“Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself.” ~John Dewey
Having spent my weekend with hundreds of educators at the OCTELA conference, I am ready to head back into my classroom tomorrow. While good teachers truly have a passion for their profession, English teachers have a tremendous risk for burnout:
- First, there’s the paradox of the joy of writing: We strive to inspire our students and to coach their composition skills–but then there’s that giant stack of comps that must be graded on our own time. I have looked at many a pile of papers with utter resentment–when I should be sitting at my desk with a sense of joy and accomplishment. Figuring out how to balance the paper load is something I’ve achieved, in part, by conferring with OCTELA members.
- Next, there’s that feeling of isolation. As much as I love teenagers, I also appreciate discussion with other adults. So often, there simply isn’t enough time to share with colleagues. Furthermore, many colleagues aren’t interested in collaboration–which can create that Survivor atmosphere. Attending the conference gives me that sense of camaraderie that reminds me that I am never truly alone.
- Finally, there’s the danger of becoming stagnant. I can remember the excitement I felt as a new teacher…and then the boredom I began experiencing in my seventh year. I feared that I had become the proverbial cliché, as the itch to move on and do something different began creeping into my thoughts. Then I walked into a session facilitated by Ruth McClain…and another by Linda Rice…and yet another by Allison Baer… How inspiring to meet other instructors who shared my passion. How amazing that they were willing to share their brilliance with OCTELA audiences who could return to their classrooms with a new set of tools.
I am happy to share my insights and my TECHNOLOGY PRESENTATION via PowerPoint from Saturday’s session. OCTELA is an amazing organization that has brought a sense of family to Ohio’s teachers of English. I know that I would not be the person I am today without the nurturing and support of this group. Thanks, OCTELA, for making the teaching life all the richer.
HERE IS THE LINK: http://colleenruggieri.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/octela-2010.pdf
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