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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This time of year has to be my favorite time of year. I am seeing so many wonderful things from my students with how they are taking ownership of their learning, collaborating with each other, becoming more and more creative, and starting to see some quiet students really begin to open up and share their personalities. It is also my favorite time of year to try out new ideas, reflect on my successes and failures, and start thinking about how and what I want to accomplish with next year's students.

I find myself building my PLN more and more, as I search for new ideas and ways to improve my current practice. The information I am getting through Twitter, Voxer (thanks to the suggestion of fellow educator Rachelle Dene Poth), Google+, and my director of technology is extraordinary. While I have heard of Alice Keeler for years, I recently started following her on Twitter (@alicekeeler). I honestly do not know why I waited so long to follow her. Everything she tweets is outstanding. The ideas I am taking away from my PLN, keep me so energized as if it were the very beginning of the school year.

And that is what is makes this the most wonderful time of the year. It is having the opportunity to try new ideas with a seasoned group of students that makes learning meaningful for them and me the last few months. Who couldn't help but feel energized and excited to go to work? The end of the school year is not about coasting, but rather about exploring opportunities to finish the year strong for your students who trusted and believed in you all year. It is also about looking towards the future to next year's students, so you will give them a year like they have never had before.
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