I have been beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to attend such great conferences this summer. I am charged up about the approaching school year from the “I Teach K” conference and the opportunities I have with my blog from all the ideas I gathered this past weekend at the BlogHer conference.
It was a bit overwhelming at times because some of these bloggers are on an entirely different planet than I am as a blogger. I remembered some good advice I got from Fran Kramer that you don’t need to compare yourself and what your doing to anyone else. I remembered that advice and just made the decision to take away a couple of important key things at each session and not to stress out about it!
Where do I even start!?!
BlogHer happened in Chicago this year. That is a win win for me because Chicago is my all time most favorite city (other than Nashville of course 🙂
Two of my closest friends live in Chicago so I went a day early to spend time with them.
On Friday morning, I got up super early and headed over to the hotel to do the 5K run that Blogher was putting on for us. I met a couple other bloggers and we had a great time running before the conference started.
That night, Queen Latifa showed up to host the keynote speakers. She is pretty fab. I loved getting to listen to her speak!
That night, I had the opportunity to meet and hang out with Jill and Cathy from The Curriculum Corner.
Saturday was the last day of the conference. I took full advantage of all the activities that were happening in the Expo Hall. It was a bit out of control. There were cars, booths like you wouldn’t believe and Dr. Travis from the show “The Doctors”.
I was a total swag hag that day…
That night, I got to go to dinner with Amanda from Mrs. Pauley’s Kindergarten and Erin from It’s Owl Good in Kindergarten.
Finally!!!
Erin was in Vegas with me but we didn’t get a chance to hang out.
Amanda and I have been b.b.b. (best blog buds) since I started blogging and I was so excited they both drove in to sit down and talk.
We didn’t get home until after midnight because we had so much to talk about.
I took this picture from my hotel room the first night I was there.
Amaze-balls…ah.
I loved it!
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Again, this trip would not have happened if it weren’t for the amazing people at American Reading Company! I could not have asked to represent a better company!
If you have iPads in your classroom (or at home and you have kiddos) you can download 12 free eBooks!
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More than anything, I got some great food for thought at this conference. I thought about how to use my voice as an educator to reach a bigger audience. How can I inspire others and how can I be inspired?
I posted about all the thoughts swirling around in my head on Saturday afternoon. I was finished with all of my sessions and I listened to some amazing women speak.
I also got some incredible “swag” at this conference. Like you wouldn’t believe it even if I took a picture of everything in the bag.
So this is going to be a “Food for Thought” kind of giveaway. You don’t get an entry on rafflecopter just for following me on my 50 different types of social media. I would be honored if you decided that you would like to stick around and be a follower, but it isn’t a requirement.
It’s almost back to school time and I think before the craziness of it all begins, we should all take some time to think about what our goals are this year…as a teacher, parent, friend, spouse…anything in your life you feel like you want to improve.
Maybe you want to think about your voice as a teacher blogger.
Maybe it has nothing to do with any of the things above, but you have a goal that you would like to reach this school year.
What is it?
All you have to do is leave a comment. It can be about any of the things above or all of them!
Maybe some of the inspiration I took away from BlogHer will find its way to you!
Thanks for sharing about the American Reading Company! I’m creating an account now.
My goal for this year is to implement math centers as well as my literacy centers! In order to do so, I will have to work ahead and be very prepared! =)
My goal is to improve my guided reading instruction! Thank you for the giveaway!
My goal this year is to improve my small group time.
My goal this year is to improve my small group time.
Sounds like you’ve had a great summer! My goal is to be a better mom and wife during the school year. Sometimes I get so wrapped up with school that I have little energy left for my own family. I need to find a better balance. Thanks for the giveaway!
-Andrea
alwayskindergarten@gmail.com
My goal is to finally by organized enough to leave earlier ~ so I can spend more time with my own kiddos! jennifer.steinacher@meeker.k12.co.us
Glad you had such an amazing time. My new partner is a brand new teacher and so my main goal is to be the best mentor I can be for her.
bartramsbuccaneers@yahoo.com
My goal is to improve station time and writing.
bagoings@gmail.com
http://mykindergartenshenanigans.blogspot.com
I recenlty heard a little kindergarten aged child say, “Grandmas are the only kind of adults who ever have time”. Broke. My. Heart.
