As educators, we pour our hearts and souls into helping students thrive, into encouraging them to find their passions, into providing tools that will enable them to leave our classrooms and schools and be whatever it is that they wish to be.
We also have an enormous responsibility to help them navigate the uncharted waters of the digital world. So if we have an opportunity to model it and be the kind of digital citizen we wish for our students, then I know that’s a chance we will all take.
When I create something to share, it’s not just a printable to me. Many times, it’s tied to something I learned from students, colleagues, and experiences. It’s art. It’s a piece of my heart. The words, the design, the entire product. And I love to share them. Because if I can make one teacher’s day more positive, then it’s worth it. I give the designs freely here, on my Flickr page, and provide high resolution printables that people can print. Because in my eyes, education needs more positivity, a lift, something that should be free? Inspiration. Sharing. Collaboration. Decorating Your Walls with Messages that Remind You Why You Teach and Learn. Printing a poster to frame and put on your desk. I love that.
I guess that’s why, when I see stuff that’s stolen, it’s awful. Often, the watermark is cropped off, sometimes, the very words I’ve written are lifted, and too many times… it’s for sale. Profit off something that was a piece of my heart? It happens. One quick Google search and it’s easy to find. TShirts. Posters. Printables for sale on teacher selling sites. Even the words with “Anonymous” under them.
So if there is something that you’d like to share, and I will continue to share openly, please ask yourself if you’re being the kind of digital citizen you want your students to be…
