The Ning

Okay - when Melanie Holtsman told me she wanted to start a Ning, I thought, "huh?" I had never heard the word, Ning, and even after she explained it to me, I wasn't sure if it was something I really wanted to do. I am already a member of the TLN listserv and that takes a considerable amount of time. Don't get me wrong - the discourse is professional, thought-provoking virtual conversation that definitely pushes my thinking. I can also do it on my own time since it's on-line but that's just it - it still takes time. I have an e-mail every single day - even when I'm on vacation, but I would never think of just deleting one of those e-mails - even if I get behind - because I don't want to miss a thing! These are educators from all over the country that I admire and think of as role models and leaders in policy decisions. My involvement - even when I'm just lurking - informs my thinking, helps me question my practice, and often gives me the courage to take a stand for what is right.

Now Melanie was suggesting a different kind of conversation - more about what I do every day in my classroom - how to be a better teacher, how to improve each lesson, how to differentiate for my inclusion kids. I am as interested in being the best teacher possible as I am being an educational leader in my school and community, so how could I say no? I have to admit that I joined the Ning reluctantly because Melanie was just so excited about it (I didn't want to disappoint her!), but now that I've looked at photographs of classrooms, watched some impressive videos, and answered a few questions and even asked a few, the power and potential of this concept is beginning to dawn on me. This is a place where I could ask about how to use our new basal reading series in a Readers' and Writers' Workshop, or how to differentiate in a guided reading group, or how to say thank you to my parent volunteers at the end of the year. These are the people that are in the trenches with me who can answer because they are living the same daily life. We have the same challenges and celebrations. This is about opening my practice, not just to the peers in my building, but to have the courage to be transparent to a virtual world. This is so filled with possibilities that I get dizzy just thinking about it all, so... thank you, Melanie... for being a friend, but also for knowing me so well that you knew this is something I wouldn't want to miss!

If you would like to join this new Ning of educators who are interested in standards based education and see just what it's all about, go to http://settingthestandard.ning.com./ I dare you!