From joining podcasts and recording Youtube interviews, to participating in Zoom calls and direct message conversations, the ways in which Twitter has allowed me to connect personally with others is unbelievable. I was completely unaware of how easily Twitter allows for the kinds of deep connections I have begun to make with just a few simple keystrokes.

Recently, I’ve taken advantage of the opportunity to participate in several education-related Twitter chats and wanted to share a few of them with you. I am grateful for all I have learned from my peers in education through these deeply informative mini-conversations carried out with just 280 characters at a time!

TIP: If you are new to chats like I am, check out Cybrary Man’s page “How To Take Part in or Moderate a Chat on Twitter” or Paul B. Kaiser’s article “Twitter Chat Rules & Tools for Beginners” which are both filled with helpful information on how to get started participating in Twitter Chats. These resources have been immensely helpful to me as I continue to learn to navigate the chat process! It’s a little scary at first, but believe me,  you’ll have the hang of it in no time!

5-Star Education Chats You Just Have to Join!

The chats below are just a few of those that I’ve dropped in on over the past few weeks. In these chats, I have met amazing people; I have been inspired by profound wisdom and great ideas and insights; and I have learned more than I ever imagined possible. Check them out for yourself and see. You won’t regret it!

All times posted here are shown in Eastern Time. If you need help finding the right time for your zone, use this Time Zone Converter.

SUNDAY

Kick Your Week Off with Loads of Positivity!

#BuildHOPEedu

Sun., 9:00 pm ET

During this inspiring chat, @RomanNowak guides participants on a reflective discussion where he injects his enthusiasm and words of encouragement to help facilitate hope-building. You will leave invigorated and ready to take on whatever challenges you face in teaching kids or whatever it is you do. This chat brings a lovely close to the weekend while at the same time prepares you to look positively towards the week ahead!

MONDAY

Have a Blast Honing Your Craft with Expert Educators.

#tlap

Mon., 9:00 pm ET

This education chat is a blast! Inspired by Dave Burgess’s best-selling book, Teach Like a PIRATE: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator, these chats will take you on an entertaining journey of discovery about what works in education. These chats are filled with expert advice and information, and you’ll find yourself scrolling through the thoughtful comments long after the chat is over! Another fantastic place to meet some really great people!

THURSDAY

Learn, Laugh, and Grow with Leaders in Education.

#masterychat

Thurs., 8:00 pm ET

This chat is so inviting and entertaining! The participants and moderators are warm, friendly, and extremely enlightening. The @teachbetterteam has created a fantastic discussion platform where educators of all sorts can connect and grow. You’ll leave so excited and with fresh, new ideas to put to work in your classroom right away! This is a fun bunch of folks with whom you’ll definitely enjoy sharing conversation. Don’t miss this one!

SATURDAY

Fast-Paced Discussion & Rapid-Fire Learning!

#CrazyPLN

Sat., Fast Chat at 10:00 am ET

Hang on to your hats, folks! This chat hosted by @CrazyPLN will give your fingers, thumbs, and your brains a workout! You won’t believe all you’ll learn in this quick 30-minute Saturday morning chat. Set your coffee to the side because you won’t have time for a sip; however, afterward, you’ll have a lot to ponder over a fresh cup as you contemplate all the knowledge you gained in these thirty quick and “crazy” minutes!

Where I’m Headed Next…

There are so many more engaging Twitter chats I’ve not had the pleasure of joining yet, but the chats below are on my schedule for the coming week. I am excited about the connections I’ll make and the wisdom I’ll gain from these friendly and inspiring folks! 

Join in the conversation with me, won’t you?!

TUESDAY

Critical Questions About Our Practice.

#CultureED

Tues., 9:00 pm ET

In recent weeks, this chat has presented critical questions surrounding Growth through Adversity and has invited educational leaders to share their own stories of perseverance. This week, the chat will be centered on The Power of Intentionality. I can’t wait to engage in what I know will be a powerful conversation.

WEDNESDAY

“A Shared Vision of What Education Can and Should Be.”

#EducationNeverDies

Wed., Fast Chat at 9:30 pm ET

Hosted by Education Never Dies, their tagline states, “Our Journey starts where Ordinary Ends. The END is really just the BEGINNING!” This sounds like a fantastic adventure I can’t wait to join in on! I discovered this chat through the creative and engaging content of @MrCheney & @PavWander of the amazing podcast, ​@StaffPodcast. I know this is will be a great chat! Check out the Education Never Dies website. This crew sounds amazing!

THURSDAY

A Brand New Chat from a Brand New Teacher!

#EdAdventures

Thurs., 7:30 pm ET

When I saw the post-chat chatter on this chat (tongue-twister!), I knew I had missed out. This first-year teacher is setting Twitter on fire! @SydneyKoch is energetic and creative and has so much to offer all teachers, experienced or otherwise. I can’t wait to join her conversation on Thursday!

These last few months in quarantine have been tough, but the folks I have connected with on Twitter have helped ease the discomfort and fear brought on by this terrible situation. I know that I am truly not alone and that has been a blessing. I’ve learned so much more in recent months about the world of education and about people and their interests, and especially about what it means to be kind and passionate. These connections give me hope that when all the chaos surrounding this pandemic is done, our kids are going to be okay because we have worked harder to become better. We are choosing to grow ourselves by design, and our kids will benefit from it. This is what we do. It’s who we are as educators. One simple chat can open us up to so very much.

