A Celebration of Teaching and Learning

We go to work every day immersed in our classrooms and schools, immersed in the work we do best -  educating children.  Each day we strive to stroke our students, to make them feel good about themselves, to make them feel confident to celebrate their learning but who does that for us?  We know that collaboration and professional development is important for the professional growth of teachers which will in turn result in better educators, which will in turn result in better educated children but sadly it doesn't happen nearly enough.  Yesterday was an exception.  Yesterday I attended the Celebration of Teaching and Learning in New York City.  The conference is New York's way to both honor teachers in the Empire State (like my fellow STOY from New York Debbie Calvino), and to bring them together for professional development that will help them grow professionally.  What a privilege it was to attend.  Queen Noor speaking on tolerance and compassion reminded us that all human beings share 99.9 of the same DNA so we are really more alike than different, Bobby McFerrin reminded us that there are  many different kinds of learning and ways to learn with his amazing musical talent and at the end of the day, Queen Latifah and a panel of New York high school students shared their feelings about school, testing and teachers - reminding us of the impact we can have on young people.  There are so many innovative and exciting things happening in teaching.  Spending the day attending workshops was exhilarating - did you know that with Verizon's Thinkfinity a student can perform a virtual heart transplant?  Check out Adobe 's Youth Voices - what would your students have to say?  With bags bulging with "stuff" I hopped in my cab, leaned back and smiled - it was a feel good day for this teacher.