by Amanda Casto, 7th Grade Math Teacher at Druid Hills Academy
I first joined Twitter in May of 2009. Like many people, I joined the social media site because everyone else was doing it, and I used it merely for personal entertainment. I tweeted occasionally to the few friends who “followed” me, but mostly lurked celebrities and athletes. I wasn't gaining anything from my Twitter account, and the novelty eventually vanished.
Fast forward three years later, I decided to rejoin Twitter, and quickly learned this second time around there were other educators on Twitter…well-renowned and experienced educators from whom I immediately started learning. Before I knew it, my Professional Learning Network grew from a few coworkers to over one hundred teachers world-wide!
The teachers I connect with on a regular basis encourage me to step up my game by sharing their best practices and help me think outside of the box as an educator. They open my eyes to new ideas and have taught me the power of a growth mindset, something I can’t claim to have always had. Because of Twitter, I have formed many of my own best practices, connected with various educators in CMS and around North Carolina, read many excellent articles and books on teaching, and even met U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Dr. Jill Biden at the White House in May. (Yes, all because of Twitter!) Twitter is such a powerful tool for educators, yet many haven’t tapped into the resources that it holds. In my opinion, it is an educator’s gold mine!
There are hundreds of thousands of educators and educational organizations on Twitter. The best way to connect with educators is to join a Twitter chat that fits your interest. For example, middle school math teachers meet on Twitter weekly on Mondays at 9 PM and chat using #msmathchat. CMS teachers also have a weekly chat, #cmsk12chat, on Wednesdays at 8 PM! Intentionally-driven Twitter chats with teachers that share your same passion is the best, most authentic professional development you will ever need or desire.
I encourage all CMS teachers to sign up for Twitter, if you haven’t already, and explore the Twitterverse! If you have any questions once you join, don’t hesitate to send me a Direct Message at @ThatMathLady. I’ll be more than happy to be your guide to such an amazing resource!
Happy Tweeting!
Fast forward three years later, I decided to rejoin Twitter, and quickly learned this second time around there were other educators on Twitter…well-renowned and experienced educators from whom I immediately started learning. Before I knew it, my Professional Learning Network grew from a few coworkers to over one hundred teachers world-wide!
The teachers I connect with on a regular basis encourage me to step up my game by sharing their best practices and help me think outside of the box as an educator. They open my eyes to new ideas and have taught me the power of a growth mindset, something I can’t claim to have always had. Because of Twitter, I have formed many of my own best practices, connected with various educators in CMS and around North Carolina, read many excellent articles and books on teaching, and even met U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Dr. Jill Biden at the White House in May. (Yes, all because of Twitter!) Twitter is such a powerful tool for educators, yet many haven’t tapped into the resources that it holds. In my opinion, it is an educator’s gold mine!
There are hundreds of thousands of educators and educational organizations on Twitter. The best way to connect with educators is to join a Twitter chat that fits your interest. For example, middle school math teachers meet on Twitter weekly on Mondays at 9 PM and chat using #msmathchat. CMS teachers also have a weekly chat, #cmsk12chat, on Wednesdays at 8 PM! Intentionally-driven Twitter chats with teachers that share your same passion is the best, most authentic professional development you will ever need or desire.
I encourage all CMS teachers to sign up for Twitter, if you haven’t already, and explore the Twitterverse! If you have any questions once you join, don’t hesitate to send me a Direct Message at @ThatMathLady. I’ll be more than happy to be your guide to such an amazing resource!
Happy Tweeting!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amanda Casto is a 7th grade math teacher at Druid Hills Academy. She has taught in CMS for two years and has over seven years total teaching experience. You can reach her on Twitter, @ThatMathLady, or by email, [email protected].
Amanda Casto is a 7th grade math teacher at Druid Hills Academy. She has taught in CMS for two years and has over seven years total teaching experience. You can reach her on Twitter, @ThatMathLady, or by email, [email protected].