Connect Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Believe me, I know the title of my latest post is a bit 1990's, but I am trying to get an important point across. I am a big hip hop and R&B fan, which is why I selected Ice Cube featuring Das Efx’s song "Check Yo Self" as the theme that would support my thoughts. To me, being a connected educator is paramount in a variety of ways. One being that you can consume a wealth of ideas, educational resources, and best practice techniques. The other is that you are able to share out with other like-minded educators what matters to you and in turn have an impact on student success. This is why educators need to become and remain connected in order to stay on top of their game on a consistent basis. There is no better way to stay connected than through Twitter. Below you will find my Twitter Regimen for emerging connected educators. If strictly adhered to, this plan will boost your overall ability to remain relevant as a lead learner and impact your school environment in ways once thought unthinkable.

Twitter Regimen:

Month #1

• Log on to Twitter and consume twice a week for about twenty minutes at a clip.
• Follow ten new educators every week.

Month #2

• Continue month #1 regimen and......
• Tweet out links, articles, ideas, videos, and resources

Month #3

• Continue month #1 and month #2  regimen plus.........
• Join a discussion group such as #satchat #ntchat #tlap #colchat #sschat #arkedchat

Month #4

• Continue month #1, month #2, and month #3 regimen plus.......
• Promote the importance of expanding your personal learning network with peers
• Model all that is great with Twitter and other web based PD

Month #5

• Continue month #1, month #2, month #3, month #4 regiment plus..........
• Integrate Twitter in the classroom or school setting as a way to engage students, promote student and staff achievements, and keep school stakeholders informed

In future posts I will lay the ground work for even more opportunities that being a connected educator offers. Remember to remind yourself and others the importance of connecting yourself before you wreck yourself.

Brad Currie is the author of All Hands on Deck: Tools for Connecting Educators, Parents, and Communities. He is one of the founding partners of Evolving Educators LLC. Brad is a 2014 ASCD Emerging Leader and Bammy Award Finalist. He currently serves as a K-8 Supervisor of Instruction and Middle School Vice Principal for the Chester School District in Chester, NJ. Learn more about Brad by following him on Twitter @bradmcurrie or visiting his website at www.bradcurrie.net.