No Regrets

As the chilling air of October 29th diffused across the town, I laid in my bed with the comforting warmth of my blankets and sheets. Though I was on the verge of sound slumber, I couldn't help but feel miffed with the events to arrive when the light of dawn eventually penetrates my bedroom windows. It's what I've been dreading for weeks now, and I am mere hours away from the clutches of redundant PowerPoint presentations and repeated theoretical knowledge. I winced and cringed as I mustered up the strength to embrace the undeniable circumstances to come; I have to attend the Kansas Association of Teachers of English, or KATE, Conference.

With my apprehensive and stern nature already established for the day, I walked into the building with my tie knotted just right while donning my favorite blazer to provide a look of professionalism. It was to hide my indifference for the day to come, but by golly, I feel absolutely silly for my severely arbitrary misconceptions on that Thursday morning. Whether they were professional speakers or newly hired educators, I was surrounded by so many people who were just as enthused as I about the field of teaching.

The KATE Conference was an amazing experience in which I was able to gain so much information and insight from. I've become so accustomed to the continuity of my college classrooms and middle school placement that I've disregarded the value of attaining expert advice from real, experienced figures in the teaching profession. I appreciate how well the conference catered to the guests by making every moment relevant and informative. The first session featured Dr. Howard Pitler, who introduced his audience to the day with his enlightening presentation. The "Three Imperatives of Teaching" was an element he continually referred back to throughout his presentation. It describes how we, as teachers, need to be demanding (1), but supportive (2) while ensuring that our teachings remain intentional (3). As simple as it sounds, I've been attempting to balance those three traits for quite some time. Yet, I am still remaining persistent in the matter due to Pitler's advice to us all; Form a commitment to use these conference ideas to change your classroom experiences. If you do not take the initiative to make some type of change within the next two weeks, you won't experience much change in the future either." 

The various workshops I attended were quite engaging and supportive, due to the well-informed facilitators and experienced teachers surrounding me with high interests in sharing their advice. I gathered information on how to apply crafts and projects into Language Arts, how to activate a student's "writing voice", and approached unconventional ways of teaching Shakespeare. Yet, my favorite workshop revolved around the conjunction of musical lyrics and critical writing. During my year of observations at my previous placements, I used music as a theme to encourage students to write. This workshop expanded on my interests in the subject matter, I felt that I gained a great deal of insight for future teachings. For instance, we discussed how universal themes are important in developing strong writers. Though a student may not necessarily agree with this particular theme, it is imperative that they accept it as a prevalent concept. Gradually increasing the difficulty in identifying universal themes in songs is a great way to set up bellwork while engaging the students in writing.

I could see it now. As I walk into a classroom of rambunctious students, they go silent as they hear "Taylor Swift - Mean" playing in the background. Voices go off, pencils grind against notebook papers, and students critically analyzing the detrimental effects of bullying.

The day's teachings resonated within me, and any reluctance I had previously in attending the conference had far diminished before Pitler could finish his presentation. As I took notes over technology in the classroom and Socratic seminars, I appreciated my presence there and remembered to remain thankful for opportunities granted for my future benefit.