Beg, Borrow, and Steal...

As a preservice educator, I can remember being told by the late Dr. Cook, to think of my student teaching experience as a time to soak up as much knowledge as possible.  He encouraged us to always seek out opportunities to ask questions.  He wanted us to take as much away from our student teaching experience as possible.  Dr. Cook referred to this as begging for more information, borrowing those strategies/lessons that were engaging and effective, and stealing the ideas that will make students successful in school and in life.

It is with this in mind that I embark in a new level of professional growth.  Over the past few months, thanks to some advice from a former high school classmate and current elementary principal, Joey Sagel, that I have stepped out of my little professional bubble and return to my roots of begging, borrowing, and stealing.  While I am no longer a preservice teacher, I feel I am never too good to stop looking for growth.

With this in mind, the past two months have brought upon a great deal of change in my professional practice.  I have taken to Twitter to join a Professional Learning Network (PLN).  The ideas and knowledge that I have been exposed to has been outstanding.  In some cases, the best professional learning I've engaged in has taken place on my couch with my phone. :-)  I have been motivated to want to learn more and provide my teachers and students with a better academic role model.

Now, my next step has been to model professional reflections.  So, with much thought, and a great deal of courage, I have decided to start this blog.  Brainstorming ideas with staff (or even peers on Twitter) is one thing.  Posting my thoughts and allowing others to critique them (for the good and bad) is an entirely different thing.  However, it is this level of risk taking that I need in my professional life.

Now, if this blog is only read by my wife, several educators, or nobody at all, I will still benefit.  Keeping my thoughts inside does not provide as much clarity as putting those thoughts in print.  I plan to beg for help and seek advice on Twitter.  I will borrow the great ideas from my PLN (so keep those ideas coming, Joey:-) ).  Finally, I will steal the constructive feedback I receive from others in order to improve through this blog.  Thank you, Dr. Cook!  I will follow your advice to "beg, borrow, and steal."