Unfortunately, I know I’m missing out on many other amazing chats, so please tell me about your favorite Twitter chats in the comments section below. And, be sure to share any pointers you have for successfully engaging, too. I’m still getting the hang of things myself! 

I look forward to learning and growing with you!

“We don’t grow by accident, we grow by design.”

Anonymous

Well, folks, I finally did it. I finally broke down and “joined the conversation!” I really did…and it’s been wonderful!

Wait, Dawn, what are you talking about? What “conversation?”

You know, the “Education” conversation! Three of them, in as many weeks, in fact! And, wow, have I made some AMAZING connections! 

You see, I’ve been active on Twitter for the past few years, just not that active. I’ve followed this person and retweeted that one, but I never really engaged with much of anyone until recently. I guess a pandemic quarantine will cause you to do some out-of-the-ordinary things…

Anyways, I always thought I had a PLN, up until now. I mean I did–it just happened to be all of Twitter, I guess you could say! The problem was, my PLN just wasn’t that “personal.” I didn’t feel like I was really connecting with others. It was more like I was sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else play and never joining in. But, after these past few weeks, I think I’ve finally figured out what it means to have your own Personal Professional Learning Network, or PPLN, and how very important it is to one’s growth and well-being. It all began with a quick tweet from the earliest member of my new PPLN, Sherry Hardy, about a month ago. She wrote:

“I’ve been invited, but haven’t been successful at joining some Teacher Zoom chats!  I’d like to plan one for Monday night! Please send me a DM if you’re available for some educator chatter!!”

I was SUPER nervous but I replied anyway with: “Sent you a DM…I’m in!” 

What was I doing? I didn’t know this person? But, I joined anyway and thank goodness I did! It turned out to be the most wonderful Monday evening I’d had in a long while. It was relaxing, low key, and I really felt like I had known these folks my entire life. We talked about everything! That hour flew by!

From that moment, my Personal PLN became officially 9 people! Now, don’t get me wrong, I follow a decent number of folks on twitter, but to me, these 9 individuals had just become my People, my #TeacherSquad. Monday evenings have become a time to unwind, to share stories and experiences, to meet with others who understand my struggles because they are also living them each day, right alongside me. When we are together, we laugh…a lot. Sometimes, we sit silently, listening. We share, and most importantly, we understand. Because of this, my PLN now includes this beautiful little PPLN.

Very soon after connecting with my Zoom Crew, I became connected with Dustin Pearson via some twitter chats (which I will be talking about in my next post, if you aren’t familiar with navigating those). Dustin manages the We Are One Team blog where he focuses on three key qualities when it comes to educating kids: relationships, culture, and engagement. Dustin is an enthusiastic, dedicated educator who projects a kind heart and a caring spirit. His Youtube channel We Are One Team does wonderful work bringing insight from educators around the world. His passion for education is contagious, and I am happy to have added him as another personal connection in my PPLN!

The next two connections I made were nearly simultaneous and turned into a whirlwind of a weekend on Twitter and VoicEd Radio. It all began when I decided to reply to this tweet from Carol Salva: 

Carol’s tweet connected me to #BELIEVE_Cafe with Dorina Ebuwa (Miss Dorito). Miss Dorito’s Youtube series on Transformative Emotional Intelligence is transforming me RIGHT NOW! I am on Day 3, and her highly entertaining approach to helping us understand ourselves is really helping me to gain some perspective! 

After our brief Twitter conversation, Carol encouraged me to call into her Boosting Achievement podcast where she would be talking with who else but Miss Dorito herself! Whoa! And there I was again folks, this time on live radio, pouring out my teaching spirit for all to hear…and it felt great! Add 2 more to my PPLN! 

And these aren’t all the folks, by far. At present, I am also blessed to be working with Nina Amir, the Inspiration to Creation Coach. Her Nonfiction Writer’s University is helping me to finish my very first manuscript which I plan to have ready for editing by the end of this month! (I can’t even believe this is really happening!)

So, here is what I have learned these past few weeks: There are people out there who want to connect with you, who want to help you. It’s why they do what they do. Sometimes, they will reach out to you, but sometimes, you have to find the courage to reach out to them first.

There are people out there who want to connect with you, who want to help you. It’s why they do what they do. Sometimes, they will reach out to you, but sometimes, you have to find the courage to reach out to them first.

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I know it’s scary, but you won’t regret it if you do. 

You don’t have to go on your search for understanding alone. There are folks out there just waiting to help you with whatever it is you are searching for. Heck, maybe you don’t even know you’re searching for anything, just like I didn’t when I stumbled on Miss Dorito’s BELIEVE_Cafe!

My advice to you is to find your People and they will help you to overcome your struggles. They will teach you something, or they may simply be that someone to give you a lift when you need it. There are people out there who want to support you. It’s why they exist.

Eckhart Toll said, “Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there…’” 

Want to know how to help alleviate that stress? Just focus on finding your People and they will help get you to your “there.”

Just focus on finding your People and they will help get you to your “there.”

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In the comments below, please share with us how you are forming and maintaining your own Personal Professional Learning Network? Tell us about the great connections you’ve made lately to help get YOU to your “there.”

#rootsmatter #WholeTeacher #YOUpower

Happy Growing, Friends!