, teacher tested, and student approved. I look forward to collaborating with you soon.
Thank you Kelly for allowing me to be a guest blogger on your site, one of the greatest resources I’ve come across, iLearn Technology. Thank you for helping me to remember one of the greatest secrets in education, a network and support system of passionate teachers. You’ve continue to inspire me each day!
Personal Invitation to Join My Network, Kleinspiration:
Follow Kleinspiration: click here and select ‘follow’ on the right hand side!
Tweet with Erin Klein: click here to follow on Twitter
‘Like’ it on Facebook: click here to be a fan of Kleinspiration
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I have learned so much from reading the blogs that are a part of this alliance. I have also found great blogs that I would not have found any other way. Thanks Kelly!
I must agree Kelly. Being part of the blog alliance has helped me and opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. Yes new friendships have been formed but also new networks of learning and sharing across the world. I feel very honoured to be a part of this.
Thankyou for setting this up, and thankyou to everyone who agreed to be part of this wonderful, life learning experience. Not only for ourselves but more importantly for our students. I love reading about everyones ideas, thoughts and the sharing that is involved.
I see wonderful things, opportunities and friendships coming from this alliance! Glad to be part of ti!
The learning opportunities are great as well!!!!
Tks
Thanks for organizing the group. I feel I’ve learned more this month than in some of me EDU classes. Thanks again!
I am learning so much too! Looking forward to settling down and reading more blogs tonight.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll give the translator a try. I’ve enjoyed reading many of the blogs in the alliance. Thank you so much for setting this up! I try to comment on at least 5 posts a night.
That is great! It is hard to get through them all each week but so worth it!
It has been fun hasn’t it?
Same for me! In the past few weeks I have learned more than many PD sessions I have been to. You guys are awesome!
I have truly been blessed by this project, I feel selfish getting so much out of it for myself! I am glad to hear that others are benefiting as much as I am
Thank you for joining us and being a part of the alliance!
I’m so glad to have you!
Don’t be modest about reaping the rewards for initiating such a great initiative. Have you read Seth Godin’s Tribes? People are waiting for someone to lead. And the benefits are great for all!
I read your blog off and on and find it very enlightening. I have been trying to build my blog to help educators as well. The focus of the blog is on helping educators overcome their fear of integrating and using technology in the classroom. How can I become a more active member of the community and join the alliance?
Thanks for adding me into the alliance – and your lovely comments on my blog. Already relishing the opportunity to connect with so many other ed blogs!
[...] finally (only so far!) I have joined Kelly Tenkely’s blogging alliance. I have discovered some excellent blogs this way and connected with other educators through [...]
Thank you for organising this. It is great being apart of a group who are willing to offer advice and feedback and are happy to share. I love it!
As I said in my email…
Thanks for creating the blogging alliance! I already feel that I have begun to network with different people and engage in conversation through blog comments. It’s wonderful to share thinking with other teacher/learners and feel connected in this way.
Thanks so much again for your creativity, enthusiasm and commitment… all of which are infectious
Thanks for allowing me to be part of the alliance. i know my blog isn’t strictly speaking an education blog, but I have readers who are both parents and teachers. Learning is something i am addicted to, so all these great new blogs are like a treasure trove.
Kelly,
The communication opened up by this alliance still amazes me. I have come across so many wonderful ideas thanks to you. Thank you so very much.
I really enjoy reading your blog. I have learned a lot and as my own blog develops I enjoy reading these others. I love the thought of the alliance. Great job.
I have learned so much from reading the blogs that are a part of this alliance. I have also found great blogs that I would not have found any other way. Thanks Kelly!
Thanks for a great list of blogs.
Feel free to add our blog as well.
http://blog.learningtoday.com
Thanks once again for facilitating this initiative. It has been so great to have a centralized list to check and share educational ideas with the great people on it!
Have to agree with all the posts so far, this has just inspired me so much, my blog has improved already, just that teaching, planning, and marking get in the way.
thanks for setting this up Kelly,
I would love to be part of the alliance. like you I fell into my job as technology teacher in a K-5 school and I have been learning ever since from blogs, wikis and general searching around. I too created a place to keep all of the websites I told my teachers about though I put them in a a wiki http://www.learning-spaces.wikispaces.com. I look forward to learning from you and the “alliance.” Twitter me: @teacherdebra
I am so glad! It looks like the alliance is doing it’s job
I love you blog…teachers can always use ideas and resources related to reading!
Glad to have you!
Trevor, the original alliance is closed to new members joining (purely as a result of how many we have). But, I have had several interested and am considering starting another alliance. This is in an attempt to keep the list manageable for those who are participating to comment and interact. Is this something you would be interested in?
Love Seth Godin! Thanks Kelli.
I’m so thankful that you put this together. I’ve learned so much in the short period of time that we’ve had this. You’ve done a service to far more than you’ll ever realize! Thank you!
What a fabulous initiative this is Kelly. Well done!
Thank you! Couldn’t do it without all of your participation.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steven W. Anderson, Steven W. Anderson, Milton Ramirez, Tom, ktenkely and others. ktenkely said: Looking for some amazing educational blogs, look no further: http://bit.ly/9dy4iv I have learned so much from this group of educators! [...]
I am a graduate school student in Childhood Education. I enjoyed reading your blog very much. Thank you for wonderful sharing!
I have an idea for the Blogging Alliance I want to run by you. What if we set up a group blog for all members of the alliance where we could cross-post blog posts of ours we would like to see reach a broader audience? It is near impossible to follow 73 blogs and following only ones from a particular category limits the scope. Perhaps we could all commit to one post per month on the group blog. What do you think? I would be willing to set this up (granted I can find a free hosting service to allow 73+ collaborators).
Carl, I think this is a great idea! Would it be a place to cross-post a piece from our blogs or are you thinking of new content added collectively between us? Do you want to spear head this?
That sounds like a great idea.
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[...] met @ktenkely who invited bloggers to join a blogging alliance, through which I have connected with other educational bloggers, which has added another whole [...]
[...] been missing things. Stuff I really needed to hear.2 Enter Kelly Tenkely @ktenkely and her second Bloggers Alliance- she shared the joys of Google Reader bundles. When our school started blogging, I created a folder [...]