Please allow me to introduce you to my new friend, Bev.
We met two weeks ago at Breathe For Change in San Fransisco, a mindfulness and yoga training programs designed especially for educators. In one of our first workshop sessions we discussed mindful listening, made partners, and shared with one another "what holds you back?" The picture she had journaled resonated with me, and I was captivated by the accompanying story.
The ladder of the familiar, a "Pool of Dreams" and jumping in the unknown.
When Bev was 8 years old, she took swimming lessons at the local YMCA. Even though a few decades have passed, she still vividly remembers the day she climbed the ladder to the high dive, became paralyzed with fear, and couldn't bring herself to jump. Later she found the courage, but not in that moment. Instead, she chose to descend the stairs back to the safety rather than facing the foreboding water. She realized that the pattern of rising to new heights with the support of family, friends and self-discipline can result in getting stuck on a high dive in life; our "pool of dreams" awaits below, but we would rather find our way back down to the comforting concrete of what we've grown accustomed to instead of finding ourselves in unknown waters.
As she spoke, my heart sank like a diver gracefully plunging toward the bottom of that pool. I immediately felt a connection to her story, and her wisdom washed over me as I held back the tears welling in my eyes waiting to wash down my face. You see, the day before I flew across the country to Breathe for Change, I had just taken my dream job, a truly once-in-a-lifetime position- increased diversity, smaller classes, a wellness program, graduate school assistance, more instructional time- you name it. After a decade of teaching, I was finally prioritizing self-care and finding a better work/home balance. I was ready for a change.
Practicing diver's pose with a beautiful group of teachers who are ready to change the world!
Before accepting the job, I now realize I had become stuck on a diving board in my career. I whole-heartedly fought my way up the same professional ladder many teachers face: I kept long hours and struggled for resources, and in spite of obstacles my students exceeded.
But, once I had gotten to the highest rung, there was nowhere else to go. Sure, the view was nice and safe, but when the possibility of a new position in a more supportive environment was made available to me, I knew I had to jump. If I didn't, I might find myself retreating with a descent of indifference, burn-out, and bitterness.
The retreat to the comfort of the ground below is all too common with current teacher attrition rates in the United States. That would not be my destiny.
I held my nose, closed my eyes and leaped the platform that had held me up, but also held me stagnant.
Even though I am still in a mid-air free fall until school starts in August, I cannot wait to make a splash and explore my own pool of dreams in a school full of diversity and means for sustaining my continued growth as an educator. Breathe for Change has reawakened the awareness of keeping my growth a priority. Not only did I get my Yoga Alliance 200-hour certification and attain skills for maintaining mindfulness and social justice in my classroom, I made lifelong friends.
Breathe for Change Community Circle Yoga Poses Session. It's amazing what you can do with support!
Many conversations during the last 16 days, including the life-changing one with Bev, have helped me to more fully celebrate the diversity of others while giving me courage and a renewed hope for the future of education. Whatever diving board you find yourself on- whether it be the need to find a new teaching position, start graduate school, move into an administrative role, or beginning the journey of putting your needs first- I invite you to close your eyes and jump rather than withdraw back to the familiar. Who knows what awaits in your pool of dreams? Cheers and Namaste, Brandie
Special thanks to the Svadhyaya sisters - my small mentorship group during the Breathe for Change training and it's leader, Robin (in front).
Hang on a second while I count the number of awesome teaching conferences I have attended in Sin City. Oh right, that'd be none.
While it would seem that well-educated professionals in other lines of work can travel more easily to such "conferences" à la all-expenses-paid support from their employers, teachers aren't often presented with such favorable circumstances. However, I would argue that, as a whole, we have a greater need for recharge and opportunities for productive discourse than any other occupation. Even though we're tired and overextended, we must take the time to invest in ourselves. So, let's check out some reasons to attend conferences and self-selected professional development (PD) provided by fellow educators:
1. You'll "have a whole network of teachers to reach out to for questions." - Charla Dover, K-5 co-teacher and SPED lead
After swapping a few email addresses and making new Facebook friends, you'll have a support network to summon when you need a lesson idea or a sounding board for working through issues. This is particularly valuable when you teach a specialized subject (ESOL, Advanced Placement, band, etc.), and you are the only one in your field at your school.
2. You can "walk away with a few good 'nuggets' that are easy to implement and help in the classroom without completely upending [your] teaching methods and style." - Wesley Brooks, middle school band director
Unlike one-size-fits-all school and district-based programs which don't always align with personal preferences or your unique subject material, conferences allow you to select the sessions that are most relevant to you. Many of my best lessons were stolen in this manner- there's no shame in my game!
3. When you choose your own PD it "keeps you in the know about the 'new' stuff... and reminds you of why you wanted to teach."- Christine Lauer, high school science teacher
I remember enjoying writing lesson plans in college when all my creative juices were flowing, and I didn't have piles of pesky paperwork to hinder my planning. One of the joys of teaching is that each year grants us a chance to change things up. Without taking the time to stop and examine the new practices that are available, we start to become like an old, stale box of crackers- we can still get the job done, but we're much less fresh and palatable for those who must consume our provisions.
