Find Your Tribe: How Gifted Educators Can Build a Supportive Network This Summer 🌞

🏖️🩴Summer break, what an excellent time to relax, recharge, and find your tribe! Let's discuss why you need a tribe and how to build it this summer.

I have learned first hand that having a support network for sharing experiences, attacking challenges, and discovering new resources can make all the difference in the world.I began working within my small district as the sole Gifted Ed personnel. No one really understood my position and my colleagues didn't realize I was a great resource for advanced learners in their classes.  I had no idea how to bridge that "divide" and seriously lacked confidence in my own abilities.  I needed a mentor or someone to discuss strategy and ideas.  I reached out to other gifted teachers in my small county. They also were the only gifted personnel in their small districts.  We formed our county-wide gifted collaborative group andit changed everything for me! Belonging to a supportive network is a game changer:

1. Emotional Support: Talking about your struggles and triumphs with people who understand the challenges unique to teachers of the gifted.

2. Professional Development:  I can learn so much more from visiting or observing other classes than I ever have at the district PDs. You can learn much from others' experiences and discover new teaching strategies.  Having a supportive network allows you to do that.

3. Collaboration: Think about brainstorming with other great teachers and coming up with cool new ideas. Learn about new resources or new ways to use resources from other gifted teachers.  Just a 30 minute discussion with a fellow gifted teacher can result in 100s of new ideas and inspiration for you.

 Finding Your Tribe - Here are a few simple ways to find your tribe:

1. Online Communities: Look for forums and groups on sites like Facebook or LinkedIn with gifted educators.

2. Social Media Groups: From Twitter chats, such as #gtchat, to niche communities on Instagram, connecting with other, similarly impassioned educators is never far away.

3. Professional Organizations: Network by joining organizations like the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).  In Tennessee, we have the Tennessee Association for the Gifted (TAG). They have a wonderful conference scheduled for the fall.  It’s a great place to meet other gifted teachers. I always find it fascinating to learn how other districts serve gifted students.

 How to Make the Most of the Connections You Make with Your Tribe:

1. Active Participation: Get into the threads, share your experiences, and help support others.

2. Sharing Resources and Ideas: Share your knowledge lavishly. It helps establish the pool of knowledge in an integrated community.

3. Engage in Discussion: Attend webinars, comment on posts, and engage in group chats to start making connections.

4. Ask Questions: From ideas for great Gifted Ed books to suggestions on tackling your toughest Gifted Ed challenges, you'll find online forums & group members are happy to help.  Don't forget to reciprocate by helping others in the group.

📣Your tribe can help you grow both personally and professionally by helping with collaborative projects, sharing best practices, sharing resources, and sharing your triumphs.  We all need a supportive team cheering us on!📣

Empowering teachers of gifted students with resources, collaborative support, and proven strategies has always been my goal with Gifted Ed Solutions.  Here are a few services that can help you create your Gifted Ed tribe.

1. Time-Saving Tech Strategies for Gifted Teachers: Join us this July for a hybrid PD that consists of on-demand courses and four live group coaching calls where we will dive into tech strategies that save you time and make your life easier. It is a great chance to connect with others in the world of gifted ed and share tips and tricks. Register Here.

2. Gifted Ed Collective: Join as a member to have priority access to exclusive content, personal coaching, and an online community. It's all about finding your people. You can join the waitlist for our Fall 2024 Cohort.

3. Free Online Facebook Group: Join our free Facebook community for educators to connect with people like you, share ideas, ask questions, and get support in a friendly space. Share your experience and get support from your peers. Join the free online FB group Here.

I know there can be challenges when trying to create your collaborative team, but the rewards far outweigh the investment of your time. Finding your tribe as a gifted educator during the summer break is incredibly rewarding. It helps alleviate isolation, provides emotional support, and fosters professional development and collaboration. So, take the plunge this summer to find your tribe, build meaningful connections, and nurture your network for a fulfilling teaching journey. Grow your network this summer for a complete and fulfilling teaching journey. You can learn more about our incredible community at GiftedEdSolutions.com.  Here is to an inspiring summer!🌞🍎

 

P.S. If you'd like to learn more about saving time & making differentiation sustainable, I'd love to see you in my upcoming course, "Time Saving Tech Strategies for Gifted Teachers."  Spaces are limited due to the live group coaching sessions that accompany this course in July.  You can join the waitlist here. It will be open to the public on July 8th, but waitlisters will get waitlist bonuses and early access. Click here to join the waitlist.