I know what some of you are thinking. "I don't need Twitter." Let me tell you something I learned very quickly: You DO need Twitter, and here's why.
About five years ago, I was attending a conference in Houston. It was an amazing conference, filled with amazing educators! Can you say Gerry Brooks? Ron Clark? An opportunity of a lifetime! I have pictures! One of the breakout sessions was lead by Kayla Dornfeld of Top Dog Teaching, and the North Dakota Teacher of the Year in 2019. Her presentation was nothing short of AWESOME!! Afterwards, I went up to her to pick her brain about all things Early Childhood. She asked me if I was on Twitter because she shares a lot of pictures and ideas there. I told her I was not and was actually digging my feet in on setting up an account. In her usual excited way, she encouraged me to jump on the bandwagon, start an account and follow her. I had my laptop with me and she even talked me through it. Friends! I'm here to tell you, DO IT!
In the past five years, I have met amazing people that I can only pray to meet in real life! In Twitter-verse, I have been challenged, lifted up, and cheered to move forward with an idea. On days when I've questioned my calling into teaching, I have been encouraged. I have a couple of favorite stories:
A few years ago, around Christmastime, I was participating in a Twitter chat and mentioned that I asked for "Trauma-Informed Schools" by Jim Sporleder and Heather Forbes. Back Story--I heard Jim speak, locally, and thought, "Yes! This is always what I've thought education should be!" and I followed him on Twitter just so I could read his words about trauma-informed teaching. Fast-forward to the Twitter chat. When I said that I was asking for the book, I tagged Jim in my tweet. I received a direct message from him...WHAT?!?!? I have it saved. It said, "Isn't there something else you'd rather receive from your family?" I replied with "Receiving this book would mean the world to me." He said, "I'll send you a copy. Ask your family for something else." Again, WHAT?!?! Friends!! My copy of the book is AUTOGRAPHED!! Since that time, I've actually talked to Jim at national conferences twice! In the education world, we have heroes. We call them Edu-Heroes. Jim is mine!
Another story about connections through Twitter is this one: I was participating in a Twitter chat and the moderators (people posing the questions) asked for people to submit stories about why they became and educator. (My story is further down in my blog somewhere). I thought, "What the heck?" so I submitted my story. A while later, I received an email from them, asking if they could publish my story in a book! The book is full of stories from educators across the globe and I am honored to have mine as one of them, The book is called, "Stories is Edu: Sailing With a Fleet" it was compiled by Jason Bretzmann and Kenny Bosch. I even did a podcast with the two of them! Fast forward to a conference where Jim Sporleder was speaking. He had a slide that quoted my story from this book! Mind blown!
When you join Twitter, you can "lurk." Lurking is when you find a chat that sounds interesting and you just follow what all of the other participants are saying, and that's okay! You can participate by "tweeting" out your own thoughts and ideas. This is so validating to me, as an educator, because then others "like" what you've said or comment on what you've said. I can't begin to tell you the number of times I have been in the dumps and these chats have lifted me up, personally and professionally. You can also moderate a chat. Many times a chat will ask for Guest Moderators. All you have to do is volunteer! I think, at this time, I've moderated five or six, and have another coming up in the Kansas Teachers twitter chat next month. I have my favorite chats set on the calendar on my phone. I don't participate in all of them all the time, but if I'm not doing anything, I will definitely chime in. I have a few that I would never miss! That's how motivational they are!
I started out "following" Kayla Dornfeld, Jim Sporleder, and some local friends that were already on Twitter. I only use it for educational purposes and to follow my college football team. Since that time my network, or PLN (personal learning network) has grown! If you like what someone says or if they teach a similar grade level, "follow" them! Share your ideas! It's a great way to collaborate outside your local area! When others like a comment or idea that you've shared, they can "follow" you, too. Just because they follow you, doesn't mean you have to follow them. For example, in the past five years, I have acquired 3,095 followers and I "follow" 1,340. Sometimes, people or entities I follow, don't follow me back or don't share very often and that's okay, too.
Interested in starting a Twitter account, following me, or learning more? Hit me up! I'm happy to share what I know.
