Saturday 29 November 2008

The New Professional Development: The Network

In December of 2006 I wanted to quit teaching. I was so frustrated with the walls that kept defining my classroom while my mind soared beyond. Blogging has changed that forever. Now, it is becoming an integral part of how I survive knowing there are others in the network who think the way I do. Even though I still long to connect within my building with others on this level, knowing there is a presence of minds to support my thinking and continued learning puts me at ease. I’m still adjusting to the type of new professional relationship that develops in this space. It continues to be far more than any static, prepackaged, one-size-fits-all PD. Now, I hope someone in central office can get a taste. Soon.

This was in response to a posts on weblogged.

2 comments:

Katie Dicesare said...

Sarah-
Thanks for the comment on my random post about NCTE. My new favorite book that has inspired my teaching of writing workshop is a book called Of Primary Importance. It is a writing workshop approach used by a then second/first grade teacher, Ann Marie Corgill. SHe is awesome. I read it and loved it and love her. I hope this will help. My book group at school plans to read it this spring. We are reading Beyond Leveled Books (2nd ed ) after Christmas. Ps...this post was so true...thank goodness for bloggers and the network!

Sarah Amick said...

Sarah, I agree wholeheartedly. I too was there in 2006. We are losing great teachers in the face of accountability. We just received our ISTEP scores today, not great and I was thrown for a minute. Then I have to come back here, to the blogging world and know that there are others out there that are doing really great things like me in their classrooms. They are seeing great progress, I believe, I believe, I believe. I just wish I could get others in my building to believe along with me. Slow to grow, slow to grow...
Sarah