The Podcast Epsiode I neeed to Hear
Last night as I sat in the gym parking lot waiting for my car to warm up, I scrolled through my phone looking for a podcast episode. I had hours of work waiting for me- report cards to complete, student writing to assess, and notes to create for family conferences. This along with shorter, darker days left me feeling depleted. So when I saw the title of Jennifer Gonzalez’s recent Cult of Pedagogy episode, “Your Teachers Need a Win” (linked here) I knew I had to listen. I strongly encourage you to do the same and share widely!
I needed the reminder that well intentioned professional tips can make teachers feel like they are not doing enough.
As a literacy consultant and teacher who shares content to help other teachers, I appreciated this reminder. I thought back to leaving professional development sessions feeling energized but unsure where to start. So, I returned to my classroom overwhelmed and feeling inadequate. And honestly, not that much changed in my practice. It took time for me to realize that I could take one or two things I learned back to my classroom. No grand overhaul was needed. Overtime, those tiny shifts gave me the energy and space to find my own teaching voice.
So for this post I am not offering any tips. Instead I am following Gonzalez’s advice and offering positive feedback. While I am not in your classrooms with you, I know with all my heart that the following is true:
