I’m not just referring to the fast-approaching summer holidays in my title(though we all know we are x-ing off the days, if not on our iPad calendar, then at least in our heads)-I’m thinking about what the next step of this learning project is for me.
With a little help from some higher power, I will be off on maternity leave next year, and I started to think “will all of this learning go to waste? will I remember anything when I return to work in Sept 2013? will there be any point in remembering this stuff? there will probably be a million new apps between now and then!”
After these initial thoughts came to me, my rational side popped into the conversation. I realized again that this project wasn’t about the apps, or the iPad or the tweets or any of that stuff. It was about becoming excited about learning again, and thinking about what kind of a learner I am, and realizing that it can be tough. And it was about sharing our learning with the other people in the project, in our schools and anyone else who would listen.
I know I will have a steep learning curve as new parent, and I can bet I will be following my fair share of parenting hashtags and conversations on Twitter. But I hope to have time to follow some education and learning conversations as well. And when I get back to the classroom, my students and I will continue to learn together how we can use the technology at our finger tips to become excited about life-long learning.
Have a great summer everyone!
Shauna Boyce says:
Jenn, learning is NEVER a waste!! You have shared your learnings with our staff and each have grown from it. Thank you very much for being part of this professional growth opportunity and I hope you have an amazing year off with your new bundle of joy!! We will miss you
Shannon Wiebe says:
I am so excited for you and a mat leave! If you are already reflective about your practice and connected you are about to gain the most valuable professional learning ever, raising your very own human. The learning curve takes a sharp turn again when you send that little bundle off to kindergarten. I never believed it and felt insulted when people said having children would make me a better teacher but it does. Awesome amazing teachers exist without having their own kids yes yes, but having your own is one more point of view and it’s fun and enlightening and so awesome. Have fun! You will by default be even better when you jump back in.