Post PARCC!

This post is a genuine reflection of my time investing in the learning environments of my colleagues as their peer in the process of educating our students. There will not be much discussion of technology tools because I have realized in my short time in this position that this position is 95% about INSTRUCTION and 5% technology.

Before PARCC, the laptops were in rooms and teachers were using them to modify and enhance learning experiences. I walked into rooms and collaborated with staff to create lessons or simply "think tank" options. When the laptops left the rooms to be set up for PARCC and then used it became more challenging to promote digitally enhanced lessons with those devices so some teachers and I focused on BYOT lessons. The 21st century teacher is flexible! We learned a lot about the limitations and liberties of BYOT.... together.

After the PARCC was spring break! Many teachers offered up unique ways for students to share their connections on their breaks to the content and concepts of the classroom!!! That is so cool to witness and model using twitter, vine, snapchat and more.

This week, we all return and laptops are back and learning is rolling on again. Today I went into six rooms and realized the following as I watched my peers DO WORK... and a craft it truly is for certain.

• Good teachers are good learners
• Good teachers have the humility to accept that they need to learn daily
• Good teachers have the courage to take calculated risks in how they introduce a lesson, facilitate a lesson and resolving a lesson
• Good teachers are willing to fail so that they can learn
• Good teachers want to deliver their lessons in a way that students will engage and connect with the lesson

So what makes a good teacher a GREAT teacher? Personally, I believe if you are doing all the bullets of a good teacher daily you are a great teacher. This job is not easy but it is like I tell my athletes, "if it were easy, everyone would do it!" We are not everyone. We are the ones that every student needs. Keep on creating! Keep on collaborating! Keep on pushing! My job is to help you overcome hurdles along the instructional way. Please do not consider my time invested in your lesson a burden to me... I LOVE LEARNING with you. 

So far, I have been able to work 1 on 1 with nearly 15 teachers to develop something that they wanted to develop (lesson, website, etc). Spring Break was a wonderful break but I am ready to develop some more! Send your ideas, your concerns, your needs and lets DO WORK!