In Celebration

We live in a time in which it seems negativity reigns supreme everywhere you turn. Nowhere is this feeling more evident than our news and social media. Even though we may be bombarded by these negative messages, I am anchored by my profession which constantly seeks to promote positivity. Everyday, I am inspired by someone in my profession who works tirelessly to make a difference. Often these heroes ask for nothing in return. No recognition is needed as they continue their quest to make the world a better place for all, by helping to educate people of all ages and focusing on lifting voices to promote change. Their presence can be felt in local levels, in the schools and communities we work in, but also on a global scale. They work to promote their positivity without thought for reimbursement or reward. This is worth celebrating.
To all my mentors and heroes I want to say thank you. Thank you for inspiring me everyday to create a better world. To Steven Layne, you began my mission one extraordinary day in Saratoga Springs six years ago. You inspired me to make a lasting difference in my school. You showed me that one person can move mountains, especially when they inspire others along the way. I changed the way I taught and shared literature because of you and this has made all the difference.

My friends at The Educator Collaborative and Nerdy Book Club came into my life shortly after this experience. You opened my eyes and heart to new perspectives and filled my life with amazing literature. You showed me the power of a digital family. Your passion is infectious, your knowledge is vast, and your hearts are huge. Thank you for welcoming me in, expanding my thinking, and shaping my classroom practices.

John Schumaker, aka Mr. Schu, thank you for being you. It was a privilege to talk to you in person at the International Literacy Conference this year, even if I was fangirling during that moment. You have introduced me to some of my BBFs (best book friends) and for that I will be eternally grateful. You helped me create new ways to share books with my colleagues and people all of the world. You make it cool to be nerdy for books. My mantra when sharing new books is, “How would Mr. Schu do it?” Thank you for being the champion of children’s literature.

Thank you to all the professional organizations that help promote kid’s literature and hold conferences to help educators grow. From my state level New York State Reading Association conference to ILA and NCTE, your guidance in literacy matters and conferences have helped me grow professionally in unbelievable ways.

Thank you to all my colleagues at school. Your faith in me means so much. Your humor helps me through difficult times and your willingness to go the extra mile is inspiring. A special thanks to Carrie Ieda and Annette Annesi, my school partners, you always listen to my special brand of crazy and encourage me in all my endeavors. Thank you for being my guideposts and friends.

Finally, thank you to all the educators that I may never meet. Thank you for giving selflessly and creating a world that is full of a little more empathy and positivity than it had in it yesterday. Let us remember to promote what we love, share our thank yous often and find the good in everyday because even small steps in the right direction can lead to big things.

Embrace the Change

Change, how does this powerful word make one feel? This six letter word can evoke such strong emotion in people - fear, anxiety, or excitement. I’ve been reflecting on this concept for a while now, as I am going through many changes, both professionally and personally. Reflecting about the changes that have occurred in my life I’ve realized that I have reacted to change in a variety of ways. There was pure excitement as I turned into a teeneager and when I moved from a naive college student to an eager full time teacher.  Another change that provoked a real sense of fear is when I left my classroom almost ten years ago to become one of my district’s literacy coaches. When I was asked to go back into the classroom, after five years as a coach, deep anxiety filled my body. I began to worry and wonder if could I put into practice everything that I had learned during that time. What I realized is that no matter how I felt about change that I grew personally and professionally.

As a professional educator, we are continually bombarded with change. Many times these changes occur in what we are asked to teach or how we are supposed to teach it. These changes can make us fearful that we are losing control of the idea of what is in the best interest for our students. Sometimes when these changes are forced upon us, we can react negatively. This reaction can then set the tone for our year. I have discovered that the more fearful or anxious I am about a change, the longer it takes me to grow from it. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with all the changes that have come my way, but I am trying to no longer be afraid of them. When I am asked to change, whether it teaching a new grade level, like I will be next year, or using a new program or approach to teaching, I have purposely chosen to embrace the change.  

Embracing the change puts me in the driver seat. I take the control throughout the change process.  Change offers a chance to reflect. This process allows me be curious and ask questions from trusted colleagues as I grapple to align my beliefs to the needs of my students. I’m able to celebrate the mistakes that I know I will make and learn from them. Most importantly, change allows me to set a positive tone, be thoughtful, and reflective throughout.

Will some of this growth hurt? Yes. There are times when I realize what I thought was best practice was not the case. Those changes can be confusing as I have to give up things that I have been accustomed to, but it also helps me understand my students. My soon to be second graders will be experiencing this frequently next school year. This change may be worrisome as their beliefs change and knowledge grows. Sharing our experiences together will be crucial. Students will need to know that adults go through this process too and I hope to share with them some of my strategies so that they can embrace change as well.

Writing this blog, is one of those changes that have created a bag of mixed emotions for me. It’s been a big change that I have embraced this year. There is much thanks to give to my colleagues and friends that have encouraged me along the way. I hope to share more on that in a later blog post. As summer creeps along and our brains slowly get ready for the next year, I want encourage you to look at any change that you are about to embark on differently. Choose to embrace the change. Take time to reflect on your practices. Be curious and ask questions. Celebrate your mistakes. Revel in your growth, even the hurtful parts. Share your process with others, that includes your students. Change is inevitable.  Change is healthy. Change helps us grow.   

How will you change?