The importance of filling your bucket? Really?
I know, this title, it’s weird right? I thought the same thing as it popped into my head, but given how my summer professional development related travel was coming to an end, it was the perfect metaphor. Now of course it is the perfect metaphor in MY mind, but as all of you aren’t in my brain (at least I don’t think you are, unless this is The Matrix) I’m going to explain.
When it comes to educators, I see all of us as “buckets” of sorts. Our buckets are deep, and carry many things. On a basic level, our buckets contain our hopes and dreams for ourselves and students. Sprinkle in our different skill sets, ideas, beliefs, teaching methods, life experiences, and a whole host of other things (I hit the highlights, but look into yourself, you’ll see what your own bucket contains) our buckets are pretty full. Now I believe that an educator’s “bucket” is probably at its fullest right as we walk across the stage and get our diploma to begin our career. Over time the contents of our bucket begin to drain as we pour ourselves (see what I did there, told you it was a great metaphor) into that first year of teaching, our career. As the years go on, and the teaching endures, that bucket begins to empty gradually.
So, how does an educator “fill their bucket”? Well there are numerous ways. I wholeheartedly believe one of the best ways is professional development, or professional learning however you classify it. Unfortunately, with times being what they are, and the state of education funding being what it is, a teacher’s opportunity for professional learning (especially in our “off” months) is getting more and more difficult. However, that doesn’t keep the dedicated, hard working teachers from finding ways to expand their horizons, often by finding the means to attend summer conferences. Why? Because they realize the value in it, and I don’t mean dollars and cents.
Now I could go on about this, but instead I reached out to amazing folks in my PLN, shared my idea for this post and I asked for their thoughts/input on how/why/where they fill their buckets. So rather than me keeping the mic, I’m going to hand if off to them. I asked them to give me 100 words or less (most succeeded, others went over, they shall remain nameless, but you can count if you like…) as to when/where/why they fill up their buckets, and how they do so. Read below, you won’t be disappointed.
Felix Jacomino - Gulliver Schools - @felixjacomino on Twitter:
Early in my career, I used to joke, "The three best things about teaching are June, July, & August!" Har dee har har. I now facepalm thinking of the message I was conveying, "I prefer NOT having my students around." I recently Tweeted about a commercial I can't stand because of the way it depicts a Kindergarten teacher's chaotic environment. Well, I've grown up and now I will continue to say that those three summer months are great for other reasons... Awesome PD! There's no shortage of choices and nothing re-energizes one's professional batteries than face to face interactions with like-minded educators from diverse parts of the country and world!
Kyle McClure - Kansas Educator & Tech Integration Specialist - @kylemcclure on Twitter:
Summer is an incredibly valuable time for teachers. Obviously, educators never have enough time to plan and find resources. Summer gives you the white space to reflect, plan, strategize, and LEARN. Conferences like ISTE provide fantastic opportunities for teachers to launch their practice lightyears ahead. During the break teachers have decompressed and are able to have such fantastic and real conversations about their classrooms with others without the stress of their next week's plans. The collaboration and connection that happens is truly next level. Obviously, these conferences are PACKED FULL of content to spark idea and even deeper discussions to transform learning. There is nothing better than the conversation and inspiration that happens during summer professional learning.
Brett Salakas - Educator from Down Under, founder of #aussieED - @MRsalakas on Twitter
The concept of the ‘Summer Conference Season’ for me as an Australian is quite novel. In fact quite literally it doesn't work for me. Being on the other side of the world it is winter in Australia, but that doesn’t impact on the importance of making the ‘long’ trek over the Pacific and joining in the learning.
Too often in our school or our systems we are exposed to the same ideas. Learning in silos can result in a sensation of us ‘swimming in the same water’. We all need to have fresh water to thrive. We need to swim in new ponds and be exposed to new ideas. We need a cross-fertilisation of thinking and learning that can only occur at a large conference where you can meet, network, learn and grow!
Richard Wells - Author, New Zealand Educator, Educational Blogger - @eduwells on Twitter
The number one joy about teaching is seeing student faces light up when genuine learning takes place. The joy of summer conferences is seeing the excited faces of educators as they connect, share, and reconnect themselves with the same joy of learning. To see laughter and excitement on the faces of other educators makes one happy to be an educator. Regardless of how much you might retain from the sessions you return to the classroom for a new school year not just rested but re-energised. This is so important because modeling that excitement and energy towards learning is exactly what students need to see in their teachers. P.S. Who knew I would return to my New Zealand classroom this July and be using improvisation to teach app development!
