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| Photo by Daniel Collins |
My iPad notes are covered with scrawls and pictures and highlighted with "don't forget" and "TRY THIS". I learned so much this year. More on that later.
But perhaps my biggest takeaway this year is how badly I need my CI colleagues. How much I need friends who are serious SLA geeks and want to listen to Tea with BVP and get excited to talk about Standards Based Grading. People who believe the same things I do about second language acquisition, who are influenced by the same thinkers that inform my practice, and who want communicative competence AND equity and work-life balance and who are passionate, even nerdy about this stuff.
I have great colleagues in my school and an A+ administrator who supports me and challenges me to be the best I can be. I am fortunate.
Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator -
But what I needed from NTPRS was the cheerleading, the support, the goofy songs, the feeling that we are all in this together, and we are a strong, loving community, even if we are spread out around the country and world. I needed the late night conversation about coaching in my unique school environment and brainstorms about how to work with some tricky situations. I needed to hear how someone else solved a problem, and to be challenged to answer "why do you do that." I needed to be told about what I do well, so I can continue to grow and be proud of my successes. (Thanks, coaches!) I needed to take risks: to get up in front of my peers and demo teach, then demo coach, then coach for real!
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| Notes, using Noteshelf iPad app |
So, while I brought back pages of notes and ideas for my classroom, for how to be a better leader and coach for my colleagues, and more, my biggest take away is...feeling thankful for a week of encouragement, leadership, and positivity.
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