It dawned on me recently that we (Indiana Writing Project members) are indeed a group of well read professionals. Gathered in a living room we were discussing many things, but the conversation kept returning to what we have been reading professionally. It also became apparent that we really needed that professional collegiality where we could discuss the latest trends in writing and all areas of education without being snubbed or looked at as if to have the "listener" say "what the heck are you talking about?". It was great to re-join the circle. Prior to attending the Invitational Summer Institute (ISI) in 2002 I did not realize how little I had been reading professionally. The closest I could gather was what I had been required to read in my licensure courses and that doesn't always cause one to grow, just spit out papers. As a writer I could do that without any problem.
It is good to know that there is a network out there that can support that need for professionalism, writing, and just plain support where a familiar face will encourage what we don't realize we as individuals can do. You/we are never alone. The challenge becomes becoming and staying connected, to care, to invest in others who have the same undeveloped passion for writing, their students, and education as a whole. Of course, I realize it is summer which allows for some time to do those other passions and once school starts (July 31, for me) we load onto the roller coaster that never ends and sometimes we scream for a break or wish to jump off, but we remember the other riders (IWP teacher-consultants) and connect again.
I've rambled on, but my point is we value the professional collegiality that we have and we must make what we value part of that list of priorities. My other point is that we read professional publications, which is so important in education or any professional because without knowing what is going on in our profession how can we be well versed in what we are supposed to know and teach.
Thanks for allowing me to be one of those professionals who cares about what is happening in the world of education, in the National Writing Project and in my corporation. It is important to our students. We are professionals!
Write on~Robin S
