2010… It’s a connected world. Are you still feeling isolated?
Hello, 21st Century Teachers!
One of the biggest concerns that we hear from novice teachers, or any teacher, is that they feel isolated. They feel isolated in the classroom among the students. They feel isolated among their fellow teachers. They really feel isolated from the administration. They even feel isolated at home, because of the work load that bleeds into family time.
What is it about the teaching profession that makes it generate such a sense of isolation? There might be as many explanations for this as there are teachers out there, but I imagine the main reason is in the simple daily realities of the job. We, generally, spend the greater part of our day in a closed environment behind closed doors with 20 or so other people who, generally, don’t want to be there with us.
We are held accountable for other people’s learning. We are held accountable for other people’s physical well-being while in our classrooms. We are held accountable for other people’s psychological well-being while in our classrooms. We are held accountable for other people’s skill sets and motivation. We are held accountable for other people’s actions, even if they are not in our classrooms, if we think that they might be in danger from self- or other’s abuse.
Wow. Wow. We do great things. We are good people. We put ourselves out there. We care.
Why, then, do we receive so little appreciation? Why do we so often feel like it is us against the world? Why aren’t we the greatest force for change the world has ever known? Oh, wait. We are. We just don’t get the credit for it often enough. And we don’t connect to one another enough to see it in action in our daily lives.
We need to reach out to each other. We need to encourage each other. I may be having a terrible day, but someone, somewhere, might be able to provide me with a small acknowledgment that what I do matters and I will feel better. It is a simple thing to do, really. Just connect with someone you know who is a teacher and let them know that you appreciate what they do. Connecting can be a multi-lane expressway and it is open to all.
The world in 2010 is ripe for connection. You don’t have to be isolated and you can change those feelings of isolation into a sense of community. Professional learning communities can help and just talking to each other can help, too.
But you have to take a first step and get out of your own way and simply connect. It doesn’t matter if you do it virtually, like in our association community or on Twitter or Facebook or in some physical location. Use the faculty lounge. Use the supermarket aisles. Use your in-service time… just let some other teacher know that you understand what they do and that you appreciate it. Tell someone how great they are. Maybe they will return the favor.
Call or email me. I’ll tell you how great you are. In a heartbeat.
Enjoy!
Teresa
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