One Word 2023: Engage

This year my one word is #Engage. It didn’t fall into place as easily this year, and it is similar in many way to my #OneWord2022 which was “Amplify”.

I had moderate success with a guiding word last year, so I figure it can’t hurt to try again.

What does #Engage mean for me in 2023? In a nutshell, it encompasses both being interested in others and brave enough to step in and be involved in new things.

• To be a useful member to the communities that I am part of; to be part of the conversation and engage as an active participant. For example, I’m excited to be part of another group of some of the most noteable Instructional Coaches in North America as we work on crowd sourcing an Instructional Coach Playbook. Lots of folks sign up to be involved in these initiatives, but never show up to do the work or discuss in the Zoom conversations. Coming to the table in these spaces can make a difference in all sorts of future opportunities.
• To reply to and comment on posts with my Twitter PLN and the schools that I support via Facebook; it’s amazing how much this “engagement” can open up opportunities. I think that’s how I ended up hosting a Google Certified Coach bookstudy last spring with @TeamFrances28 from the UK, and Kim Brown @library_nrhs from Massachusetts.
• To make a point of checking in and saying “Hi” to as many teachers and leaders as possible when I am at one of our schools in my role as District Instructional Lead. This is one of the most lucrative ways to connect with instructional coaching opportunities! My “Hi”, is usually responded to with, “Hey, I’ve been meaning to email you about….”
• To be brave enough to promote the work that I am doing and the resources that I am making. The tough part here is that my Twitter friends and colleagues produce and share such great work (@EmmaCottier @MrsHowell24 @gret etc) that I wonder, “Why bother?” But then again, if the materials (videos, blog posts, choiceboards, etc) aren’t useful they’ll just get passed over – no harm done.
• If Google Innovator applications open up for North Americans, to engage in the process and put in the work to apply!
• To engage more directly with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. So few of the teachers in my district know about the SDGs – I feel that this is a personal failure so far. As a Social Studies teacher this was such an important topic for me, but I’ve not promoted them very well as a Coach.

If you are reading this, I would love for you to share your #oneword in the comments!

One Word 2022: Musings & Review

My #Oneword 2022 – my first ever, I might add – was “Amplify”. Check out how I viewed “Amplify” a year ago, followed by italics comments on how that aspect played out.

What does #Amplify mean for me? (bold= original thoughts; italics = reflections)

• To support and promote and lift up and encourage the teachers and leaders in my district that I serve as an Instructional Coach/Instructional Lead ➡️➡️
  • I’ve been able to do this by giving shoutouts to teachers and schools in our Coaches’ newsletter.
  • Our district superintendent also has a process for nominating people who deserve accolades from “the top” – dozens of unexpected letters of commendation have been sent out based on my suggestions.
  • When I go to schools I make an effort to pop in and say a hello to every teacher that I can find. Some days s I do this better than others, but overall this has led to stronger relationships and more coaching opportunities
• To be a useful member of the communities and PLNs that I am part of; to be part of the conversation and an active participant ➡️➡️
  • An example of this is learning to use Twitter spaces to host a live Twitter Space from the @ISTECommunity account following the bi-weekly ISTE Expert Webinar – I’ve hosted several this past year.
  • I was involved with a group of Google Certified Coaches and Trainers to build a 90-Day Coach Launch manual bit.ly/Coach90DayLaunch – a project led by Katie Fielding.
  • I’m currently part of a similar group working on another crowd-sourced product
• To be brave enough to promote the work that I am doing and the resources that I am making ➡️➡️
  • This one is still tough, but I am doing some “stretchy” things.
  • In the summer I applied to present at a TCEA Coaching Conference in Austin, Texas. Our PRPS coaching team attended the conference in October and I presented 2 sessions. Although I do quite a bit of presenting, these were a struggle; maybe the topics I chose were too much of a reach?
  • I am making a 3rd mini-video Skills Challenge series, mostly aimed at our district, this time on “Search Skills”. These are being followed by more and more teachers and classes in my district. I share them on Twitter (and now Facebook) but they get relatively little traction there, like my Google A-Z video series. But alas, the idea is to just keep putting it out there.
  • Sometimes these resources don’t catch on until much later. I’m working on being brave enough to share them in some of the Coaching groups I belong to like Google Certified Trainers, GoldEdu with Stephanie Howell (@MrsHowell24), and Eric Curts’ ControlAltAchieve group (@ericcurts). Resources are often passed on and appreciated in these forums when they go largely unused or appreciated “at home.

Coming soon: #OneWord2023!

If you are reading this, I would love for you to share your #oneword in the comments!

One Word 2022: Amplify

This year, #Amplify found me and stuck like glue… even in December already!

I typically don’t have clarity about a #oneword so I’ve never managed to decide on one before February, and then…. too late!

What does #Amplify mean for me?

• To support and promote and lift up and encourage the teachers and leaders in my district that I serve as an Instructional Coach/Instructional Lead
• To be a useful member to the communities that I am part of; to be part of the conversation and an active participant
• To be brave enough to promote the work that I am doing and the resources that I am making
• ….maybe more to come as I grow into this word!

If you are reading this, I would love for you to share your #oneword in the comments!