The KATE conference was completely different than what I thought it would be. I don't know why I imagined that everyone was going to stay in the same place and the presenters would present their presentations to all of us. I imagined a lecture hall and the presenters up on this grand stage, and the stage would be the only one lit up by the stage lights. I guess I though it was going to be like a performance of some sort. Oh, yeah, like the TEd speeches, where there are huge powerpoint screens behind the presenters and the audience is sitting in a dark auditorium. Anyway, it was more down to earth than that.
I would have liked all of the presenters to present to me, which would have made me have even more fun, but it was not the case. I did like the fact that the presentations were so small. I could ask questions if I really wanted to and I got to interact with real teachers (OMG!! Real teachers outside of school!!) who I think thought I was one of their students who followed them there, but in any case, I had the chance to find out how they felt about many of the new ideas being thrown out there. Its amazing to me how much they have forgotten about being a student teacher, though.
When I went to the "co-teaching" presentation, the teachers there couldn't figure out how to use their Para's or LRE's or student teachers in their classroom properly. One teacher who was there said that she has her student teacher just grade papers and when she's required to teach , then she lets her take over. I just don't know if I can ever forget feeling like a student teacher--always wanting to teach and having jobs to do with specific students and getting treated like a future teacher...not a student helper. I just don't know how these teachers have forgotten so quickly the feelings they had as a student teacher. I sure hope I never forget. In fact, I think I'll tattoo my wrist and have it say "remember how eager you were to teach." Over all, I think the "co-teaching" presentation helped these teachers realize that we can be a great tool in the classroom, and that if they use us, we can make their life a bit easier. Its a win win situation.
There were other presentations that were great, though. My absolute favorite was the "1st year" one where she talked about the things beginning teachers should know before they begin their first year of teaching. I got so many things out of that, but the best thing I understood as I walked out of the door was that no one is expecting me to be a grand, spectacular, flawless teacher my first year of teaching. I believe some of them will be expecting me to crash and burn, and become one of the 50% who quit before their fifth year,but I should not be so hard on myself. I'm usually hard on myself for not doing things that a novice teacher would do, like NOT ask open ended questions and cause mad chaos in the classroom. Its okay to mess up, Denisse. Its okay.
Overall, I loved the conference. I liked the food especially. Haha! I will attend next year for sure.
While I, sadly, was unable to attend the first day of the conference, I heard a great deal of feedback about a number of the sessions. I really wish I would have been able to attend the co-teaching session! Having had four years of co-op in an elementary school classroom as an LRE Aide, I have seen co-teaching work beautifully and fail horribly. Co-teaching can provide a huge benefit to the classroom teacher, and I feel that every teacher who has an aid, para, or (pre-)student teacher in their classroom should attend a quick session about the ways that this extra pair of hands can be utilized effectively. Maybe this is coming from a biased opinion of one who works in special education. Extra hands, eyes, ears, mouths- everything is always graciously needed and accepted in a special education classroom to provide more assistance to the students. Why isn’t this the case in regular classrooms, too? All students benefit with greater teacher interaction- despite the difference in pay stubs between the educators of the classroom. Don’t forget your experience with co-teaching, and hopefully some of the educators learned (or remembered) as well!
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