3 ways to de-privatize our practice<\/h1>\n

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My first teaching job was in the library at a large, open-concept elementary school in Howard County, Maryland. The library was the hub of the school. During my classes teachers, administrators, and para-professionals walked freely in and out of the library, occasionally stopping to watch our progress.<\/p>\n

And it was terrifying.<\/p>\n

I felt scrutinized! But, after many months of these informal observations, I began to relax, and then having all of those eyes on my teaching was hugely helpful.<\/p>\n

My mindset shifted from helpless vulnerability to hopeful vulnerability; this was an opportunity to learn from experts.<\/p>\n

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Learning to relax and enjoy sharing your work<\/h2>\n

\u201cSomething you might try\u2026\u201d and \u201cwhen my students struggle I\u2026\u201d were instructional lifeboats: lifting me above my own limited experience. \u00a0\u201cHave you considered\u2026\u201d encouraged me to be more reflective about my teaching practice. \u00a0And eventually, \u201ccould you work with me on that\u2026\u201d and \u201ccould we teach those skills in my unit\u2026\u201d became opportunities for rich collaboration. By the end of that first year, I welcomed feedback and sought out experienced teachers who were willing to provide it.<\/p>\n

That formative experience has made me an advocate for sharing practice and inviting feedback. \u00a0Sharing our work with our peers and opening up our classrooms helps all of us learn and grow and this ultimately improves learning for our students.<\/p>\n

Where do we begin seeking feedback?<\/h2>\n

Join twitter!<\/h3>\n

Social media makes it easy to share our work, and twitter is the social media platform of choice for many teachers around the country. Not only that, but\u00a0Vermont has one of the most active networks of teachers using t<\/a>witter.<\/a>\u00a0That means that many of the colleagues you may have previously seen only infrequently, at conferences or district-wide gatherings, are available to connect with frequently and asynchronously. Have a small success this morning? Jump online at lunch and share what worked, in 140 characters or less. By the end of the school day, you’ll likely have a small army of notifications (replies and retweets), and more likely, have inspired your peers.<\/p>\n

Additionally, #vted twitter chats provide a regular platform for sharing and celebration.<\/p>\n

Using the #vted hashtag, educators gather two Thursday evenings per month to spend a dedicated hour peering at each other’s practices. Jump in! Share that small success we talked about earlier, or get inspired by the #everydaycourage you’re seeing in other classrooms. \u00a0#vted Twitter chats are a great way to start sharing resources and ideas, asking questions about practice, and building connections with peers.<\/p>\n

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\u2744\ufe0f
Winter is Coming.<\/p>\n

That means #VTed<\/a> Chat is back!
Thursday
September 7th
8pm#BetterTogether<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rahQPO8NsI<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jason D. Finley \u221e \u0394 \u2234 \u221e \u03b2 (@finleyjd) August 24, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n