4. "The wonderful thing about teachers [at conferences] is the way they share what they have learned by trial and error." Dr. MaryLena Anderegg, K-5 classroom teacher and college professor, retired
With so many lessons on the internet and from curriculum developers, it is refreshing to have a fellow teacher walk you through an activity, complete with tips and personal experience, so you can feel confident utilizing novel methods. As a conference presenter myself, it is invaluable to have session participants share their insights with me. The camaraderie is often palpable and always appreciated. For more about my personal motivation for promoting conferences and teacher travel, check out this week's video:
Pumped up and ready to go? I don't want to purvey the impression that magic unicorns will sense your desire to aid the children of the world and whisk you away to the conference or camp you desire. So, here are some meaningful conference funding sources and PD offerings with the targeted audience and financial information for each in parenthesis:
1. Edcamps (worldwide, free) Edcamps are participant-driven, vendor-free, "unconferences" where organizers set a schedule for the day, but participants decide the sessions on the day of the event. Interactions are via presentations as well as impromptu discussions. At these events "anyone with a good idea is encouraged to lead a conversation." Check out their multitude of upcoming events, and see if one is in your area. 2. [Insert your state and subject matter] Teachers Association Yearly Conference To me, your state's subject or level-specific conference should be your lifeblood. As a member of the Georgia Science Teachers Association, I have been kept up-to-date with trends in education for the last 11 years. Their awards and grants (due each November) not only helped me secure funding for my classroom, but they include registration to the conference along with some travel reimbursement. What a great investment of time to apply! Check your organization's offerings; you might be surprised at what is available in your backyard. 2.Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Teacher Seminars (nationwide, free) These seminars are based on intriguing historical topics and are open to teachers of all subjects. As a plus, travel reimbursements are offered. The deadline for 2017 has passed. But, bookmark it for next year, and make sure your school is on the affiliate list before the 2018 cycle. Hosting institutions include Yale and Oxford College, and the topics are pretty intriguing, even for this science nerd.
3. American Wilderness Leadership School (Wyoming, free and may include a scholarship to cover travel) Hosted in weekly workshops throughout the summer, this was one of the best programs I have participated in as a teacher. While staying in a beautiful area surrounded by the Tetons, we studied conservation and ecology, made fishing flies, went whitewater rafting, and learned archery- all with my travel and tuition covered. If you need to get away, apply with a friend (I attended with two!), and get back to nature this summer. 4. ASM Teacher Materials Camps (nationwide, free, often with $500 stipends for participation) Teacher Materials Camps are designed to introduce STEM teachers of all levels to the world of materials science. Last summer, I attended one in our nation's capital in order to learn more about about plastics, polymers, and alloys. We blew glass, made pottery, and performed various engineering challenges. I went home with tons of freebies and lesson ideas. Check out their full schedule of offerings here. 5. American Chemical Society Hach Grants (funding source, chemistry teachers only, up to $1500) Hach classroom and professional development grants are lucrative funding sources for conferences like NSTA or ChemEd. Last year, I was awarded two Hach grants: one I used for travel and the other I used for classroom models. The time required for the application process was well worth it compared to the funding I received, so I would highly recommend this program. 6. Advanced Placement Readers (paid position, AP teachers and college professors only, $1600+ pay with full travel reimbursement) Being an AP reader sounds like work, and it is, but you learn invaluable information to share with your students about how their exams are scored. There are nightly social and educational gatherings, and you won't have to wash a single dish all week. If you want to make a professional learning network with like-minded teachers, this is a great start. 7. National Center for Science Education Grand Canyon Trip (Arizona, all expenses paid) The only requirement for this free, 8-day rafting trip is that you teach K-12 science in public or private school in the US or Canada and "demonstrate a commitment to accurate, thorough, and uncompromising presentation of evolution, climate change, and the nature of science." Not a bad trade for an adventure through one of our country's most magnificent landforms... If nothing above is resonating, you can always peruse other online lists, and leave no local stones unturned; other ideas for financial support fellow educators shared included using departmental and booster club funds to cover conference costs and exchanging a volunteer shift for free conference registration. I know I have often felt as though there was no money in my district for attendance or travel expenses; nevertheless, I persisted by approaching my administration with a clear goal for my participation. Bonus points for your plea: offer to share what you learned with relevant groups when you return. If you have a lesson or technique you're excited about sharing, tell your leaders you want to submit a proposal for a conference session of your own in order to help support your request. What principal doesn't want their school to look good through showcasing its teachers? Even if you think your school will say no, ask anyway. You have nothing to lose! Should you already have your own recharging conference in the works, check out this solid preparation advice from Education World. As for keeping your phone battery charged while you're there, you're on your own. Cheers, Brandie P.S. My list is in no way an exhaustive one, so please keep the commentary flowing. If you have any other PD tips to share with willing ears, leave your ideas in the comments below.