So, my goal this year is to be a more present teacher, mommy and wife. To focus each day on being present in the moment, truly listening to others and taking time to enjoy the people I am with.
Nikki
The Cozy Classroom
I have a few goals for this year. One, for my classroom, to be more organized. Sometimes I spend too much time being creative and getting things done and I often forget to take the time to organize the things I have done. The second thing is to run a half marathon on October 19th. I have been a runner for a while, but have never run more than 8 miles, so I am excited to try a longer distance. The third goal is to eat cleaner while still sticking to a budget. Whew, I have a lot to work on! Thanks for the giveaway!
Lee Ann Hall
Ladunker@gmail.com
My list of goals is pretty lengthy (probably too lengthy), but I’d really like my classroom to mirror what happens in the real world as much as possible. Sometimes there’s too much difference between school and world. I’d like to work on merging the two more.
❀ Tammy
Forever in First
I always have the goal to become more organized and diminish the piles that I usually have. I always want to focus more on my ELA program, since it is my 2nd year using reading street. I love your Chicago pics.
Charleen
charsom68@aol.com
My goal this year is to improve my small group time.
cfcoley@gmail.com
Oh wow, what a great experience you had. Thanks for sharing! I so wish I could go to something like the conference!
My goal for this year is going to be doing more with less-they have cut our budget so much I am not sure how I am going to be able to do all the things I would like to do.
kellybrown28021@gmail.com
It looks like you had fun! One of my goals this year is to finish one project before starting another! I know it’s going to be hard 🙂
Sarah
A Sunny Day in First Grade
This is my first year in my own classroom, so my goal is to try not to sweat the small stuff. I need to try and find a balance and not obsess about things I cannot control. I have to try and accept that I cannot do it all, and be happy doing the very best I can.
jkmatuch@aol.com
My goal for the upcoming school year is to be happy and have fun teaching! Last year was stressful because I was working on my masters and stressing too much! Not gonna do that this year! 🙂 I also plan to blog more than a few times during the school year. At least weekly!
-Carol
Mrs. Cobb’s Kindersprouts
I had such a great time with you and Erin! My goal is to fully implement common core standards this year as well as be the best supervisor teacher for my student teacher. Thanks for an amazing giveaway!
Love ya!
Amanda
Mrs. Pauley’s Kindergarten
It looks as though you had an amazing time in Chicago (jelly, here!). I have goals in each area of my life 🙂 My goal this year is to do an act of kindness EVERY day (whether a stranger, a student, a co-worker). A CONCERTED effort to live out the sometimes forgotten art of walking in love (I guess that sounds kinda hokey, but it is something that will flesh out in every area of life!). thanks for sharing your journey 🙂
It sounds like such an inspiring event! My goal this year is to take some time to exercise at night (instead of just working, working, working) and make sure my blog posts are more meaningful…get back to the real reason I started my blog!
ilovekdgt@gmail.com
Sara
Polka Dot Kinders
Looks like you had an amazing trip!! And you got to hang with Amanda! 🙂
I think this year I just want to focus on being a better teacher…and wife…sometimes we all just get caught up in the madness and business…time to relax and just let it work out the way it’s meant too….
Hugs!
Nicki
Mrs. Thigpen’s Kindergarten
Wish you could have come with! We would have loved to have you there too 🙂 I agree with you…gotta relax and not get too stressed out!
What wonderful experiences for you! This year I am going to try to work on bettering my morning work, and not get worried about the little things. kindercards@gmail.com
I love all your thoughts, and I especially love Fran’s advice. This year I want to be better at reader workshop. I also want to take Fran’s advice too!
