It Is Community That Sustains Us by Jennifer Laffin

When Michelle, Margaret, Leigh Anne and I started the #TeachWrite chat, a chat focused on the life of a teacher-writer, in August of 2017, we had no idea that we were tapping into something so needed.

Our monthly chat took off like a rocket, getting better and better every month.

We are excited to have so many voices come together the first Monday of every month to talk about our lives as teacher-writers.

But what we treasure the most -- and continues to thrill us every day -- are the new voices that continue to join in the conversation every month. Voices that are quieter and are doing their own thing. Voices that are being brave and adding to the conversation in their own unique ways.

Voices we need to hear from.

Out of the monthly #TeachWrite chat grew the Teach Write Tribe Facebook group.  This group, which is exclusively for educators who are writers, celebrates and supports each teacher-writer and their writing goals. It is in this group that members ask questions, offer ideas, and provide the push we sometimes need to move forward. It is a true community that exemplifies the awesomeness of teachers -- supportive, encouraging, connecting.

Teaching can be a lonely profession. Too often, we are confined to the islands of our classroom. Writing by its very nature is a solitary act too.

Being a part of the #Teach Write Chat and the Teach Write Tribe changes this.

We realize we do not have to be alone. It is the community that sustains us.

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If you are a teacher-writer (or would like to become one) and are looking for your community, please join us!

Our March #TeachWrite Twitter Chat is Monday, March 5th at 7:30 pm ET. You can sign up for a text reminder here.

The Teach Write Tribe Facebook Group can be found here.


Jennifer Laffin is a teacher of teachers, the owner of Teach Write LLC, and a co-moderator of the #TeachWrite Twitter Chat. She is committed to helping teachers and their students grow as writers because she has seen how writing can transform you both personally and professionally. You can find her learning with others on Twitter at @laffinteach and @TeachWriteEDU or at www.teachwrite.org.