KEEN Conference

KEEN (Kansas Exemplary Educators Network) Conference was held mid-February in our capitol city of Topeka. It was an incredible experience, listening to the KS Commissioner of Education Randy Watson speak, attend workshops based on individual interests, and network.

I attended workshops on mindfulness and civic engagement, both of which are high interest to me currently. I was also able to hang out with some of my KTOY team, which is a worthwhile endeavor at any time!

Civic Engagement:
#10 - Make connections to the real world - make it relevant!
#9 - Use classroom discussion - use moderated classroom discussion to talk about issues considered important to students
#8 - Teach Reflection - improves self-awareness, openness, perspectives, and builds a community of learners
#7 - Demonstrate enthusiasm and passion - enthusiasm is contagious
#6 - Student choice - where to sit, what kind of assignment, assessment, perhaps even what to study
#5 - Student voice - allow students to create tasks, rubrics, and/or classroom rules
#4 - Comfort the uncomfortable - students who witness it tend to imitate it
#3 - Make the uncomfortable the comfortable - challenge their thinking, perceived realities, prejudices and biases
#2 - Be a role model - be the change you want to see in your kids
#1 - Be a mentor - some kids need more help than others