I love learning. I love the challenge of learning something new, as well as watching others struggle with dissonance, then have their ‘aha’ moment. It simultaneously stimulates me and wears me out. I was lucky enough to spend the weekend at the Ontario Google Summit with 600 other educators getting google-y. It was energizing and inspiring for all of us there. Although by Sunday morning many were feeling a little dazed and feeling like their brains were full, there was still talk of what was next, and how people were going home to change Monday’s lessons. Thank-you Upper Grand District School board and Bill M (@bmackenz) for allowing me to go and participate in this!
Today (Monday) I get to participate in more PD - I will be attending another board sponsored session with TC2‘s Garfield Gini-Newman (@ggininewman). In my school this is a hot ticket and I feel lucky to be one of 3 who get to go this time. But it also came with it’s challenge that I can’t let go…
When we were discussing who in our department would get to go one member said he didn’t need to go because he was too old. I would have accepted almost any other excuse (can’t miss the teaching day, coaching right after school, not interested in the speaker) with the thought “oh, that’s too bad.” But to say you are too old to learn/grow/change/share? And to put this in a little bit of context, this person is about my age, and will retire after I do (in 11 years). It frustrated me. How can a teacher think that it is OK to quit learning and growing? How is it possible to believe that you have nothing more to learn? Or that for the next 11+ years you will not change?
I strongly believe in the idea of lifelong learning. I want my students to see that learning is something that they need to participate in all the time, not just during school hours for credit. I want to model learning for them. I also want to thank the colleagues and members of my PLN who have modelled that you are never too old to learn. There are many people I respect who have retired and continue to model lifelong learning.
At the risk of leaving some out, thanks Doug (@dougpte), Hal, Norm, Jamie who have all retired, but continue(d) to challenge me and model lifelong learning/thinking. And thanks to those who model excellent professional development throughout their career and support and challenge me regardless of proximity to retirement: Peter (@peterskillen), Brenda (@brendasherry), Garfield (@ggininewman), Bill, Becky, Sheila (@SheilaTLKHPS), Melissa (@melissa_roth), Alanna (@banana29), Sarah (@sarle83), Adam (@adamvick) and ... everyone I follow on twitter.
Today, thank someone who challenges you to continue growing and learning. Feel free to use the comments to do so publicly!
Thanks for the inclusion Lisa. You challenge me too... and now we have to challenge each other! May 15th is looming closer :-) Sheila
ReplyDeleteLisa...what a brave post! Wow. I fully agree that it is a sad day when one is "too old" to CHOOSE to continue learning. I couldn't imagine not trying new things.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a great supporter, who pushes and challenges me.
Also, thanks to Jenny Harrold (@missharrold), Scott Jordan (@scottjordan1938) and Susie Chamberlain (@savingsusie).
Love this post, Lisa. It exposes something that is so critical right now in order for schools to change (or keep changing?) - hire teachers who want to keep learning! I am absolutely in awe of this career of mine (26 years now) where every year is a huge learning opportunity and I still feel as though there is a lot to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteHow do we make sure that we bring life-long learners in right from the beginning? Not to be confused with people who got good marks in school? I'm not sure that success (read traditional measures of) in school should always be the prerequisite!!??
Thoughts?
And thanks to Peter (@peterskillen) the smartest guy I know and somehow is always learning and helping others to learn too.
Brenda, thank you. That means a great deal to me. :-)
DeleteThat is an awesome post Lisa! Thank you for including me in your network. I've learned so much from you & am excited to keep doing so. I am a firm believer that you can never stop learning, changing & growing. Still water grows stagnant...and stinky actually, so it is better to keep moving. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe list of people that I need to thank would fill this blog...so much to learn.
Lisa! Thank you SO much for the shout-out! I have been extremely fortunate throughout my career to have been blessed with so many life-long learning colleagues and friends - yourself included.
ReplyDeleteThere have been real challenges for me as I 'retired' from the school district some number of years ago. There is a sense of belonging and participation that I miss deeply to this day (although, yes, there are other aspects I am happy to miss ).
But, I have kept my hand — and head & heart — in with the encouragement and support of some good friends. I thank you, Lisa, for accepting me into your circle of co-learners and I look forward to continuing that learning with, and from, you.
I will also tell you that I have struggled throughout my career as my ideas — which I often state passionately and perhaps to a fault — have frequently been in conflict with current practice, norms or administrative desires. Yet, there have always been some people who have accepted me in spite of that. For that I am fortunate.
In recent years, I have to say that working and thinking with Brenda Sherry (@brendasherry) has been the most transformative for me. She says above that I am smart — and I am most flattered. I may have a certain limited kind of smarts (as we all do!) but Brenda expands my limitations through her unique breed of brilliance for the practical application of many of the 'big ideas'. She has also taught me to listen better to those around me as I often am 'in my head'. She also has tolerated my sometimes pedantic ways.
Thank you Brenda - and thank you Lisa for giving this opportunity for expression.
Peter