My Journey

Today I saw a commercial advertising online public high school. Wait. I became a teacher because my mom told me the world would always need teachers! Am I becoming obsolete? I started the Digital Learning and Leading program not because I have any aspirations to become something other than an ELA teacher, but because I recognized that the education system as I know it hasn’t kept up with the changing world. I love teaching literature, writing, and thinking, but there is so much more out there that I need to be equipped with in order to teach my students to recognize their own potential and see the endless possibilities in front of them. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I applied to Lamar University, but now as this first class comes to an end, I’m happy to say I’ve learned more than I expected.  I’m inspired. I’m looking forward to my new set of eager learners come September. I did, however, shed a little tear when the first back-to-school commercial came on.

As I move on with this coursework, I’m excited to see how this blog will evolve. Having it to continually add to and refer back to will be a nice reminder of my growth. Reading Carol Dweck’s Mindset (2006) at the beginning of this journey will surely help me along the way. Her reminder of the “power of yet” is important in so many aspects of life. As for the mindsets Dweck discusses, I do consider myself to have mostly a growth mindset but being able to recognize my fixed mindset will prove to be beneficial as a learner and leader. For instance, here I am putting together a blog – something entirely new and a little intimidating for me.

The other piece that I will carry with me through this program and into my own teaching is COVA (choice, ownership, voice, authenticity). These 4 key pieces are what will make this coursework so meaningful. In the last few weeks I’ve realized how hard it is for me to separate the learner from the teacher in me. Being able to be the learner though has allowed me to seriously reflect on how to approach my own learners as well. To read more about my own learning manifesto, click here.

The ultimate key for the success of my journey is remembering to fail forward (Maxwell, 2011). John Maxwell mapped out 7 key principles to fail forward toward great achievement. Taking on this DLL program is my own way of varying approaches to achievement (Maxwell’s sixth key). Isn’t that what teaching is all about? Changing until we find something that works. I also have to remember I don’t have to totally reinvent the wheel – I just have to improve it. And I most definitely do not have to do it alone. There are so many Professional Learning Networks out there. There are the obvious ones with colleagues or classmates and then there are the countless online PLNs that allow you to connect to people all over the world to share ideas and find inspiration. Where was this when I was in high school?!

As I continue on my journey of growth, change, failure, and bouncing back, I will do so with one motivating factor in mind – my students.