This post was written by 51ΑΤΖζ member Claudia Marschall.
51ΑΤΖζ membership may seem like a luxury, but I consider it a kind of “professional health” insurance.
Think of it this way: health insurance exists to keep you covered in sickness and health, and perhaps most essentially, it helps you maintain wellness. 51ΑΤΖζ membership helps maintain professional wellness!
By connecting with colleagues around the countryβsharing methods, materials, and supporting moraleβ51ΑΤΖζ membership confirms that what we do in our classrooms continues to be relevant. What English teachers do connects everything; without reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing skills, nothing else can be successful.
I used to jokingly tell my students that my class was the most important one of allβbut it really is true.
Curriculum standards, methods, materials, and modes of evaluation have changed over the years. Navigating those changes varies with building, district, state, and federal education requirements; administrators on every level approach implementation differently.
But the relationship between students and teachers remains the same. Engaging your students and letting them know you care about whatβs meaningful to them has always been first priority. Without that nothing gets done, and with it, you can do anything.
You may have colleagues unaware of the value of 51ΑΤΖζ membership. Let them know about the support theyβll receive through 51ΑΤΖζβs publications, web site, Convention, and perhaps most significantly, about the collegiality they’ll find.
For early career educators, membership may be a factor in helping them remain in this profession by providing perspective and encouragement when they need it.
Spread the wordβ51ΑΤΖζ membership is vital βinsuranceβ for teachers’ continued well-being throughout their career!
Claudia Marschall taught English language arts and theater arts in theΒ Buffalo Public Schools from 1978 to 2007. She is theΒ Co-Chair for the ELATE Commission to Support Early Career ELA Teachers.