A question
I always like to ask myself in many contexts is: What is the point? This can be
expressed in many ways, occasionally in frustration, but more purposefully as a
mindful reminder of why I am doing this. Asking ‘what is the point?’ always
provides a purpose and suddenly a task is far more meaningful in a time when
every second is precious and every person and device seeks to steal your
attention.
After having been absent from my blog for
nearly a term now I was reminded of ‘the point’ since starting my class site.
The point
of blogging for me is:
Time for reflection
Do I give
myself enough time to reflect on the things I learn from my children everyday?
Do I give
myself time to reflect on the changes and teaching I put in place each day and
the effects it has on myself and the wider classroom?
Do I give
myself time to process and solidify learning from other and from the PD I
receive?
I concluded
that I often didn’t prioritise time to process, reflect and respond and that
this would add to the reward, enjoyment and quality of my teaching.
Record of learning
Just as the
children are learners so I am learning from my teaching experiences, the
children and an incredible work environment. Opportunities for PD spring up in
short staff sessions, visiting experts, colleagues, classroom epiphanies, out
of school courses and when connecting with outside agencies within the school.
I am both excited and occasionally overwhelmed with the information and
opportunities to both seize and address.
Do I
celebrate this knowledge and these experiences?
Do I record
them as a professional collection of knowledge and understandings that have
been learnt or are now impacting my teaching decisions?
Do I
articulate them with enough clarity and vibrancy to solidify it clearly for myself?
To remind myself why I teach
Just as
blogging itself requires a ‘so what’ teaching does too. For me, teaching is not
just a career, a job, or the general ebb and flow of life and community. At
this current time teaching represents much more. It is an outlet for
creativity, provides purpose, challenge and, at the centre of it all, family.
Each of these aspects can at times be highly frustrating especially if one has
thrown in oneself as a major personal investment. Blogging then becomes a
reminder in those tricky moments of the reward, growth, energy and joy teaching
generates.
