I teach yoga part time, and a yoga student asked me about a posture. I replied with the phrase, "Well, my teacher tells me that..." They seemed surprised that I had a teacher. Yoga is considered a journey that is on-going and no practice is ever the same. The body is always adjusting, growing and reacting. Teaching is like yoga in this way. As teachers of any content or practice, we have a responsibility to always be looking to learn. We seek out our teachers in our ongoing development and learn all that we canto grow as professionals.
In order to be the model learner to our students, we must be transparent in our learning. I always told my students when I read new research or attended a conference and learned something new. We have to show students, that as teachers, we are excited about learning. When students see there is a purpose, research or thought behind what we ask them to do, it creates buy in. The purpose behind all we do in the classroom should rest on the foundation of our constant professional learning. Professional learning doesn't have to rest upon the district professional development days. Using Twitter, reading research or books on our own, using Voxer, collaboration with teachers from other districts, states, attending conferences, personal teaching reflections....All of these are ways people can continue to learn and build professional knowledge to help themselves grow.
I thrive on professional growth. Even when I attend conference sessions on topics I know a lot about, I seek out that one new thing I can walk away and add to my tool box. The mindset that after a set amount of time in our professional we have learned it all sets a bad example for our students that we teach. We should be on the journey of the profession. We all have a tool box and no one does it all perfect, therefore all teachers should continue the journey and look to improve their knowledge, skills and see how they might do things better. I believe that as an educator, I can always learn to do something better. I look for the learning in all situations and conversations.
In order to be the model learner to our students, we must be transparent in our learning. I always told my students when I read new research or attended a conference and learned something new. We have to show students, that as teachers, we are excited about learning. When students see there is a purpose, research or thought behind what we ask them to do, it creates buy in. The purpose behind all we do in the classroom should rest on the foundation of our constant professional learning. Professional learning doesn't have to rest upon the district professional development days. Using Twitter, reading research or books on our own, using Voxer, collaboration with teachers from other districts, states, attending conferences, personal teaching reflections....All of these are ways people can continue to learn and build professional knowledge to help themselves grow.
I thrive on professional growth. Even when I attend conference sessions on topics I know a lot about, I seek out that one new thing I can walk away and add to my tool box. The mindset that after a set amount of time in our professional we have learned it all sets a bad example for our students that we teach. We should be on the journey of the profession. We all have a tool box and no one does it all perfect, therefore all teachers should continue the journey and look to improve their knowledge, skills and see how they might do things better. I believe that as an educator, I can always learn to do something better. I look for the learning in all situations and conversations.