Kid Lit Frenzy: THRIVE Blog Tour!!

Thrive: 5 Ways to (Re)Invigorate Your Teaching

by Meenoo Rami

Heinemann Publishers, March 4, 2014

Description from Publisher's Page:
As a novice teacher, Meenoo Rami experienced the same anxieties shared by many: the sense of isolation, lack of self-confidence, and fear that her work was having no positive impact on her students. In "Thrive, " Meenoo shares the five strategies that helped her become a confident, connected teacher. From how to find mentors and build networks, both online and off, to advocating for yourself and empowering your students, "Thrive" shows new and veteran teachers alike how to overcome the challenges and meet the demands of our profession.

Join the conversation on Twitter at #edthrive.

My thoughts:
Teachers writing books for teachers is a good thing. Just like teachers presenting to other teachers is a good thing. Teachers are real. Teachers are in the day to day trenches. Teachers tell it like it is. Meenoo Rami is a teacher. In her book, Thrive: 5 Ways to (Re)Invigorate Your Teaching, Rami gets real and shares the steps that she took to develop into the best teacher she could be.

Rami provides readers with a book that not only inspires but also shares the how-to's of finding and working with a mentor, of joining and building networks, of keeping yourself challenged, of listening to yourself, and of empowering your students. As she shares her story, she also shares the stories of other educators. It is this collective voice that brings strength to what she has to say and dispels any myths that she is the only one doing these things.

In 2010, I ventured onto Twitter. Initially, I was thinking I would follow some authors and publishers and keep up with what was happening in Children's Literature. After several months, I began to find my tribe. Other teachers and librarians and book people who also had a passion for reading and teaching and learning. Through 140 characters and #chats, I began to learn about ideas and techniques and strategies for motivating young readers in ways that I had never been exposed to before. There was always someone that I could reach out to who had an expertise in an area that I wanted to learn more, even when I could not find that person in my local community.

From there, I learned that NCTE was not just for High School English Teachers. I made it a point to join and to also attend the annual conference. At my first NCTE Annual Convention, I wanted to know why we (my district) were not doing some of the incredible things that I was learning about in the different sessions. I realized that I had allowed myself to become too isolated in my own district and community that I had lost the big picture perspective.

Despite my own epiphanies that seemed to be coming quickly, and almost daily as I became more involved in this unique online Professional Learning Community (PLC), I was having difficulty convincing others that this was worthwhile, especially worth the time it took to nurture the relationships with other educators. As I read Meeno's story and how she connected with others through conferences and social media, I was renewed. I now have a book that I can share with other teachers and say "see, it is possible and other teachers are doing it too".

Within the pages of this thin volume, educators who come with an open heart and mind will find practical ways to expand their learning community and reconnect with their passion as teachers. Just as I met Meenoo at NCTE '12 and discovered a teacher who is passionate and caring and thoughtful, readers of THRIVE will also experience that same teacher. And in meeting her, they will be challenged to speak up or reach out or try something new.

Thank you Meenoo for writing THRIVE and for sharing your story in such a real way.

More About Meenoo Rami:

Meenoo Rami is a National Board Certified Teacher who teaches her students English at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, PA. Mixing moments of joy, laughter, risk and encouragement, Meenoo pushes her students to think critically about their connection to the word and the world. Meenoo did her undergraduate work at Bradley University in Illinois in areas of Philosophy and English and completed her Master’s degree in Secondary Education at Temple University. Meenoo also contributes to the work of school-wide events and professional learning communities at SLA. Meenoo works as a teacher-consultant for the Philadelphia Writing Project. She has shared her classroom practice at various conferences such as: NCTE, ISTE, ASCD, EduCon, Urban Sites Conference for National Writing Project, and #140edu. Meenoo also runs a weekly twitter chat for English teachers called #engchat which brings together teachers from around the country to discuss ideas related to teaching of English. Her first book, THRIVE from Heinemann will be out in March 2014. In her free time, Meenoo can be found on her bike, on her yoga mat or in her kitchen tinkering with a vegetarian recipe.

Looking for Meenoo on-line: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+

THRIVE Blog Tour Stops

4/9/14

Jen Vincent at Teach Mentor Texts

http://www.teachmentortexts.com/

4/10/14

Franki Sibberson and Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading

http://readingyear.blogspot.com/

4/11/14

Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy

http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/

4/12/14

Kira Baker Doyle at Kira J Baker-Doyle, Ph.D.