Saturday, September 26, 2009

Early Childhood Conference

So, this weekend was the annual Early Childhood Conference in Orlando. I usually receive the flyer for the conference late July to early August and always immed. book myself as attending and book my hotel room right after. The conference is usually Fri and Sat so, I'm lucky enough to have it in the schools budget for me to stay overnight {just a small perk for being the Director AND Lead Teacher}. This year the conference was Thurs - Sun. and next year you can bet I will be there Fri - Sun!!Have I mentioned that I get really excited about going to the conference??? And, the vendors really do it for me...LOL!!! I get so excited over seeing new products, finding all kinds of cool things for my baby ducks, and buying new cd's from some of the sessions I attend that promote the use of music in the classroom. And, sessions that teach about Literacy, books, or Brain Research well WOO HOO!!! Now, that REALLY does it for me!! This year in particular I was hoping for 2 well 3 things...1. A really great session on Brain Research disussing the topic of Literacy & Handwriting...2. A possible new technique on teaching handwriting or a tip or two on teaching children who are struggling with their pencil grip...and 3. really cool stuff from vendors {especially since I had $300 left from a grant I was blessed with over the summer}.So, by now you have an idea that I really LOVE and look forward to the conference each year.

So, now let me tell you what really TICKS me off. 1. Speakers who are paid to lead a session and come very unprepared, are boring, and basically waste my time. and 2. Teachers who either talk, sleep, text, and this year had the gall to talk on their cell phone during a session {those that did any of this around me knew within minutes that I DID NOT approve!} and 3. worst of all...those that sit during a session and do nothing but, complain about being there, complain about their Directors making them be there, wasting their time and always telling them to do this or that in their class, and even bad mouth the children they are teaching. I'm really not a confrontational person but, I will get my panties in a wad over these things and have no problem suggesting a job at Wal Mart would be the better option for them, the benefits and pay are ten times better than what you get in Early Childhood!!!!!If you aren't interested in fulfilling your annual 10 hrs of inservice training each year than get a job some place else and don't waste your Director/Owners money by coming to the conference {did I mention it's not cheap!} and 2 get off your Directors back, our job isn't an easy one, and one that doesn't end when we clock out at the end of the day, and maybe your attitude and lack of commitment is why your Director has a problem with you to begin with. AND!!!!! if you are doing nothing but complain about the children in your class THEN YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING IN THIS FIELD SO GET OUT NOW BEFORE YOU CAUSE DAMAGE TO A CHILD'S SELF ESTEEM!!

All the sessions I attended were awesome, informative, fun, and gave me great ideas....except one! The first session I picked dealt with my favorite subject Brain Research. This one in particular was dealing with Literacy and Handwriting...I was over the top excited...to bad the Professor with the MASTER Degree that she kept telling us about didn't have her act togther. She started out by telling us that it had been a bad idea on her part by leaving Tallahassee at 4 am that morning to come speak...gee ya think?? Then she apologized by saying she didn't have enough time to put together any hand outs...didn't have time??? The conference flyers went out in July and you can bet she was booked prior to that and she didn't have enough time??? I learned nothing, in fact she said nothing even worth writing down, she didn't even speak on subject...I could have stood up and taught more than she did without having a Master's Degree. Luckily all the other sessions I attending were fantastic and gave me great ideas!! The last one I attended this afternoon dealt with handwriting and was full of ideas, information and tips.The vendor booths were disappointing this year, I came back with a few things but, not as much as I normally do. I was speaking to someone and they said at last years conference a lot of the vendors took a hit due to the economy so, not many returned this year...sad...because I always have money to spend...the schools, mine, and mine I shouldn't spend...LOL!!!

All in all it was a great time, fun, relaxing, and informative. It was at the Rosen Centre, I had a great room, kinda felt like a princess while I was there and I already excited about next years conference because I'm planning on attending the full weekend!!!!!And, I left with this one thought...as much as I love this field, love children,and love seeing that every child's day is full of fun, love, learning and being creative...I wonder what it would be like to travel to different Preschools to help/teach other Directors/Teachers in implementing change...change for the better of children...just a thought.....

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