Regie Routman has gifted our profession with books like, The Essentials Series: Raising Expectations and Results in Reading, Writing and Transforming our Teaching. Regie has given us Invitations: and encourages educators to reflect upon their practice and participate in conversations that lift the level of our teaching and learning.
Last month, at #ASCD15 I had the opportunity to spend a day with Regie.
We celebrated reading, writing, teaching and learning. Regie's most recent "must-have" PD book, is Read, Write, Lead. "This is a book about hope, learning energy and possibilities. It is also a book about joy in teaching and learning." Regie's book is filled with quick-wins and asks all educators to see themselves as teacher-leaders and leader-teachers. Regie asks us to reflect:
One way to reach the hearts and minds of our students is to tap into their passions and to celebrate their learning journeys. It was thrilling to reflect on the power of read alouds as part of our learning journey. Regie said, "Every administrator, teacher and educator should start their meeting with a read aloud." I knew I loved her, but loved her even more when she read to us from Kwame Alexander's Newbery winning title, Crossover.
"It's not how to get students career and college ready. It should be how do we engage students' hearts and minds."
One way to reach the hearts and minds of our students is to tap into their passions and to celebrate their learning journeys. It was thrilling to reflect on the power of read alouds as part of our learning journey. Regie said, "Every administrator, teacher and educator should start their meeting with a read aloud." I knew I loved her, but loved her even more when she read to us from Kwame Alexander's Newbery winning title, Crossover.
I love Regie because her work has always supported my beliefs about teaching and learning. I spend every day as a life-long learner and an all-around nerd. I try to demonstrate my passion for reading, writing, and learning. Regie consistently reminds us about the culture of celebration.
It's funny people think I am a little crazy- hyper- geeky- nerdy- over the top. Although there may be some truth to that, I think it is important to spread a little crazy. I think we all have a little crazy in us. Ok, maybe the word passion is better. Isn't crazy/passion that drives us to do better, read more, write more, share more. As lead learners, we need to tap into that crazy.
Regie talks about the optimal learning model: a cycle of reflections, responsive teaching and celebrations. Regie asks us to be reflective about what matters and what seems important to us. What do we celebrate? What do we value? What fuels our passions? Just as we model process of learning for our students, we must engage in purposeful, planned, celebrations too. Having the opportunity to participate in conferences, share literacy snapshots with others through social media, be part of personal and professional learning networks, this helps me to sustain this feeling of joy and spread a little crazy... #PDlove. My passion grows and is energized by the collaboration from the communities that I work with and learn from.
"Working hard for something we don't care about
is called stress.
Working hard for something we love
is called PASSION."
- Simon Sinek
Regie has gifted us with professional books like Read, Write, Lead and reminds us that it is the collective responsibility of educators to create a culture of trust, collaboration and enjoyment. Learning should be engaging, enjoyable and relevant. When it is... it is like a vitamin B shot. Celebrations lead to agency. When we shift our focus to discuss the joy and the heart of our teaching... that empowers all learners and lifts everyone and everything. That is what inspires my work daily and fuels my crazy.
With a nod to friends like, Chris Lehman and Kate Roberts, I try to celebrate learning through the lens of love and joy. Is it crazy to want to spend a day in PJs and learn? This past weekend, I had the pleasure of participating in a very joyful learning experience. It was a "pajama-pd day" also known as #TheEdCollabGathering (guided by Chris Lehman and the Educator Collaborative friends). This online event offered a variety of " vitamin shots" with voices and choices for PD opportunities. All were live streamed but have been archived here: https://gathering.theeducatorcollaborative.com/.
Save the date, the next gathering is happening September 19th with Penny Kittle!
I am grateful for the inspiration and the "vitamin B-shots" I receive from educators like Regie, and from gatherings in real life and virtually, that make this crazy love all a reality.
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| ASCD15 Swag Bag: Love of Learning |
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