Advice From an Old Hand

• Always mount from the left
• Sing to the cattle at night and they won’t stampede
• A wet ‘kerchief can save you during a dust storm
• Your horse is your best friend

Dagnabbit! Wrong list.

Although we’ve been trying to prepare you for the Annual Meeting, if you’ve never attended, it’s hard to know what to expect. We hear your cries -- "More details, please!" 

Last year morrowmath wrote a series of informative and useful blog posts on his personal preparations. His posts were so good, we want to repeat them here.

Preparing to Go

Don't wait until Thursday morning to look at the program for the first time! There is so much in it!! Get out the sticky notes, flags, and highlighters. First I circle sessions that appear interesting. Then I go back over them and decide which ones best suit my theme(s) for the conference. I am always sure to have one or two extra choices since sessions do fill up. There are strict limits on participants in the rooms, by requirement of the fire marshal, so you will not get in if it's full. (morrowmath, 2010)

Themes

What is my main goal this year? At my first national conference I went to every graphing calculator session I could and came away with so many new skills. One year I attended every session that mentioned the word proportion, because I was interested in better ways of teaching proportional reasoning. Last year I was interested in anything having to do with teacher coaching. But this year my goal is to learn about implementing reform in schools and whole divisions.

It's funny how the different focus each year has shaped my career.

What is your theme this year? (morrowmath, 2010)

Planning

I have my conference notebook ready. I used to lose all of my session notes, or they'd get separated from the business cards of the presenters. Now I always bring a spiral notebook, glue stick, and tape in my bag so that nothing slips away during the day. It's a conference Interactive Notebook!! At night in the hotel room, I add more notes of things that have occurred to me since the session. Don't forget to leave space for the Title Page and Table of Contents in the front! (morrowmath, 2010)

More fun than a Sticky Note

Here’s a suggestion for capturing those moments in a workshop or presentation when you think “That’s perfect for my class!” Bring an envelope of postcard stamps (28¢—we know, it’s hard to keep up) and those unsolicited return address labels. (Yes, even the ones where your name is misspelled or you’re listed as Mr. Susan Jones; those work fine.) Stop at your hotel gift shop and stock up on postcards. As you run across a gem, put it on a postcard and mail it to yourself.  You’ll enjoy receiving them and maybe you’ll start a file that you add to with every annual and regional meeting you attend.

Another postcard idea is to send one to your class with a thought about how you’re enjoying this time spent on professional development. It can create a natural teaching moment where you demonstrate the professionalism of teaching and your personal pride in your profession. Who knows? It could also plant the seed that grows a future math teacher or two.

As always – let us know what you do to prepare. What tips can you offer to get as much out of the conference as possible?