The school year has gotten off the ground and there is no better time for teachers to remember why they walked into the classroom in the first place. The next #IRAchat at 8 p.m. Sept. 11 focuses on keeping the passion for teaching alive. Joining us for the hour-long chat will be Meenoo Rami, English teacher at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, PA. As the author of Thrive: 5 Ways to (Re)Invigorate Your Teaching, she provides a fresh outlook on teaching and is ready to answer questions and give advice.

Discussion will include why it is important for educators to remain inspired and use new tools to excite students, and how encouragement and motivation can help students realize their full potential and reach towards higher goals.

To join the conversation, search for the #IRAchat hashtag on Twitter. If you’re unfamiliar with Twitter, you can learn how to get started and make the most of your experience by reading Fly to Twitter for Online PD.

“Creating an environment that encourages innovation, risk-taking, and willingness to try new things is important in any school that wants innovative practices in their classrooms,” she said. “Change is possible when the teachers have the space to grow, and support from administration when things don’t work out as planned.”

Rami also said having mentors is beneficial, and that being a mentor is important, too.

“Sometimes,” she says, “just sharing your own journey and struggles to your current position can offer hope and a long-term view on a fulfilling career to a teacher who is just starting out.”

As the creator of #engchat every Monday at 7 p.m. EST, Rami developed a network of English teachers connected through Twitter to share ideas, advice, and encouragement. To join that chat, search #engchat on Twitter.

“I wanted to be inspired by other educators and create an easy way for teachers to share ideas, resources, and questions about their work with students,” she says.

“[It is] imperative for us to connect as teachers because it is only by sharing our ideas and questions about our work that we can get better at it.”

Feel free to tweet your questions during Thursday night’s chat and don’t forget to use #IRAchat.

Morgan Ratner is a communications intern for the International Reading Association.