At a recent meeting I went to, I was asked why I went to so many conferences. The lady laughed and said they had never heard of anyone that went to so many- and "what did I want to do with all of that?", "Go back to teaching Child Development/Parenting?"- I had to stop and think. Hmmmm, she was right....I DO (always have) go to more conferences than ANYONE I know. But unlike the reason I felt she was "implying"- that I was doing it for others or to change my career......I honestly have always done it for ME. It makes me (as my grandson says) "so so happy", much like time with my family, ice cream, boating, and vacations. I don't do it for anyone but myself.
While I have been to these all day- cram in a sentence about ten different subjects (with a room packed full of hundreds of folks just looking to get their "training hours"), and I do go to these one night specific topic conference- my favorite are the regional and national conferences. After being in business (and being a knowledge junky) for 29 years (on top of 4.5 years of college) I find that some of the "local" events I attend are taught by the same folks and on the same topics that have taught the same thing for 29 years. (Once I even listened to a speaker tell a story that I had shared- it was a biggy, murder/suicide of parents, as their own!) That said, I do look forward to the Windham conference and the outside conference at Live & Learn in New Hampshire- those ladies "get it".
My favorites though....the MassAEYC, and the NAEYC! Nationals are expensive to attend- conference, hotel, flights, food, etc., but worth every single penny and years of saving! I have gone to New York City, Nashville, Baltimore, Vermont, and Orlando (several times)....and loved nearly every second. Yes, I sometimes sign up for a session that was not as expected, or get a teacher that is a expert in her field- but not so good at sharing her message. But 99% of the time, I am taught by the leaders (professors, authors, leaders and shakers) and surrounded by folks just like me- who thirst for the latest knowledge and are willing to go to great lengths not for the "hours", but for what they stand for. The sheer size of the conference centers that hold these thousands of early childhood educators, to the dress code we all abide too.......the minute I walk in, I am filled with pride, know I am among the best. No, I won't be sharing this knowledge to classes for profit, to adult students as a job, or in articles written to print........I will use this knowledge to better myself...as a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a human.
In November I got to attend my latest NAEYC conference in Orlando. I had the pleasure of being accompanied by my youngest daughter. As much as I came for the knowledge...she came for the sunshine and relaxation (as an E.R. nurse and planning a wedding- she needed both!)- happily we both found what we were looking for. One day- while meeting for lunch, I came back "mad as a wet hen" after attending a class on the controversial subject of dealing with children with ADHD. She replied that she was sorry that it hadn't been a good one. It dawned on me right that second- that while I wasn't dancing on the clouds as I was after leaving a session, it had me thinking. It had me passionate- fighting mad passionate- and that is what I needed to be. That is what I always need to be PASSIONATE.....about what I do. Lisa Murphy said it right:
"STAY TRUE TO YOUR BELIEFS. DON'T COMPROMISE. DON'T DO WATERED DOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- DO A KICK ASS PRESCHOOL. KNOW THAT YOU ARE DOING THE BEST, THAT YOU ARE THE BEST."
I have made a 29 year career out of this passion I have for children and Early Childhood Education. I am doing JUST what I love, what I feel I was put on earth to do.
I attended 18 hours of some great sessions in Orlando- if you would like any more information on any of the topics, please let me know! (The notebook is above the cubbies if you'd like to ready through it.)
- The importance of early experiences: How playing IS Kindergarten readiness.
-Working with the "wiggly ones": Helping young children show down their bodies, focus their minds, and control their impulses.
-Working on challenges big and small, the Sesame Street way.
-Teaching young children with autism spectrum disorder in the inclusive classroom: Facilitating communication and social-emotional development through the use of simple, easy to implement strategies.
-Ready, but not revved: Sensory and movement strategies for improved attention, learning, and behavior.
-A study to determine young children's awareness of yoga, and parental knowledge and understanding of the benefits of yoga, exercise, and nutrition.
-Childhood toxic stress: Using art making opportunities to help children and family members cope with substance abuse, incarceration, or deployment of a loved one.
-Those amazing young children with ADHD: The facts, science, and reality because there's too much misinformation and mythology going around.
-URGENT! Something isn't quite right: 10 tips for navigating the early childhood special education world.
