{"id":44,"date":"2026-06-04T18:35:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T01:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/researchreadingrobots\/?p=44"},"modified":"2026-06-04T18:35:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T01:35:50","slug":"44-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/researchreadingrobots\/44-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Balancing Professional Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIf we see challenges as opportunities for learning, if we engage our curiosity whenever we\u2019re presented with an obstacle, we\u2019re more likely to find solutions. This habit and disposition help us not just survive adversity but thrive in the aftermath.\u201d -Elena Aguilar, Onward<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I have been lucky with my in-person professional development and my local personal learning network (PLN). My school division has a teacher-librarian in every school, and we meet regularly throughout the year for professional development, to share what\u2019s working, and to work through challenges together. I\u2019m thankful that my school division has prioritized that time to learn and connect. I think that this diploma program is also a great opportunity to make some connections.<\/p>\n

When it comes to more self-directed learning, I am a teaching nerd (like many others in our program, I\u2019m sure!). I have a collection of teaching podcasts to which I subscribe, and favourite teaching blogs. During a good year, it\u2019s not unusual for me to go down a rabbit hole about some teaching strategy one evening, then enthusiastically try it in class the very next day. Then, inevitably, a tough year with a tough class comes around, and I burn out.<\/p>\n

When dealing with burnout, I\u2019m in survival mode, and there is no bandwidth left for professional learning. I\u2019m actively working on setting boundaries and making changes (the shift to the library is part of that), but in general, I tend to be in either feast or famine mode for professional learning.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, though, I find that learning is also part of burnout prevention, an experience supported by Elena Aguilar in Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators <\/em><\/a>(chapter 9). <\/em>I want to do regular professional learning, I have a ton of tools and resources at my disposal, but what I am missing is a strategy. How can I make it a regular part of my routine, and set boundaries in place so that I can still focus on the other parts of my life and my role?<\/p>\n

One key realization for me recently was that it doesn\u2019t have to be all or nothing. I have, at times, had a collection of blogs or podcasts that I followed but couldn\u2019t keep up with. But keeping up with them shouldn\u2019t be my goal. Instead, regular learning should be. I think I need a routine that prioritizes professional learning for a few minutes each day or each week. I haven\u2019t found something yet that works for me. Maybe pairing it with lunch or with a snack at the end of the day would be good? If you have a routine that works for you, I\u2019d love to hear about it!<\/p>\n

Now, on to other strategies and resources:<\/p>\n

Feedly<\/a> is a tool that I learned about through this course that I can see being useful in the future. I can compile a list of blogs through Feedly and skim through it regularly to find articles of interest. This would fit well with my plan of reading\/listening to professional resources for a few minutes each day. I’ve already added several from our course extended reading list.<\/p>\n

Email newsletters are another great format. There are so many organizations creating and curating resources for educators, and many of them are tailored to specific contexts. For example, the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba<\/a> has a newsletter for educators with many ideas and tools that would be applicable both in Manitoba and in other parts of the country. Similarly, Manitoba Council for International Cooperation<\/a> and Canada\u2019s History<\/a> both have great newsletters specifically for teachers. Many EdTech tools have newsletters highlighting features, PD opportunities, and ideas to use their tools. I already have all these sorted into a folder in my email; now I need to plan time to actually look at some of them!<\/p>\n

I have a couple inquiry-related books set aside to read over the summer as well: Dive Into Inquiry<\/em><\/a> by Trevor MacKenzie, and Ladybugs, Tornadoes, and Swirling Galaxies<\/em><\/a> by Brad Buhrow and Anne Upczak Garcia. These fit with one of my current goals: learn more strategies to support inquiry for language learners.<\/p>\n

Writing this post has given me the chance to think through a possible strategy. I\u2019m going to try looking at a newsletter or blog post each day while I eat a quick snack. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing where it takes me!<\/p>\n

Bibliography:<\/p>\n

\n
Aguilar, E. (2018). Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators<\/i>. Jossey-Bass. https:\/\/www.onwardthebook.com\/<\/a><\/div>\n
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Buhrow, B., & Garcia, A. U. (2006). Ladybugs, Tornadoes, and Swirling Galaxies: English Language Learners Discover Their World Through Inquiry<\/i>. Routledge. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781032681399<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Canada\u2019s History. (2026). Newsletter Sign-Up<\/i>. Canada\u2019s History. https:\/\/www.canadashistory.ca\/newsletter-sign-up<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
MacKenzie, T. (2019). Dive Into Inquiry<\/i>. Elevate Books Edu. https:\/\/www.trevormackenzie.com\/dive-into-inquiry<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Manitoba Council for International Cooperation. (2026). Manitoba Council for International Cooperation<\/i>. https:\/\/mcic.ca\/<\/a><\/div>\n
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Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. (2026). Teach<\/i>. Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. https:\/\/trcm.ca\/education\/teach\/<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cIf we see challenges as opportunities for learning, if we engage our curiosity whenever we\u2019re presented with an obstacle, we\u2019re more likely to find solutions. This habit and disposition help us not just survive adversity but thrive in the aftermath.\u201d -Elena Aguilar, Onward I have been lucky with my in-person professional development and my local … <\/p>\n

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