The NCTE annual conference is just around the corner (one more day!), and I couldn’t be more excited. It is a wonderful conference filled with smart people and wonderful educators sharing their ideas and best practices for teaching and learning. I know that many have shared their helpful tips for surviving the conference (seriously…pack an extra bag and wear comfortable shoes!). What follows, though, are my three tips for what will make NCTE a wonderful community experience.
- Get on Twitter…be active on Twitter. Many are already on Twitter, and #NCTE17 will be the best way for you to be in many places at once as other attendees will share their experiences through that hashtag. As you meet people, share your Twitter handles and follow each other. I would even suggest that you write out your Twitter handle on your badge. NCTE is not just about the three days in St. Louis. This is the time to build connections with others who will support your work for months to come.
- Sit next to people you don’t know during conference sessions. The NCTE community is not just a space to connect and reconnect with those you already know. There are hundreds (thousands?) of teachers at this conference. The one with the best ideas you need for your classroom next week could be sitting right next to you.
- Hang out in your hotel lobby or make your way to a local bar. These areas are packed with NCTE teachers who are talking, collaborating, and sharing. What better way is there to debrief? By the late afternoon, you’ll need the chance to process all that you’ve taken in. We’re here to help! And, you never know who you might run into (we do have our rock stars).
Collaboration and community building among those who attend NCTE is one of the best parts of attending the conference. NCTE is a wonderful space for teachers to connect and to learn from each other. Be part of the learning, be part of the conversation.
I look forward to seeing you at #NCTE17!