Hey.  Do you think I can convince you do attend the AC Teacher's Convention next year?  Check out the things I did in 2016 that made it worthwhile for me.

#1

I met  Lisa Funari-Willever, author of the Nicky Fifth books.  She gave a beautiful keynote speech telling stories about her family and explaining how she got started with the Nicky Fifth Books.  She is a former teacher of NJ and mother of three, like me. She uses real New Jersey locations as settings for her books.  The books are very educational and there is a whole curriculum written for teachers to use in their classroom.  I have a free Teacher’s Guide for you if you are thinking about using it for your classroom.  Just enter your email for a chance to win it.

#2

I also met a great guy Dr. Joseph Pizzo.  He is a 72 year old 7th grade English teacher and poet.  He is awesome!  He taught us how to make a digital poem with powtoons in one workshop then gave another great workshop about writing grants.  I learned a lot and he was great about taking pictures with everyone.  I was encouraged to share some of my poetry during  the workshop and received a much appreciated jazz snap applause.  Just a very cool experience.

#3

I ran into some of my old friends from Head Start!  Yes, I call it the pre-school days.  We are all currently doing other things but still can recall the wonderful memories.  Ms. Dee and Ms. Val agreed to participate in my digital poem project for natural hair.  Stay tuned for that.

#4

I met another lovely person Ms. Sylvia Brown-Roberts, author of “Behind Church Doors.”  She was on Author’s Row on the convention floor, marketing her books and spreading knowledge to young authors like myself.   She encouraged me to make an author’s page on Facebook to promote my writing.  It will soon be up and completely running as soon as I publish something!  You can check her out at SylviaBrownRoberts.com or sistarsilvia.blogspot.com.  Then you can check out my author’s page by searching artteacher4purpose on facebook.

#5

Teachers, here is something that I thought was extra cool.  What if there was an application where your students can create their own video game, while reinforcing math concepts, analytic skills, and other higher level cognitive processes??!!!  Would you buy it?  Well someone invented it.  Guess who? This Guy!  His name is Martin Horstman and he is the developer/creator of this awesome new application called “Doodlematic”   Your students can draw a picture using shapes and colors.  Next, they take a picture of it and like magic it becomes an interactive game reviewing shapes and colors.  It also promotes problem solving as the kids try to move their shapes through the game.  Pretty cool right?  The website is www.doodlematic.com.  Check it out right away!

#6

I am an advocate for the arts and was so glad that I attended this workshop called “Ceremony for This Time.”  Here I met Whitney and Richard Kitts, along with their co-worker Thomas Lupfer.  They showed a wonderful documentary of the students they taught at Glennfield Middle School of the Performing Arts located in Montclair NJ.  The documentary was about the students’ experiences, filmed about 20 years ago, while traveling and performing a show called “Ceremony for this Time.”  The fascinating part was that these teachers decided to create another traveling show in order to document new students’ growths from the visual and performing arts.  Point made:  visual and performing arts are absolutely essential in the complete social, cognitive, and physical development of a child. 

#7

Jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com. This is the blog to check out for some real education on education in New Jersey.  Mr. Mark Webber is a music teacher and political writer who gave a heartfelt keynote address about how this recent election is going to change education in NJ.  Teachers, be ready for some big changes in education policy and not for the better.  To learn more I encourage you to visit his blog.

#8

I joined a new group called BATS- Bad Ass Teachers!  I saw their sign, the name intrigued me and so I walked over to see what they were about.  Guess What?  They were a group based out of the city of Camden, where I used to teach.  The two ladies at the table were sharing information on how to get involved to save the “Castle on the Hill.”  The Castle is Camden High, which the district plans to spend $130 million to tear down this school year.  The district has no current plan for where to send the students currently attending Camden High, or the elementary students in the buildings next door.  I plan to get involved, so I did sign up to become a Bad Ass Teacher.

#9    

I took the bus to the convention and took the bus back home.  This was great.  It was about 6 bucks each way.  I just relaxed and listened to some music during the 40 minute ride.  I saved on gas and on parking.  If you know me I am a very frugal person and it was a big bonus to save some cash!

#10

Finally, I won, I won!!!  But not really: they told me I won a free demonstration for the Rainbow Vacuum Cleaner.  They probably called everyone who put their name in the jar, but I let the guy come over anyway.  I did get a free gift  although I didn’t buy anything.  I received a Rainmaker Humidifier,  I actually have two.  Earned myself  the additional one for referring my mother-n-law.  My mother-n-law also managed to get a free Rainmaker! In the voice of The Count from Sesame Street:  "That’s 3, count them 3 Rainmakers! Ah ah ah ah ah!"  Hey the Vacuum was great though, if you are interested call Frank 1- 732-814-9120.

I always feel like such a grown up and a professional when I go to the convention.  If you are a NJEA member it is free, all others pay $150.00. I hope I have motivated you enough to check it out for yourself.  Until next time.

-Tamorra