Mena Hill - Fellow Kansas Educator, K-5 Instructional Learning Coach, - @MenaHillEdu on Twitter
iPadPalooza was like summer camp for educators. It was seriously my first EDU-camp! For the first time in my entire educational career, I was surrounded by like-minded educators who were not only on fire for education, innovative, and ready to ROCK students’ worlds, but these were also some of the coolest and most interesting people I have ever met from across the globe. My time spent at iPadPalooza resulted in turning Twitter-colleagues into an EDU-family. Not to mention all of the amazing ideas that I have brought home to share in my district. iPadpalooza seriously rocked my EDU-world! I am #onfireforeducation
Chris Parker - Tech Savvy Art Teacher, Keystone School, San Antonio, TX - @kreyus on Twitter
Hello all. I have something to admit. I’m an art teacher and I like going to summer tech conferences. Wait? You’re what? An art teacher, you say? I know. I’m supposed to be focused on paint brushes, printmaking brayers, and other creations tools. I do. But I also do enjoy learning about different lesson plan ideas, technology integration, 3D Printing, and listening to people that are as passionate about the teaching profession as I am. As a teacher, we’ve all heard, “At least you get your summers off”, right? Well, we do. Some just choose to work and better themselves by attending conferences like ISTE and iPadpalooza. Summer Professional Learning has been extremely invaluable to me and I look forward to doing it every year!
Carl Hooker - Director of Innovation, Godfather of iPadpalooza - @mrhooker on Twitter
The importance of "Summer PD" as told from the perspective of a provider.
This year wrapped our final iPadpalooza (although our many spin-offs are still going strong). Educators' summers are so valuable to recover, recharge, and replenish their learning that those providing Professional Learning have to make the most of those valuable hours. Running a learning festival like iPadpalooza means making the most engaging experience possible for the adults in attendance. Learning via "sit 'n' get" shouldn't be the only option, but many times at conferences, that's all you get. Making learning fun for adults shouldn't be a bad thing, it should be the norm.
Kelly Hart - Fellow Kansas educator, 7th Grade ELA - @MrsHartSMS on Twitter:
As a classroom teacher, events like iPadpalooza bring out my inner Linda Belcher. Being able to connect with others and grow my PLN is invaluable in terms of what I gain: free PD, new ideas, shared resources, and support. This year, I was able to access free trials of Nearpod Gold and dooplii (a new student planner app with teacher and parent portals!), play with the gang from SpheroEdu, and attend sessions about using native apps like Keynote in entirely new ways. The hardest part about these great events is coming home and figuring out which new ideas to implement first! Proud #edtechsuperhero and wanna-be Linda Belcher
Tara Martin - Fellow Kansas educator, queen of #booksnaps - @TaraMartinEDU on Twitter
As educators, we give so much of ourselves to serve those we lead. However, when summer arrives, it's time to recharge, rest, explore, and learn. It's what we crave during the school year, but as a servant leader, our hearts and minds are completely overloaded.
Why would teachers want to learn in the summer? Easy. It's a chance to collaborate with like-minded individuals who "get you"--your time to be as one with your EDUtribe. It doesn't have to be a traditional professional development session that revives or inspires. It's also during the informal conversations. You see, educators rarely stop thinking about their line of work. Crazy but true. I'm thankful for the many opportunities to attend summer professional development. It not only fills my bucket with new ideas and lifelong friendships, but it gives me space to explore and plan for the upcoming year. Read Tara's own thoughts on the need for summer conferences below.
Get it yet? Do you understand why as an educator you’ve GOT to fill your bucket?
There you have it, plain and simple, or is it? If you go back and re-read these posts, you’ll see a common theme, and it’s not “learn the latest and greatest gizmo/tech”. Instead rather it is the CONNECTIONS that we as educators all seek. We come from different backgrounds, classrooms, subjects, districts, even countries, but all of us are educators at our core. Knowing this, we’ve landed on a universal truth, we’re better together, we’re better connected. It is those connections, for the majority of us, that help us fill our buckets, keep us coming back day after day, week after week to do what we do for our students.
So if you’re an educator who follows any one of these awesome folks already, congratulations, you’re connected, and if you don’t follow all of them, what are you waiting for? But if you don’t, and you stumbled on this by happenstance, for the sake of your “bucket” and the students you serve, GET CONNECTED. Be it at a conference, a webinar, on social media, whatever, just get it done. What are you waiting for?!?!
If you’re fearful, afraid, or feel like a novice, seek out another teacher in your building, in your district. If you know what to look for, you can always spot a connected educator. And I bet if you ask them, they’ll gladly lend you a hand, and help you bet connected. If you don’t believe me, just go back through and read these posts again, you’ll see what I mean, what we all mean.
So if you’re a teacher looking to fill YOUR bucket, try making some new connections first, in whatever platform/conference/venue you choose. You’ll be surprised how quickly that bucket fills up, but watch out, it might just overflow.
Thanks again to all of my contributors to this post. I am continually amazed and inspired by all of you day in and day out. You are my PLN, and most definitely my global EduTRIBE.