-Stay and play outside all day: Increasing the use of outdoor learning environments through the lens of a quality assessment process.
-Building healthier, safer children and families: New information and approaches to managing environmental impacts of health.
-Sesame Street: 46 Years of Diversity...and Counting!
While I have been to these all day- cram in a sentence about ten different subjects (with a room packed full of hundreds of folks just looking to get their "training hours"), and I do go to these one night specific topic conference- my favorite are the regional and national conferences. After being in business (and being a knowledge junky) for 29 years (on top of 4.5 years of college) I find that some of the "local" events I attend are taught by the same folks and on the same topics that have taught the same thing for 29 years. (Once I even listened to a speaker tell a story that I had shared- it was a biggy, murder/suicide of parents, as their own!) That said, I do look forward to the Windham conference and the outside conference at Live & Learn in New Hampshire- those ladies "get it".
My favorites though....the MassAEYC, and the NAEYC! Nationals are expensive to attend- conference, hotel, flights, food, etc., but worth every single penny and years of saving! I have gone to New York City, Nashville, Baltimore, Vermont, and Orlando (several times)....and loved nearly every second. Yes, I sometimes sign up for a session that was not as expected, or get a teacher that is a expert in her field- but not so good at sharing her message. But 99% of the time, I am taught by the leaders (professors, authors, leaders and shakers) and surrounded by folks just like me- who thirst for the latest knowledge and are willing to go to great lengths not for the "hours", but for what they stand for. The sheer size of the conference centers that hold these thousands of early childhood educators, to the dress code we all abide too.......the minute I walk in, I am filled with pride, know I am among the best. No, I won't be sharing this knowledge to classes for profit, to adult students as a job, or in articles written to print........I will use this knowledge to better myself...as a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a human.
In November I got to attend my latest NAEYC conference in Orlando. I had the pleasure of being accompanied by my youngest daughter. As much as I came for the knowledge...she came for the sunshine and relaxation (as an E.R. nurse and planning a wedding- she needed both!)- happily we both found what we were looking for. One day- while meeting for lunch, I came back "mad as a wet hen" after attending a class on the controversial subject of dealing with children with ADHD. She replied that she was sorry that it hadn't been a good one. It dawned on me right that second- that while I wasn't dancing on the clouds as I was after leaving a session, it had me thinking. It had me passionate- fighting mad passionate- and that is what I needed to be. That is what I always need to be PASSIONATE.....about what I do. Lisa Murphy said it right:
"STAY TRUE TO YOUR BELIEFS. DON'T COMPROMISE. DON'T DO WATERED DOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- DO A KICK ASS PRESCHOOL. KNOW THAT YOU ARE DOING THE BEST, THAT YOU ARE THE BEST."
I have made a 29 year career out of this passion I have for children and Early Childhood Education. I am doing JUST what I love, what I feel I was put on earth to do.
I attended 18 hours of some great sessions in Orlando- if you would like any more information on any of the topics, please let me know! (The notebook is above the cubbies if you'd like to ready through it.)
- The importance of early experiences: How playing IS Kindergarten readiness.
-Working with the "wiggly ones": Helping young children show down their bodies, focus their minds, and control their impulses.
-Working on challenges big and small, the Sesame Street way.
-Teaching young children with autism spectrum disorder in the inclusive classroom: Facilitating communication and social-emotional development through the use of simple, easy to implement strategies.
-Ready, but not revved: Sensory and movement strategies for improved attention, learning, and behavior.
-A study to determine young children's awareness of yoga, and parental knowledge and understanding of the benefits of yoga, exercise, and nutrition.
-Childhood toxic stress: Using art making opportunities to help children and family members cope with substance abuse, incarceration, or deployment of a loved one.
-Those amazing young children with ADHD: The facts, science, and reality because there's too much misinformation and mythology going around.
-URGENT! Something isn't quite right: 10 tips for navigating the early childhood special education world.
-Stay and play outside all day: Increasing the use of outdoor learning environments through the lens of a quality assessment process.
-Building healthier, safer children and families: New information and approaches to managing environmental impacts of health.
-Sesame Street: 46 Years of Diversity...and Counting!
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