Planning My Professional Road Trip

(Written December 2, n Washington D.C., while attending NCSS.) 

It has been a while since I’ve posted to this blog.  Life gets busy, grades are due and then suddenly a month has passed.  I have written a few posts in that time. I decided that one of them was just venting and that another of them was more of a mental work session; necessary but not the learning experience I like to post here.  I have been hard at work getting done the work at hand and haven’t been focused on looking forward.

As I write this I am in my hotel in Washington D.C. I spent the day with the #sschat crew talking about education and attending seminars given by teachers who are passionate their jobs and about their lives in general.

Since being here I have filled a list with topics to blog about, lesson ideas, ideas for future #sschats and even a few ideas for planning the annual family road trip (thank you Tom Riddle). Before I began writing this I sat down and I wrote down a list of 5 things I want to do to be a better teacher.  The next few months in my classes were running through my head.  I started editing a lesson plan for next week.  I made a list of what I need to buy for my Middle Ages lesson next week; Legos, pipe cleaners and a wooden yardstick. (thank you Dave Burgess).  

The importance of conferences like this, the part that makes them worth the expense, is the examination and evaluation that takes place as a result.   I have some lessons to create, a few lessons to purge, and many books to read.  I’m feeling energized and excited to get back in the classroom.  This is what I wish every PD experience could be like.

I’m looking ahead and I have my sights set on some new goals.