To ISTE...and beyond!

Hey friends! I arrived at ISTE on Friday afternoon with the most amazing, supportive husband anyone could ask for. We spent Friday night exploring downtown Atlanta and the hotel gym. The hotel gym was obviously the highlight of our night. Boom!

 

Saturday morning came with an early  killer cardio workout and some "healthy"food at waffle house. After registering for the conference at 7AM...I was up at 3:30 for my workout by the way...we headed back to the hotel for some rest and pool before picking up a colleague. My friend was hangry after her flight so we B-lined to the nearest exit and actually ate at the very first Chick-fil-A! Did you know the company started out as a full service diner? It was so quaint! We headed back to the hotel and then our ISTE adventure began with a keynote by Ashley Judd! At that point the day caught up with me and it was time for bed with a side of Forensic Files. Yes...I am a super nerd.

 

I must say that Sunday has been the busiest day so far. The day was filled with the exhibitor expo, a session on digital storytelling, and ended with an EPIC Gaggle party. The party easily had 500 attendees crammed into a downtown sports bar. Did I mention they offered free alcohol? Now I'm not a drinker in the slightest.... but can you imagine?!

 

Today promises to be equally busy with more expo booth visits and several engaging workshops to include Engaging Math Centers with Greg Tang! This should go nicely with my Guided Math book study. So you have to stay tuned for more awesomeness from the ISTE front....

Pics coming soon!

Greetings from NC...and the World!!!

Hello friends! Welcome to my blog. I am new at this so please bear with me. When asked for help, my friend, Ashley, from Schroeder Shenanigans in Second responded with, "Introduce yourself! What inspired you to be a teacher?!" See, I had no idea what to write in my first blog, and I needed reinforcements. Originally the thought of writing an online journal of sorts was strange. The more I began following blogs, interacting with teacher bloggers, and branching out to create products for TPT, the more blogging just seemed like a natural fit. So... here goes....

[Pay no mind to the post-conference traveling look]

Hi! My name is Amber Felts, and I have been a teacher for three years. Over the course of three years I have taught K for two and now 2nd for one full year. Let's just say primary is my thang (GA girl over herrr baby)! I am a USMC spouse (12 years) and a mommy to three amazing human beings...and two canine babies! What else...you say?

My first two years of teaching were spent in Southern California in the lovely little town of Twentynine Palms. Lovely in its own way, I will admit. I taught half day Kindergarten and half day as an English Language Learner educator. I could not have asked for a better school and teaching experience to begin my teaching career. During my time in CA I had the opportunity and privilege to attend the National I Teach K conference. This was an absolute invaluable experience! In addition, my district paid for an observation where I got to travel and observe Hadar from Miss-Kindergarten teach her class. I must admit I was a little star struck!

I spent this last year learning and teaching the Common Core in the great state of North Carolina. I work at a magnet school for technology and innovation teaching second graders. I thought I would never want to leave kindergarten, but after teaching second grade for a year, I am convinced I will always teach second! Next year is already proving to be challenging, with the possible dissolution of common core and the adoption of new state standards, I sense many late nights in my future. I am blessed to have a a great team, amazing friends and family, and a blossoming social network full of resources so I do not foresee this transition being stressful.

Errrrr!!! Forgot the inspirational story! Let's go back to what inspired me to become an educator. I am fairly certain I do not have a picture of me in the womb, so let's just say I have always wanted to be a teacher. I was always playing school and pretending to be the teacher as a child...my poor sister and Barbie dolls! In high school I was presented with the opportunity to become a Teacher Cadet. This program took me to a whole new level. I was able to actually teach students while I was in high school! But.....then I got married and a had a couple kiddos so my dream of becoming a teacher didn't become a reality until I went back to college for my Masters in Elementary Education.

So what am I doing now?

Currently, I am at the WorldView conference in Chapel Hill. I am learning many things surrounding globalization, global initiatives in education, and how to become a global leader. Monday was spent with Tim Flood discussing communication styles in both a team setting and a global setting, and the five dimensions of culture. If you ever get a chance to meet him you in luck. He is global education meets Dane Cook!!! Love him. We spent Tuesday discussing Europe, America post meltdown with Peter Brews, and then Dr. Jim Johnson presented disruptive demographics and inequality in America using 2010 census data. Can we just say EYE OPENING! Wednesday was  filled with current and past events in regions around the world to include the Middle East, China, Cuba, and the African diaspora. The most intriguing thing I have taken away from Wednesday is the push for universal education in order to increase educational opportunities for girls around the world. Thursday's speakers had us engaged the entire day with concepts surrounding the second World War, challenges and responsibilities the United States faces, and international terrorism.

While the days at the World View Global Leaders Program were long and full of intense topics and discussions, the reception on Thursday and the Farewell Luncheon today proved to me the amazing support system that encompasses the education field. In a room filled with educators ranging from K-Post Secondary, we were all equals. And we were all equally excited to lead the education field in our global initiatives. Now off to spread the love!