Personalized PD - A Renewed Committment

I might just be on a blogging streak.. 2 posts in one day! :)

Years ago, I was extremely active in the #MTBoS. I blogged regularly and was an active contributor on Twitter. I spear-headed the #Made4Math challenge and actively participated and coordinated many Twitter chats and book clubs.

But then, life happened.

Three of the past 4 years, I've had a new prep - and all of them have had their own challenges and struggles. This year, it's pre-calculus and while I am so blessed to have amazing students that I adore, I will be the first to admit that I'm not enjoying the curriculum due to its disjointed nature. The daily struggles and challenges have created a situation where I have pushed away from the MTBoS world and broke ties with people I used to converse with daily. Sometimes change is good - sometimes it bites you in the rear.

For me, it was the latter. As a result of my self-isolation, I have lost a richness in my life that I miss. I miss having people to reach out to to share ideas, triumphs, and frustrations. The #MTBoS has moved well beyond me and I am standing still, just watching their plume of dust in the distance. I'm not sad that I was left behind, but I am sad that I chose to stand still instead of continuing forward, even if I was moving at a snail's pace.

So I am making a public commitment to move forward - to stop standing still. I don't like being stagnant. I don't like the lack of personal growth that I have experienced.

My goals:

• Engage in Twitter at least once per week.  This may be an organized chat or just informal, but I need the mental stimulation that comes with working with other #MTBoS teachers
• Read more blog posts.  I miss the excitement that I get from reading about a really cool idea from a follow teacher.  I need to update my blog roll and blog reader and find new bloggers that are sharing the awesome and not-so-awesome days in their classroom.  
• Blog.  I need to be vulnerable and allow myself to share those same days.  
• Read professionally.  I love summer and the opportunity to read books that challenge my thinking.  This year, after struggling so much, I think my focus needs to turn back to formative assessment and pedagogy because those are things I definitely let slide this year

I know this is ambitious and I need your help.  I need an accountability partner (or 2 or 10) to make sure I stay on this path.  If you are willing, please leave a comment or tweet me :)