Conference Mayhem

Right as I FINALLY got into a routine, I ruined it by leaving the state for a week to attend a conference in Minneapolis. Don’t get me wrong. I am certainly fortunate that I was able to attend this conference. I met some WONDERFUL people who do INSPIRING work in the field of cultural competency.

It’s energizing to be a part of something where people are looking to learn from one another. And of course, it’s also comforting to be among colleagues that are doing similar work, all across the country. Teaching in general can be very isolating and if you’re an ESL teacher in a school with a pull-out model, it can be even more isolating. Teachers rarely leave their classrooms and almost all of their interactions are with students. For ESL teachers, depending on the ELS population, a school is lucky to have more than one teacher (the school where I’m interning has only one part-time ESL teacher!). This makes it very difficult to collaborate and observe others in the field. Coming to this conference made me realize the importance of professional development. As educators, it’s crucial to recognize the power of constant learning.

So, I’ve seen, I’ve learned, I’ve conquered; it’s time to head back to Philadelphia Freedom. I cannot wait to see the mentors (freshman residents)! Unfortunately, it won’t be all sunshine and puppies. I have to meet with some of them regarding their behavior while I was gone. The old adage, “the cat’s away, the mice will play” certainly panned out this week. There were parties; there was suspicious smokey smells; there was chaos, and there was attitude inflicted upon any RA that tried to tell them otherwise. Well, the cat is back and she is going to kick so ass so I hope my residents are ready. Wish them luck!