It's Been A Year, Already - Time to Reflect on @CWPFairfield's Work in Southern Connecticut at Get The Annual Report Done

As much work as it takes to compile data and to compose the yearly report for the National Writing Project, it is also a location to stop, think, and reflect owhat all the teachers in our network have accomplished as a result of our 'Model at Work'. As I put the materials together: conferences, institutes, professional development, support for youth publications, young adult literacy labs, research, presentations, academics, curriculum, consultation, etc., I scratch my chin and think, "Hmmm. We've got something going on."

Ah, but I also channel Dr. Kelly Chandler Olcott at Syracuse University and wonder if I am being as efficient as I can be. She's the queen of using time appropriately and wisely (especially in relation to scholarship, teaching, and service) and I wish I had 1/20th of that talent. I am realizing that we at CWP-Fairfield are doing a lot, but we need to get our work out into the world in more scholastic ways).

Even so, while I spent the last 48 hours writing the report, I had many moments of reflection on the importance of what we're doing. Last night, too, while walking Glamis, I listened to Meet Kwame Alexander, a show on NWP radio, and realize the work we're doing has made an incredible impact. The goal of course is to write on this so that others can learn from creating teacher leaders and supporting quality instruction. So much of this collaboration highlights all the ways we're using Ubuntu to provide professional development in our state.

I also think that we've been able to do a lot for little and in the words of State Senator Bob Duff, "Connecticut gets a lot of punch from a little investment." This is true. I have said it before, "Investing in teachers is the surest way to enhance the learning of the students they teach."

Pictured above is an image from Ubuntu Academy and the use of Outcasts United to lead a two-week laboratory for immigrant and refugee youth. The 10 days of instruction not only impacted the youth participants, but teachers in the Invitational Summer Institute, students in other labs, graduate students in Young Adult Literature, and athletes at Fairfield University training during the summer months were impacted. From one photo, a million smiles bloom and boom for me.

Stepping outside the box and reconfiguring our work differently has been what it is all about.