October 25th 2024 Fall Musings and Community Practices

Last Friday in October and it was an energizing day filled with both professional growth and personal connection. 💕 My morning kicked off with D29’s ML/ELL Professional Learning meeting, a quarterly event for TESOL educators across the district who are deeply committed to supporting multilingual learners. It’s always rewarding to dive into discussions on best practices and innovative approaches in language education, especially in a room with like-minded colleagues who understand the complexities of our students’ experiences. 

We explored fresh ideas and techniques designed to help MLL students engage more meaningfully in the classroom, giving me a renewed sense of purpose as an ESL teacher. After an invigorating start to the day, I enjoyed a leisurely lunch, taking time to catch up on emails and have adult conversations—a refreshing shift from my usual exchanges with students. By the afternoon, I was back at my house, racing to join a virtual conference submission workshop, eager to support and listen tommy academic colleagues proposals and further my scholarly journey.

As evening approached, I had the chance to blend work and family in the beat way possible. My daughter and I attended my school’s fundraiser Paint Night, a perfect opportunity for creativity and relaxation while also supporting a cause we believe in. That will be keeping public schools open! Later, we joined her Girl Scout group as they colored and bonded in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness—a powerful way for her to engage with her community and build empathy. Balancing these moments of family and community involvement makes me feel even more connected to the mission of teaching; it reminds me of the importance of exposing young minds to a world of diverse experiences and perspectives. 

This balance of nurturing my daughter’s curiosity and sense of responsibility shapes the kind of educator I strive to be for my students, especially those who are multilingual learners, as I want them to feel equally seen and inspired to embrace their multifaceted identities. 

So, for fellow educators and parents out there: How do you bring balance and inspiration to the lives of those you influence every day?