Twitter

I love Twitter.  Seriously.  
I love it so much that it deserved its own tab.

Tweetin' teachers - I love 'em!
Now, I know what you're thinking... "It's too much!  I already do Facebook, Pinterest, etc."  I thought that at first too, until I figured out the hashtag thing.  I promise - that makes all the difference.  Once I figured out that hashtags help me navigate through the chaos, I fell in love.  I'm not kidding.

When you initially jump into the Twitterverse, it looks like a jumbled mess, filled with people tweeting about what they had for breakfast.  Well, I can promise you that this love affair I have with Twitter would not exist if I were following people who thought I cared about their morning routine.  I don't.  I'm guessing you don't, either. 

I am on Twitter because it has transformed my teaching; I sincerely mean that.

What Twitter is to me:

>It is where My Professional Learning Network lives!

>It is where I get inspired!

>It is where I ask thoughtful questions, well... and some silly ones, too.
>It is where I reflect on my teaching.

>It is where I take risks, and admit that I don't have all the answers.

>It is where I get advice from amazing, talented teachers. (Did I mention amazing?)

>It is where I chat with other 4th grade teachers on Monday nights.

>It is where I learn from teachers who don't have all the answers, either.
>It is where I am challenged.  Daily.
>It is where I spy, like when I watch a chat, but I don't tweet about it.
>It is where I am bold, and say what I think.
>It is where I meet - and learn from - gifted leaders, administrators, principals, speakers, researchers, etc. in our field.
>It is where I will continue to gain knowledge as I flip my class.
>It is where I receive honest feedback.
>It is where I love, love, love to be.

You may think you don't have time for Twitter.  Truth is, you don't have time NOT to be on Twitter.  Do you text?  Yeah, I thought so.  Twitter is simply texting to a different audience.  That's it.  Your students are tweeting; I can bet on it.  Why not learn to speak their language so you can communicate with them where they hang out?  More on that later.


Of course, I'm referring to Twitter as if it is this big "thing."  Actually, it's the people behind the tweets that make it invaluable to me.  I feel the need to acknowledge the fact that it's the relationships that are born on Twitter, and they way they develop and progress, that will kind-of blow your mind. 

So, now that I have convinced you to give it a shot, I'm not going to throw you in the deep end and tell you to swim.  You might drown.  What I will suggest, instead, is that you take a look at this set of videos and links in MentorMob below.  (MentorMob completely ROCKS, by the way, but I'll tell you about that later.)  A little advice: watch all the steps and don't skip any of them!

Give it a try.  Let it transform your teaching.  Let it challenge you in ways you never imagined.  You won't regret it.

In another post, I will detail how to "chat," and will include the chat schedule for educators.  I'll introduce you to @cybraryman; he will help make your life in the Twitterverse easier.  Guaranteed.

Oh yeah, and once you become a member of the Twitterverse, follow me by clicking here.  We can take risks, reflect, chat, and learn from each other.  You in?

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!

Check out this awesome Livebinder my Michelle R. Green:

Twitter


50 Ways to Use Twitter in Your Classroom  (great ideas!)

#####Twitter Hashtags in the Classroom#####




             Check out my PLN!!!  They're the greatest teachers you'll ever meet!

Get your twitter mosaic here.