The article Education: Connecting the Lonely Profession by
Suzie Boss talks about what almost every teacher feels; isolation. Whether
you’re an experienced teacher, a new teacher joining a new team or student
teacher you tend to feel like the outside or loner of the group. Once we get
into the classrooms the isolation is still there, we are being held behind
closed doors to our “stage” and our grades that reflect us. We have all of this
responsibility and on top of it we are doing it alone if we are unable to setup
a support system with our peers. However being able to blog and connect with
teachers around the world helps get rid of that isolation for us. If you don't
have a support system within your building you can make one by connecting
online. You can then exchange ideas, lessons, and you can provide feedback or
get feedback from other teachers on your ideas and lessons. Not only does the Internet
help our students it also helps us. We should want to be team players and share
our lessons with other teachers in our field; I don't know why teachers are so
secretive about their lessons, they should offer them out to other teachers and
ask for criticism on them, that way they know if they should try something new
or change something. It would probably only take one teacher to do this in a
school for others to want to try and then without even realizing it all
teachers will be on the web sharing and connecting.
i completely agree with where you said that teachers are isolated but can be connected to their building through blogs. If a teacher feels isolated, they can post on the blog and it might even have other teachers coming up to them in the hallways or in their office talking about what they posted and have them communicating in person. Not only are teachers isolated but i feel each department is isolated as well. So this definitely could help to connect the whole school and even district together
ReplyDeleteBeing connected in as many different ways as possible is key. Having different circles of people to be able to bounce ideas off of is helpful for the reflective teacher. There are others that would rather not "ask for criticism" as you indicate. Being able to get input from a variety of sources, including students, can help you grow throughout your career.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing any new teacher can have when entering a new building is a great support system. I know it did wonders for me because I could ask questions of my older more experienced colleagues and they were more then willing to help out. Also even though you do not want to be isolated when you get your own classroom in some ways you like the independence of being able to teach the way you want.
ReplyDeleteI can not agree with you more on the necessity of having a support system. Whether it be online or via peers their is nothing more crucial to especially a new teacher than having someone to pick you up when you fall down and to knock you back down when you get on your "high horse". It is extremely frustrating when I see teachers being secretive & not allowing people to see even their classroom let alone their lesson plans. At least with this online blogging we can have a place to share ideas and critique lessons in a way we could never have imagined.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely agree that new teachers can feel very much alone. I understand that as teachers, we are alone with our students, but once class is over I feel that teachers should be more open to helping one another, whether that is collaborating or just giving advice. The internet should be used by both teachers and students to collaborate with other teachers and classes. I don't understand teachers be secretive either because it's not a competition. It's okay if someone critiques your work or gives you advice that could make it better. Some teachers need or want feedback, but are just to proud to ask.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of any occupation a person might tend to feel isolated. It is that one step that is taken that allows you to be in the group and that is communication. Once you are able to communicate with others multiple barriers are broken down and isolation is out of the question. Blogging is one good way to start communicating with others because you are allowed to get direct feedback, without having to approach a person directly face to face because they might feel awkward (being that you are new and don't have a relationship with others just yet); then the persons involved in the conversation might be able to bring up and continue the conversation the next day when seeing each other in school, forming a relationship and removing this "isolation."
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