Conferences are fun. At least, for me they are fun. I just returned from 2 days in Portland at the NCCE (Northwest Council for Computers in Education) conference. That's 2 days of attending short sessions about everything from using Minecraft in the classroom, to learning about a new certification for technology directors.
Part of the fun for me is being away from my classroom, and having the time and freedom to network with my collegues, and reflect on topics I usually don't have the time to research. In my opinion, this is one of the most important parts of teaching, and the most neglected.
Attending this conference helps me to feel more like a professional, and rekindles my passion for focusing on what works in education, and what I can take back to my classroom to benefit my students. On Friday, the keynote speaker, Jeff Charbonneau (2013 National Teacher of the Year) did an amazing job inspiring the crowd of educators.I know that occassionally, I get so bogged down in the small details of day to day teaching, that pulling back and seeing the big picture is refreshing. Oh, and a few free pencils never hurts.
My favorite part of this conference is that I was able to attend with my wife, who also teaches. Some sessions we attended together, but we also split up to see what interested us individually. We can reflect on what we learned, and bounce ideas off each other for how we will improve our craft.
So now I have a week of Spring Break to think, plan, and reflect on what I can do to be a better teacher. And that won't involve the content of what I teach, but instead a focus on the child, and a renewed committment to seeing how I can make them more successful.
Part of the fun for me is being away from my classroom, and having the time and freedom to network with my collegues, and reflect on topics I usually don't have the time to research. In my opinion, this is one of the most important parts of teaching, and the most neglected.
Attending this conference helps me to feel more like a professional, and rekindles my passion for focusing on what works in education, and what I can take back to my classroom to benefit my students. On Friday, the keynote speaker, Jeff Charbonneau (2013 National Teacher of the Year) did an amazing job inspiring the crowd of educators.I know that occassionally, I get so bogged down in the small details of day to day teaching, that pulling back and seeing the big picture is refreshing. Oh, and a few free pencils never hurts.
My favorite part of this conference is that I was able to attend with my wife, who also teaches. Some sessions we attended together, but we also split up to see what interested us individually. We can reflect on what we learned, and bounce ideas off each other for how we will improve our craft.
So now I have a week of Spring Break to think, plan, and reflect on what I can do to be a better teacher. And that won't involve the content of what I teach, but instead a focus on the child, and a renewed committment to seeing how I can make them more successful.