Challenge, Motivation, Support - 28 Days Of It

28 days ago I had no real idea of what I was getting myself in for.  I signed up for #28daysofwriting in the hopes that I would get my blog up and running, get back into the habit of writing regularly and make some new connections with other educators.  My one goal was to make it.  To complete the 28 days rain, hail or shine.  I am proud to say I made it.

What I didn't expect was how much I would come to love my 28 minutes of writing each day.  The daily time allowance when I was in quiet reflection about my professional practice became so much more than just 28 minutes.  I didn't expect to be thinking about it or talking about it as much as I have.

In 28 days a lot of things have happened.

I have a sore hand/wrist from typing which my massage therapist picked up on today as she felt the tight muscles.  It's a little like the technology version of the writer's dent I get on my ring finger when I write by hand a lot.  She growled me.  I didn't care.

My typing speed has gone up markedly.  Each night as I sit furiously typing my hands fly across the keyboard of their own accord, like they used to when I was back in University.  I love that.

I have read the blogs of wonderful educators from around the world.  Inspiring posts and fantastic gleanings from these passionate people.  We are in good stead with them in our classrooms, heading our schools or working to train our educators.

In 28 days I have managed to come up with 28 different topics to write on.  Some of them average, some of them make me proud.  My posts have been read by family, friends, colleagues and my wonderful Twitter crew from #28daysofwriting.  Having a blog to write on is great, having an audience to write for is amazing.

I have made some great connections with other educators in the past 28 days, most of whom I hadn't connected with prior to the beginning of the challenge.  I've learnt a lot from them.  More than I can say.  Thank you all for your wonderfully crafted posts and equally amazing encouragement you have given me.  I am so very grateful.

In 28 days I have eaten far too much chocolate.  At the time felt like a reward for working so hard.  Now I just feel greedy.  Perhaps next should be #28dayssugarfree.  That might be a good idea (most likely one to be ignored however).

28 days ago I didn't understand how difficult it would be some days to find 28 minutes of peace and quiet in which to write.  It doesn't sound like very long, but some days it was hard to fit it in.  I've only ever written in the evening.  Sometimes posting, like last night, just before midnight.  Scraping in by the skin of my teeth.  Sometimes I'd remember that @tombarrett lives in Australia so is likely at least two hours behind New Zealand time and wouldn't perhaps realise that I might be late.  Never needed the excuse luckily!

27 of the nights I have managed to be uninterrupted for my 28 minutes because I type once Little Miss Two and Miss Four are tucked up fast asleep.  Tonight I didn't manage to be so lucky.  Tonight I type my last post for #28daysofwriting sitting in a dark room on Miss Two's bed, my presence soothing her off to sleep.  I am cross-legged and hunched over my Chromebook.  My massage therapist would be shaking her head.

And with that I will sign off.  I have loved every second of my #28daysofwriting.  The 28 precious minutes are something so much bigger than what they seem.  My love for writing has been reignited.  I love my blog.  I want to keep it up.  I will keep it up.

Thank you so much Tom and everyone in the #28daysofwriting group.  You have inspired and motivated me.  Challenged my beliefs about best practice.  Encouraged and supported me.  You have given me some of the best professional learning all from the comfort of your own homes far, far away.  We are a small and powerful group of dedicated and passionate educators.  Let's keep doing what we do, and sharing it with the world.    

Lines, Tears and a Phonecall From My Mother

Oh dear.  This post is going to be all over the show, I just know it.  I don't like it, order and organisation are kinda my 'thing'.

I have crossed the line from tiredness into a state so far past tired that I cannot even think of a word for it. There is, however, no way I was going to miss writing tonight.  Day 25 of #28daysofwriting cannot be missed no matter how badly I want to shut my eyes or even though I feel my brain is working as though packed in cotton wool (bad choice of words - 'working' might be overstating my brain's capacity at the moment).  Forgive me.

We had Goal Setting meetings tonight with our parents and students.  They were amazing.  This year we did things differently, we had our meetings in the Learning Centre together - all our teachers meeting with parents in the same place.  I loved it.  There was a quiet buzz and murmur of conversation around the room and everywhere you looked heads were bent in earnest over tables, in deep discussion about goals for our students.  It was a great night.  Just as well - we have another night of them tomorrow.  This is the point where the tears come in, my last meeting of the night.  Everyone else had finished and my colleague and I were at the table with our last family (coincidentally the only time we'd been able to buddy up and sit in on one of our meetings together).  Master 9 sat in between his parents, his teachers filling in the other side of the circle.  And I was looking at him, this brave little boy sitting at a table with four adults around him, talking about him and his learning difficulties.  Not an easy place to be.  But his face was alight.  And I commented on it, the fact that he realised that around him sat four adults who believed in how smart he really was, four adults who were striving to find ways to help him to show it to the world.  It was the best moment of the night.  I couldn't help but feel tears prick the corners of my eyes as I said the words.  Luckily it was the last meeting of the night.

The phonecall was just that, a phonecall from my mother.  She rang during one of my Goal Setting meetings and I didn't answer (obviously).  She then rang again just now during my 28 minutes of writing, minute 12 to be exact.  Checking up on me.  She knew it was a big day.  I'll make do with 26 minutes of writing today, no complaints here.

So there you have it.  Day 25.  I'm feeling very proud that I blogged tonight despite the randomness of the material I'm posting.  Lines crossed.  Tears.  A phonecall.  That's all I have.  Good night.