Let's Stay Together

How Does a Teacher Create a Network with blowing a fuse? 

TL to the rescue!

According to the keeper of all knowledge worth knowing, Wikipedia, a teacher is defined as: "A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching." This is the idea most have in mind when they sign up for their education degrees and dream of having their own classroom. Having just returned to the classroom after days away for professional development opportunities and union education, I should feel very capable of meeting that definition and creating a clever post on the idea of networking and collaborating in a professional way.  

But I don't. Why? Because the much more realistic definition of a teacher and the demands of the role is: Teachers educate students at all levels on one or more subjects, such as geography, science, algebra, or French. They prepare lesson plans, assign homework, grade tests, and monitor students' progress. Teachers typically work in elementary, middle, or high schools, teaching one or more grades a year. Here are some of their primary responsibilities:

• developing educational content, such as lesson plans, tests, and assignments
• creating a productive learning environment for students
• supervising students while they're in the classroom, cafeteria, or on the playground
• leading lessons and encouraging students to participate
• cleaning the classroom when students leave
• documenting students' progress
• preparing progress reports for parents
• grading homework, assignments, and tests
• adhering to school policies and procedures
• offering feedback to students
• creating and enforcing classroom rules
• tailoring the school's curriculum to their students' needs
• ordering classroom supplies and equipment
• collaborating with other teachers and school administration
• staying up to date with industry trends and advancements

And this is not an exhaustive list of duties! So while, in addition to these classroom tasks, I am working with colleagues across my district to create inclusive, anti racist lit circles, I have no time or desire to call a meeting and tell my school team about it. And all the Union info I learned at a workshop would be invaluable to many of my school staff. But is there a plan for me to disseminate that info in any real or useful way? Nope. 

Why? The very simple reason is that I am tired. 

My colleagues are tired. We are all just trying to get through the daily grind and demands of daily educating. Teaching has become, for too many, overwhelming.

Teaching is no longer what we expected it to be when we signed up. And so it's not really surprising that many, me included, let "collaborating and staying up to date" drop from their priority list.  We want to be Owen from Jurassic Park who tames the velociraptors but instead, we are Claire, trying do the paperwork, organize the chaos and just survive. Likely in similarly poorly chosen shoes. 

What's an Exhausted Teacher to Do? 

But even in our exhaustion we are professionals so we trudge on. And luckily, there are a myriad of ways to stay connected and there is one person who we can always turn to. A helpful non enrolling colleagues who can support us in our professional growth. 

Hello, TL, I'm looking at you! 

Teacher Librarians may be the unsung hero of keeping burnt out teachers in the loop. Capable of good research with a hint of inquiry,  a TL is be able to offer a lot of professional resources with a few clicks of a mouse.  Many districts have pro-d discussion boards and offerings built into their district provided platforms. A good, collaborative TL has the time and means to consolidate and distill the meaningful and useful info for their classroom colleagues. My district, 36, has already put me on collaborative teams meant to help me stay current:

Sending out an email or two highlighting one of the cool resources found in these teams is one way a TL could help me stay connected. Or perhaps a morning email with a podcast suggestion for the drive home after a busy week. There are a million teaching podcasts out there but if someone...a kind, clever TL for example....curated a few selections, teachers might be more likely to load one up for the long drive home. 

 

There is no end to the many resources a TL could offer a teacher. No, it is not the TL's job to do the pro-d of any given teacher. There are so many ways for an educator to stay connected very easily: conferences, websites, professional books, etc. 

BUT... collaboration is part of the job description. And guiding teachers to collaboration and growth is a significant part of a modern TL's mandate. When an overwhelmed teacher drops down beside the TL at the staff meeting and complains that they haven't had the time to figure out how to improve their latest unit... that is where a TL can make inroads. Teacher Librarians are the foundation upon which a network can be created. That is no small thing. It could be argued that... 

The TL IS ICT. 

 

References

“Teacher.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Aug. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher#:~:text=A%20teacher%2C%20also%20called%20a,via%20the%20practice%20of%20teaching.

How to Be a Teacher in BC | Indeed.Com Canada, ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-be-a-teacher-in-bc. Accessed 13 Oct. 2023.