Don’t Wait For PD – Join Twitter

I initially signed up for Twitter several years ago.

Upon joining, I sent my first Tweet along the lines of:

“I signed up for Twitter… now what do I do?”

And there my account sat, untouched, for several years.

Fast-forward to July 2012…  (I downloaded my Twitter archives to see when I actually started using Twitter to connect with other educators.)    It is sincerely hard to believe I’ve had Twitter in my professional life for less than a year!

Why?

Because, Twitter has helped me connect with other educators who are just as passionate and crazy as I am about mathematics, education, technology, and most importantly, students!  I learn so much that I can hardly remember what I did without Twitter.  Connecting with people and content through Twitter is a regular, daily part of my practice.  Here are a few highlights of specific ways Twitter has impacted me, and can impact you too:

1) Twitter helps me reflect about teaching and learning.

@mpershan BOOM – so well put.This statement is an epiphany worth sharing with other teachers – read more here: mathmistakes.org/?p=1174

— Cathy Yenca  (@mathycathy) May 21, 2013

2) Twitter helps facilitate ongoing, relevant professional development.

Educators should not wait for PD.There are so many ways you can learn online & from amazing educators here on Twitter #iaedchat

— Jerry Blumengarten (@cybraryman1) April 8, 2013

Growing Your PLN Video bit.ly/12crWzN #edchat #ettipad #bpschat #edtech

— Patrick Larkin (@patrickmlarkin) May 16, 2013

3) Twitter helps me connect with educators worldwide – check out the Global Math Department! #globalmath

Webinar RIGHT NOW.Math Exam Review that DOESN’T SUCK. bigmarker.com/conferences/at…Join us!#mathchat #globalmath

— Julie (@jreulbach) May 22, 2013

4) Twitter allows me to connect with app developers and make an impact on new tools by providing classroom feedback.

@mathycathy nice! how does it feel to be on the other side? (fyi, we’ll be adding more student features shortly)

— guido kovalskys (@GuidoNearpod) May 17, 2013

RT @edutech20: Ways to use interactive images in the math classroom @thinglink_edu Thanks to @mathycathy for sharing! #edtech #tlchat

— ThingLink Education (@ThingLink_EDU) April 15, 2013

5) Twitter allows me to compare teaching strategies with other teachers in no time at all!

Would you believe a teacher in Canada, a teacher in California and I have made videos of how we teach factoring polynomials just to share with one another to compare methods?

@mathycathy @mrvaudrey Yes i demo quad. dist. prop 🙂 convinced my kids r now sold on box over non-recyclable FOIL plus tutors adapting too — Dee (@macMATHster) May 11, 2013

Love modern math methods to teaching algebra @mrvaudrey @mathycathy Looking fwd to some squid =) #edchat #MathIsAwesome — Dee (@macMATHster) May 17, 2013

6) Ever wish another teacher was in your classroom so you could laugh with someone else who “gets it”?  Twitter makes that happen too.

@trianglemancsd @absvalteaching I am absolutely dying over here!!!!!Tears!!!!!Tears!!!!!!

— Cathy Yenca  (@mathycathy) April 13, 2013

7) Twitter helps educators unite and know we’re not alone in our thinking!

@rafranzdavis Amen!I love the way you articulated this point!

— Cathy Yenca  (@mathycathy) May 6, 2013

8) Twitter helps me find quality resources I can use in my classroom tomorrow… then provides a platform to discuss how the resources impacted instruction.

Gave @mr_stadel ‘s exponents Day 3 handout to Alg 1 students 2day… what do you think they said about (x – 7)^2 ? mr-stadel.blogspot.com/2013/04/mistak…

— Cathy Yenca  (@mathycathy) May 14, 2013

Follow me, I’ll follow you, and let’s get learning!  

Also check out #mathchat and #ipaded as a few hashtags to get you started on finding other kindred spirits to follow.