Voxer Book Study and Helicopter Teachers

I’ve been on a couple of Voxer chats lately, I find them quite interesting. First of all, I love the fact that I can just play the conversations, not have to worry about not being able to read it while driving, not being able to participate if I can’t type, etc. it’s really great being able to just stand in my kitchen, turn on the Voxes, and listen. 

It’s cool. 

Plus I love the fact that you can hear emotion in people’s voices, the passion, the interest, or the upset or distrust-whatever the emotion might be. I really like that. It's harder to misread than a typed comment.  It's easier to 'hear' the message behind the words.

I also like the fact that unlike Twitter you really feel like you do know these people-I guess I shouldn’t say that, since I feel like I know my Twitter friends, but it definitely adds a layer. And of course for my new found group of friends, they get to hear my British accent-some of them were unaware that I even sounded different! I get a kick out of comments from people who have been collaborating with me for a year or so, and hear my British accent for the first time!

But my newest Voxer group has been a little different. 

I was invited to join it out of the blue, by a principal in south Georgia-near Savannah, I think, who was starting a book study on Shift This, on of my very favorite books - such a huge assist to my teaching this year - by Joy Kirr. Joy herself was invited with a variety of teachers, I was invited, along with some outside voices that she had picked up from Twitter. I was pretty complemented that I was invited!  Funny thing is, I don't think that she had any idea how new a teacher I am, how inexperienced and how many more answers than questions I have. 

I joined the chat, and almost left it when I heard the intensity of the people that were on it. Intensity is the wrong word, the level of the people, the knowledge, the combined wisdom that was within the group.  There was even a week when Dave Burgess to join! But then I thought, but a way to learn? What better way to switch out my thoughts and ideas, to an audience who is more than receptive, and very much open to discussing, critiquing, adjusting, and guiding? 

It’s been fantastic. I've been learning, asking, and even sharing.  Sometimes that 'new' teacher sharing can be of value to everyone!  

The book has lead into so many different topics - after all, it is about everything we do as teachers (see a blog from the end of last year for more thoughts about the book).  Because of the variety of content and pedagogy, it has led into further conversation and posting of articles.  The article embedded below is one thing that was shared  - it’s very powerful.  It really made me think about how often I am a helicopter teacher, and how I don’t always allow my students to learn for themselves. Of course it’s hard not to do, especially with the students also taught to be compliant, they await the teachers voice, they await the teachers thoughts, and there I am, only too willing to help. So it’s hard not to buy into that, but it something that I’m working hard to avoid doing.  Read it - it's a good one!