In the Center
Musings of a Lifelong Learner Dawn Wohling, Hustisford
I am a learning junkie! I have to admit it, I absolutely, positively LOVE to learn! Whether it be from an article, a blog post I am following, a conference, or more importantly one of my students, I am ad- dicted to learning! It is the best way that I know how to continue on this journey of self discovery as an educator. If I am going to be the best that I can be for my students, that means continual learning and growth. When I stop learning and being creative, that my friends is when I will know that it is time for me to give up teaching. Time to retire, to hang it up and say goodbye.
One of the best ways I know of continual learning and growth is through something we teachers have come to love AND hate. You know what I am talking about, something known as professional devel- opment… The dreaded PD… The after- school, in-service day required learning that our district puts upon us on a regular basis… The meetings that we music teach- ers attend because we are required too, but often find tedious and unrelated to our con- tent area – yes, that type of professional development. And although we might feel this way, I often find myself turning this type of conversation into something I can use in my classroom even though it seems like there is no connection whatsoever to what I am doing with my students. It is still learning and it is valuable to know where the students abilities lie, because even if it seems like it doesn’t really impact us, in reality it does. Everything we do in our
classroom can be connected with the other content areas. Collaboration is important. Yes, this type of professional development is a great way to learn as well.
However, there is another type of profes- sional development, my absolute favorite way of learning, growing and becoming the best teacher that I can be for my stu- dents! Enter in, the Wisconsin Center for Music Education. This center is a music teacher’s learning dream! The opportuni- ties provided to us through the center are unparalleled. Each and every summer I am blessed to be able to take a number of classes that are offered there. The choices are endless and the learning that I have ac- complished by participating is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. It helps me to continue on my journey of becoming the teacher that my students deserve. After all, isn’t continual learning what I require of them? I expect them to keep learning and growing, so I must continue to learn and grow right along with them.
Unfortunately, it seems that our new way of licensing teachers in the state of Wis- consin might just be causing some confu- sion and impacting our thoughts on why or what truly is the purpose of professional development. I would like to share some of my thoughts here with you in this article. After all, professional development goes beyond just being a requirement.
Professional development is a way for us to continue learning and growing so that we can bring our best to students each and
every day! When I leave a class that I have taken over the summer I am so excited to go back into my classroom and share that new learning with my students!
Another thing that I find to be important about my continued experiences with professional development is the opportu- nity to make connections with other like- minded teachers. I teach in a small district and it is nice to get off of the island for a while and have conversations and learn and grow with people who think like me and bring fresh, new ideas to the table.
Lastly, all of the learning experiences that I have through professional development help me to continue to be excited about teaching. It gives me the opportunity to refresh, recharge and renew before I go back into the classroom with my students. It’s not about the credit I am getting for it, it’s about the learning that is occuring. It is helping me to become a better teacher – the kind of teacher that my students deserve. It is helping me to become an effective educator!
Yes, I am a learning junkie. I must confess, that I do believe that I will never stop learning. I have come to look at all types of professional development as valuable, even the ones that often seem irrelevant. However, I have decided to not look at it as professional development… no, it is “lifelong learning.” I am a lifelong learner and because of that, I will continue on my journey of self discovery; learning and growing along the way. I am a LIFELONG LEARNER!
We Welcome Your Ideas!
If you have ideas or suggestions for programming at the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, please call 1-800-589-9762 or email
melsner@wsmamusic.org.
34 April 2018
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