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By Amelia Weber
After only one year into my new career, I could very accurately describe myself as a conference fanatic. I‘m constantly aware that the little I know individually dwarfs in comparison to what others know collectively, making me willing to learn as much as possible from the intelligent masses. I’ve attended conferences at the state, regional, and even national level, and each one gives me a thrill. Recently fresh from my third music conference of the year, I returned to Platteville bursting with ideas to test on my private students who are often my "guinea pigs." Conferences have thus far prevented me from having a nervous breakdown. We all have “those” days: the "my-choir-sings-out-of-tune-while-slouching-chewing-gum-and-talking" days. These days are also known as “I want to quit my job” days, and they happen to even the perkiest of us all. Somehow, sharing our woes and wows with other teachers translates those days into “I just needed a break from my job” days, and what better break than a well-timed conference! When I attend conferences and get a chance to talk with other new teachers, we often end up sitting together, sharing notes, and scratching down ideas that in a month might only be deciphered by the FBI. It’s like we’re members of a secret "newbie" society, permitted to be in the presence of a master teacher for a limited time and absorb any ideas we can remember. When I return home and am trying to make sense of my notes with my own class, I’m always glad to have met other young teachers who are experimenting with their classes too.
Talking with another young teacher in your field at a conference is like giving yourself a constant second chance – if something didn’t work for you, you can bet there’s another teacher who had success. As a kid (OK, as an adult) I loved to play skee-ball (that classic bowling-like arcade game), and was always sad when I ran out of quarters. Every time I meet another young teacher, it’s like being lent a quarter. Even when I have the worst game of my life, someone is there with another idea, another quarter, so I can try again. My students know when I return from a conference, and are usually prepared for some crazy new ideas. Whenever they stop in before class and see me unloading piles of single copy choral pieces and new warmups, I imagine their inner monologues saying, “Oh MAN, Weber is back from another conference." There are always a few eye rolls and some giggling when they are thrown into new ideas, but the excitement eventually rubs off and we all dive into uncharted waters. In the first years of teaching, there are many reasons for a teacher to say “I can’t go to conferences.” Finding a substitute, filling out paperwork, and cost can all be roadblocks to conference attendance, but I would argue that we can’t afford not to attend them! Like lemonade on a 90-degree day, just when you’re feeling dehydrated, conferences refresh, energize, and keep us from going crazy in the heat of the first years! When my warmups are blah, my analogies are used up, and my students are begging for music that’s different, I always remind them to wait until I’m back from Madison. All districts have different policies about conference attendance.
If you’re unsure about your district’s policies, ask!
Be proactive and allow plenty of time to hire subs and clear paperwork.
Show your administrators how you value professional growth by
filling out your requests for the year before school even begins.
Also be sure to communicate to co-workers and secretaries the
dates and times you’ll be gone. If you’re concerned about leaving your students, let them share in the excitement and hear you describe what you might see or do at your conference. Remind them that you are attending these workshops to find new ideas that can make learning clearer and more fun for them. Many a high school student has been surprised to find that their teachers still seek to learn things…on purpose. To make life a bit easier for the substitute, have a project workday, quiz review, or other student-directed activity planned for your absence. Most importantly, demand good behavior while you are gone, and address the behavior when you return. The first few years of teaching can be what I like to call “a period of financial distress,” but there are ways to cut conference costs if you are creative. I was actually desperate enough to ask my parents if they would pay my way to a choral directors’ conference for my birthday! If you work in a district that is unable to help with conference fees, try convincing a friend to join you and share hotel, travel, and food expenses. Many organizations even offer discounted conference fees to new teachers, so be sure to do your research before writing your check. To save gas and miles on your car, your school district may allow you to drive one of their vehicles, or you can establish a carpool with other teachers in your area. If you do not want to spend a lot of money for restaurant food at your conference, you can pack a cooler with sandwiches and snacks for the first day. Food sold in a convention center can be pricey…even walking a few blocks to a local deli can save money. In the midst of a high burnout rate for young teachers, attending conferences is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Conferences allow us to network, learn, share, and even vent. They remind us that we are not alone, and that we are on the right track more often than we might think. For me, attending a conference relieves stress, makes me laugh, and gives me hope that someday I can look out and see a couple of young teachers whispering and jotting down my ideas! Posted November 21, 2005 |
Amelia Weber is vocal director at Platteville High School.
She began her teaching career in September of 2004.