Wow it sounds like you’ve had an amazing and productive summer FULL of learning! My goal this school year is to make my interventions even better for my little ones! :o)
œKaryn
A is for Apple B is for Blog
Kideducator@comcast.net
I’m off to check out American Reading Company! Thanks for sharing!
cheriemae@gmail.com
I love Fran’s advice. My goal is to incorporate more of the Nurtured Heart Approach into my teaching and family time.
lyons.cori@gmail.com
My school goal is to improve my writing instruction.
My blog goal is to be sure that most of my posts have meaningful content that will really benefit other teachers.
My home goal is to not worry about all the “stuff” that needs done and really spend TIME with my family. Even if that means the sink is full of dirty dishes!
feikertlisa@gmail.com
Lisa
Always an Adventure in Kindergarten
My goal is to improve my blog and make it to BlogHer 2014! It looks like you had a lot of fun. I was dying to go this year but couldn’t 🙁
rebelchick81@embarqmail.com
http://rockinrebeldeals.blogspot.com
It was a lot of fun! You wouldn’t believe the expo hall!
My goal is to improve on writing. I started doing some new things this spring and I want to continue and grow in this area.
lraines78@gmail.com
It sounds like you really had an amazing time! One of my goals to to be more organized at school & home so that I am not wasting so much time. I would like to leave school earlier & spend that time exercising each day. dbednarsk@yahoo.com
What an incredible conference, Elizabeth! I love Fran’s advice – I think that’s very hard to do when we’re inundated with so many amazing bloggers around us! This year, I plan to center myself more and appreciate every day! I know it sounds so cliche to “live life to the fullest” but one of our priests suddenly passed away last week. It’s the second priest I’ve been fond of at my church to have left us in the past few years. I’m going to live up to his words from the final homily I heard of his – “appreciate life.” Thanks for reminding me! xo
Molly
Lucky to Be in First
I love the idea of “centering” yourself. So sorry to hear about your priest 🙁
My goal this year is sanity and survival! I have taught 3rd & 4th grade for the past 18 years. This year I transferred buildings as well as grades and now I will be teaching…..kindergarten! At first I thought this was such a great idea, but right now….not so much 🙂 As the new year approaches, I’m starting to get scared…well terrified is more the word. I just hope I have what it takes for these little guys! So….I will be following religiously to hopefully keep my head afloat…thanks for sharing all your great ideas. I can’t tell you how much it helps us newbies. Have a great rest of your summer and new school year!
Stephanie Ann
Sparkling in Kindergarten
s.ann.k1971@gmail.com
Oh my gosh!!! You have fabulous ideas…I’ve already been over to your blog and seen all your Pete stuff. I can’t wait to get great ideas from you as well!
i’m a homeschooling mom so my goal for the year is to have fun while learning
pryfamily5@gmail.com
You are going to have a great year teaching your little one. Have a great time learning together 🙂
Elizabeth, I am so proud of you! I miss you and your passion for teaching! My goal for this year is to hit the ground running right away and balance teaching, being a mom, and being a wife a little bit better. Last year was definitely a learning curve as I moved to a new state and new school, while teaching as a mom for the first time and spending the first month without my husband. Hello, stress! This year I am working on things early because I can, and doing my best to balance everything. I love reading your sweet words. They are inspiring and passionate. Miss you friend! Keep up the amazing work you’re doing on your blog and in your classroom! XO
Thanks Kelly! Hope you have another great year teaching first! Miss ya back 🙂
Elizabeth,
You are so adorable. I feel like you are the best of what is out there for the future in teaching and I love that you are smart and thoughtful about education. These pictures are amazing. I want to attend this next year and meet you wherever. I missed you by a day in Chicago. So sad.
My biggest goal is to do more blogging, support other talented bloggers, and to understand CCSS so I can help my teachers implement it. Wow! Not sure I can accomplish all that. Oh and let me know how I can support you!
Hugs, Fran@kindergartencrayons.blogspot.com
Love you <3 Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration!
How fun!!!! Did they have crabs in Chicago???