Treasure Chest of Thoughts

Tonight, two other facilitators and myself met with our new group of NBCT wanna-be’s…cool!

Working with teachers who are striving to better themselves professionally is an exciting endeavor. (In Arkansas, the Department of Education provides support groups, such as the one at our school, which the candidates may choose to attend .)

I look forward to working with these ladies through the process of enlivening their portfolios, of placing not just themselves but also their students within the literary works they each will create.

At the root of this process lies what all role-model teachers continually strive for…student achievement.  Interestingly enough, this process also reminds one that for each teacher, these methods are different…yet all are excellent as each teacher simply chooses the strategies at which she excels.

This evening, I could feel the excitement, the stress, the wonder…all those emotions intermingling as the teachers began…or continued…processing the many decisions that lie before them.  Each sat taking ownership in a work that in just a few short months each of these ladies will submit with pride…okay, with relief!  Relieved pride…there…that will be the true emotion!  I can still remember the huge load lifted when I mailed…yes…”the box.”

Those of you who work with teachers in a mentoring role, you understand this natural high that one gets from watching others grow professionally.  As Martha Stewart would say, that is ”a good thing.”