Saw your comment on Darren’s post about some NECC thing (I’m in Korea and don’t plan to visit the States for a convention, so I tend to be hazy about NECC), and it was the comment struck me as wonderfully sane. I wrote a comment to say “amen” to you there too, but deleted it and just wrote a Beatles quote: “Speaking words of wisdom: ‘Let it be.’”

The e’sphere is weirdly snitty right now. We’re going through some growing pains in the New Republic. Probably a good thing in the long run. But it’s all so strangely high school.

Hey, do we follow each other? I’ll look for you.

I am the only teacher/librarian in my K-12 district and one of a handful in our entire BOCES. I need the connectedness that Twitter gives me - and the fun, help, sympathy, and encouragement I receive there.

I have a family, I have a life away from the computer. But I also have a life ON the computer, and it’s grand!

I am a true believer in twitter. I do use it to self-promote at times…I like to let people know I am streaming a show they might want to be part of. (And I am ready to back up my talk at NECC). I do use it to shallowly connect with my “friends”…sometimes I just need to tell someone that my daughter is driving me crazy or I spent my day doing yardwork.

But mostly, I use twitter to connect to the strongest network I have right now. And yes I also read and respond to blogs, use delicious and link to others, etc. But twitter gives me instant notification of online PD opportunities and quick assistance with tech problems.

Most importantly, though, twitter lets me feel connected. And, in education, that is almost unheard of. I spent too many years in my classroom alone, with the door closed, never connecting with anyone. Twitter allows me to have others to work with, share with, connect with. I’m sorry if some people don’t appreciate how difficult that is for educators to find.