Teachers Have Something to Share

Sometimes we teachers don’t think we have much to say. We toil in the trenches of the classroom and go home to grade and plan the next day’s lesson. We pour our hearts into our curriculum, parent conferences, extracurricular and after-school events, and our students’ well-being. With all of this on our plates, it’s easy to leave the “big thoughts” about education, pedagogy, and classroom procedures to other people—the experts.

My advice: Don’t think that way. You do have something to say. You should speak out and share your thoughts. This is why I advocate for taking a proactive role in conferences, department meetings, professional learning communities (PLCs), and grade-level meetings. I also advocate for writing—sharing your thoughts via social media posts and articles is useful to you and those who read your work.

1. Acknowledge What You Do

The first step toward contributing is just acknowledging that you have something worthwhile and important to share—and I can assure you that you do. Such an epiphany goes a long way in providing teachers with a boost in confidence and self-assuredness.

Review your classroom methods, techniques, and procedures with fresh eyes. You’d be surprised that the simple, everyday strategies you use—the stuff you don’t even think much about—could be beneficial to someone else. We take for granted our own procedures, thinking everyone does them. They don’t. I’m always surprised by the simple stuff I do that, when shared, makes a positive impact on somebody.

Identifying something you do that is novel and dynamic also gives you affirmation that you are doing something right in the classroom.

2. Share Your Writing

The internet has made it easier than ever to make a difference through writing. You can submit an article to a website (like Edutopia) or journal. Check both the scholarly literature and nonacademic magazines and websites associated with your subject. Write about something that you do well in the classroom and submit your piece. Remember—getting rejected should not deter you!

Think about getting active on social media too.

Yes, social media gets a bad rap. And it’s true—the anonymity and impersonal nature of the platforms can make them toxic places with lots of bickering and name-calling. There is, though, a bright side to Facebook, X, Threads, BlueSky, online forums, etc. There are serious people interested in having thoughtful, probing conversations about a variety of topics, including education. I have discovered and interacted with profoundly talented teachers and researchers on X, for example, who have opened my eyes to many new developments in the field. Hop onto one of these websites, share what you’re doing, and get involved in the conversation. Your voice matters.

Consider posting, communicating, commenting, and even respectfully pushing back on ideas with which you disagree. I always recommend doing so in a respectful tone, as I think we have a duty to at least try to make these platforms slightly less rancorous.

Writing is also thinking. When you write about what you’re doing, you’re also making sense of your own educational philosophy and protocols. Writing can be a very self-reflective process that turns your gaze inward. In addition to helping others, the practice can make you a better teacher.

3. Contribute at Conferences

Presenting, like writing, can help you organize your own thoughts, goals, and methods. So, not only will presenting at conferences help others, but also it will help you!

Crafting a presentation forces you to examine your own teaching in a new manner, compelling you to understand your own tried-and-true strategies from a fresh perspective. It’s like teaching a subject to students—you are forced to simplify the material, arranging and sharing it in a way that your audience will understand. In the process, your own knowledge deepens. Preparing a presentation can have the same effect.

Find a professional organization affiliated with your subject matter (you’re probably already a member). And then, if possible, take the plunge. Craft a presentation and try to get on the roster of speakers.

Your advice and suggestions will help some other teacher. They may try something that you do, or your presentation might just be food for thought that forces them to reevaluate their own methods and strategies.

4. Share Your Voice Closer to Home

If writing or presenting at large conferences doesn’t appeal to you, there are still ways to get involved and make your voice known.

Professional development: There are typically smaller conferences and professional development opportunities that pop up in and around one’s area during the school year (for example, our local colleges offer a few, as does the Pennsylvania Department of Education through its intermediate units). Get involved.

Try to go in with a different mindset—less as a silent spectator and more as someone who has important ideas to contribute.

Smaller speaking opportunities: In my region, the library, the local history center, and a prominent local educational nonprofit offer opportunities for people in the community to speak about a variety of topics. My social studies department, for instance, had the chance to speak about a local history curriculum we developed at our library branch. Each of us took a role in presenting and sharing the program of study. This allowed us to talk directly with the community about what is happening in our classroom in a powerful and direct way.

Department meetings, PLCs, and grade-level meetings: Too often, I think, teachers view the mandatory school meetings as a tedious and inconvenient obligation. It behooves us to reframe our thinking to one that is more positive. These venues are occasions for participation and effecting positive change.

Sharing BenEFITs the community and Students

Teaching can feel like a thankless profession. You’re tired, pulled in a dozen different directions, and overwhelmed.

Contributing in some way can be a fun break from the daily grind. Not only does it compel a teacher who is speaking or writing to reevaluate their own practices, but it helps others in the profession. Hearing new ideas can invigorate you if you’re feeling jaded and sluggish. It’s a win-win. Contributing in either a written or oral manner is a way to give back to your community, yourself, and ultimately students across the country.

Lastly, we all have the chance to elevate the level of discourse in our profession and in our country by talking and writing in a way that is sophisticated, courteous, and informed by evidence (even when we are vociferously disagreeing).