Last weekend, I had a mind blowing experience. I went to my first ever teacher meet up! The French Lick Blogger Retreat was life changing for me. (the best thing about it was there were bloggers but also just blogger followers or teachers there)! I met people who were so passionate about the world of teaching, who were passionate about wanting to help others, and people who were beyond kind. It was truly amazing. The amazing Holly Ehle set this all up and was beyond helpful and kind all weekend.
I wanted to write this post to give you five tips that I took away from this meet up that will make me a happier and more productive teacher each day!
After this weekend, I realized how important it is to find people that share your passion. You work way over 40 hours a weak, you stay up late nights or get up early in the morning, and you put your life on the line for these children. Not everyone can understand that, unfortunately. But like-minded teachers GET IT! They understand you, they can enjoy the successes with you, and they can cry the tears with you! They can pick you up when you need it and give you the boost you need to succeed! You have to find “your people” that share that passion. If they are not in your building, seek outside of your building! Hey, if you don’t have someone that shares your passion, email me at [email protected] and I would love to talk to you or help you find your people!
These are people who share my passion and push me everyday! I love my Elementary Entourage bloggers! They are so sweet and kind and always there for me! And they dress beyond good for a fun 80s party!
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I went to a presentation by Greg from Kindergarten Smorgasboard and it was AMAZING! He rocked my world with great ideas! Some of the ideas I went away with were:
- For morning work have a journal that they write in everyday, kind of like a diary
- Read books just for enjoyment often, don’t always read them with a comprehension skill in mind
- Cut out things if you need to add great things in! It is okay to skip math one day if you want to do a cooking lesson!
- Do what you think is best for your students and nothing less!
Greg Giving this AMAZING presentation!
Sometimes it is okay to just have a dance party or go a little crazy with your students! You can’t listen to what other people tell you to do. Only YOU know your students and only YOU know what is best! Take it and run with it! If you have to close your door, do it!
On Saturday night there was an EPIC 80’s party! It was so much to just chat with teachers, dance, hop in the photo booth, and just have FUN! One of the best things I could take away from this conference was to just have fun and not think about school once in awhile. Take time away to have fun with the people you love! I mean, take a look at these amazing 80’s pictures! Can you tell how much fun we all had?!
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Honestly, this was way outside of my comfort zone. I was scared and nervous. I felt like a little fish in a big pond. Most of the people there were “celebrities” to me and I was freaked out. But, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made!!! Stepping out of my comfort zone made me some amazing friends! It allowed me to get to know people that I met online and it re-energized my passion for teaching! Whether it is going to talk to someone down the hall, going somewhere you would not normally go, or just emailing someone STEP OUTSIDE THAT COMFORT ZONE! It will change your life and it will make you a better person. Go outside the zone my friends, it might be scary but it will be WORTH IT!
Going to talk to TPT Amy and Nicole was way outside my comfort zone but it was AMAZING! She presented and motivated me beyond belief. I wish I had a picture of Ashley Schroder because meeting her was something way outside my comfort zone but also AMAZING! You look up to these people online and they are the kindest and sweetest people you’ll ever meet!
The motto of the weekend! You have to take that passion and make it happen! Using all these happy teacher rules, you can rock your students world each day! You will be happier and so will they! I am beyond blessed to have this opportunity to meet so many amazing people this weekend and I couldn’t be more happy!
Here are some extra and amazing pictures from this weekend! There were some AMAZING sponsors!
Hue Document Camera, TPT goodies, and SO MUCH MORE!
I even won THE BEST PENCIL SHARPENER EVER! It is AMAZING! My students and I are obsessed!
Thank you all for sticking with me this long! I so HOPE you do one of these things to make you teacher happy soon! Much love, my friends! 🙂
Jealous of all the giveaway goodies that attendees took home from the retreat? Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win an awesome prize package of your own, including a HUE document camera and a year’s FREE subscription to ESGI….plus much, much more!
This looks like so much fun! My goal is to make it to one of these teaching conferences one day!! Thank you for sharing!
Mr. L's Classroom
You ladies rocked the 80's attire! I have that pencil sharpener in my classroom and love it!!!
Stepping outside of my comfort zone is my goal. I feel like I was still on the fringe of things this year. I hope to change that next year! Thanks for the encouraging words and reminder that I'm not alone!
I agree. I had to step WAAAAAAAY out of my comfort zone to socialize with all of these awesome teacher-bloggers. Including YOU! I loved meeting you. And your blog has be jealous. Super cute!
iTeachSTEM
Yes!!! You need to do it! It is so much fun and for sure worth it! 🙂
I am obsessed with this sharpener now!! My students want to use it a little too much though! Lol You got it this year!!
Me too!!! I am so glad I met you too! Glad to be apart of the EE family with you! 🙂
Thank you so much!
Words can not express my love for my new pencil sharpener!
I so agree with you!!
It was so wonderful to meet you!!!! I am so happy you are part of the EE family. And the blog looks fantastic! I love Alexis' designs. Hope you had a wonderful time at the retreat!
I LOVED meeting you too!! Thank you for making me feel at home right away! 🙂
So good to meet you finally!! I'm glad you decided to make the trip!
Tickled Pink in Primary
Yay! Me too! It was so much fun and great meeting you! 🙂
What a great post – you summed up the weekend perfectly! We were pushed beyond our comfort zone and so enjoyed meeting so many inspiring educators! Thanks!
{I, too, have that pencil sharpener and students come in from other classrooms just to use it!}
It was such a great weekend!!! That pencil sharpener is life changing! It was great meeting you!
Hannah, my dear… All I am gonna say is, "I better catch you in ORLANDO!!!!"
Melissa from The Husky Loving Teacher
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