Professional Learning Network

Technology has brought so many connections right at our fingertips without ever having to meet people in person. Online networking is such a great tool, especially during the pandemic when many are still cautious about where they go and who they see. 

When I first started my Twitter account (@bfranco2021), I struggled to find people and organizations to follow. After a few days of scrolling through my feed, I came upon a tweet that was liked by someone I follow, which then led me to discover #EduTwitter, which led to a copious amount of educators who shared resources and short tales of their day! #EduTwitter also led me to other accounts like Teacher Takeaways (@10MinutePD) which shares short summaries and resources that could lead to more professional development. 

When I scrolled through #EduTwitter, I was reminded that teaching is never going to go perfectly as one might plan it. I read tweets about interesting experiences, downfalls, and uplifting moments, among many tweets. It was a reminder that I needed that it is absolutely okay to make mistakes in teaching, that we are not alone on this journey, and that someone across the country or in a different continent might be going through the exact same thing. 

Twitter Chats

One of the Twitter chats I participated in was the #LearnLAP (Learn Like a Pirate). The specific chat I participated in occurred on September 27 and was led by Penny P Bearden-Brown (Twitter: @bsybeescreative). Our chat was centered on reflection, and how we utilize it personally, professionally, and how it can help us grow as educators. 

This chat specifically was my first one, and with all firsts, comes a little bit of anxiety. I remember sitting in front of my laptop, refreshing the hashtag to see if things would get started early. I also remember being nervous that I’d fall behind as questions would get posted. I also had to delete and repost a couple responses since I’d forgotten to include the hashtag and/or the A1, A2, etc… to ensure that answers would line up with the questions. As the chat continued, I felt more confident in my responses, especially when other educators participating in the chat would respond or like my tweets. 

Screen captures by author 

I also found myself feeling inspired by and connecting with educators on their responses to the questions. One of the educators that participated in the chat is a consultant (Twitter: @ElYaafouri) who provided a very insightful perspective on diversity. 

Educational Resources

As I scrolled through my Twitter feed, I found many educational resources. One that stood out to me, in particular, was Child Trend's Toolkit for Child Welfare Agencies to Help Young People Heal and Thrive During and After Natural Disasters. Child Trends (Twitter: @ChildTrends) shared many useful resources, but I found this toolkit so essential, especially in the times we are going through. Not only is this toolkit useful for individuals in child care, but it can also be useful for anyone of any age. I also came upon two articles/resources that also deserve a spotlight. 

• Supporting Mental Health Policies and Practices through the American Rescue Plan
  
• The Guardian: "Exhausted and underpaid": teachers across the US are leaving their jobs in numbers