Spring Forward and Upward

 Greetings friends! Can you tell spring is in the air? We are seeing all the signs around us for sure! Normally spring is associated with new life and beginnings; a fresh slate to start with. While this may be true of the season, and we should definitely embrace this, I also want to challenge our thinking for a bit about the word spring. 

Spring is a multiple meaning word. One definition obviously is the season. Another is a coil-like object that will resume it's position even if pressed or condensed down. The third definition is to move or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward. This is the definition I'd like to focus on today. 

What are some ways we can "spring" ourselves forward and upward as we prepare for the last few months of school? For sure winter has been long and tiring, but now we have the sunshine and fresh air to breath inspiration into us. Perhaps your ideas will even continue your inspiration for next year! There's nothing like a traditional spring cleaning, looking at some new PD workshops or organizations to join. Have a book lying on the shelf collecting dust? Don't wait, open it and let your adventures begin. 

For me, I decided that since I finished reading my book Uncovering the Logic of English, I am going to take a deep dive into articles that I've saved up and start there. Most of them are (of course) about teaching reading, but I also know the more I understand these best practices, the more my skills will "spring" forward and grow upward so I can be the best educator I can be. 

Let's not forget our fellow colleagues and those in our PLNs! Spring is a perfect time to jump into Twitter chats, join online communities like Learning Ally's educator community, or investigate what options your favorite organization has. Having meaningful conversations with others is a perfect way to continue the momentum that's much needed the last few months of school. 

Sometimes, using time to simply reflect on our teaching practice and make a list of ideas and things we want to try next year is all we need to feel that sudden push forward. It doesn't have to be a huge project, or time commitment my friends, it's the very first step that's taken that makes the largest difference. Start small, follow your teacher heart, and let your ideas flow creatively, and for sure you will "spring" forward and upward! The best part is, we can do this together! 

Final Thoughts: Keep brainstorming ideas to keep you moving forward. Keep up with whatever inspires you- it will ensure your flame keeps burning. Keep in touch with other colleagues, we all need support and inspiration. Finally,  keep being true to yourself with whatever you need to do to "spring" forward this spring... and watch the positive impact you have on the world because you decided to make a difference!