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Your Summer of Innovation Starts Here

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

It’s at this time of year that teachers begin to think longingly of the summer and time to relax and recharge. And TCEA has the best opportunity for you to do just that at our “learn at the beach” conference. Formerly known as Tots and Technology, our much-loved summer conference is back under a new name that better reflects its focus on all educators working with grades PreK-5. Held June 10-12 in Galveston, Texas, the Elementary Technology Conference offers a chance for elementary educators to both rejuvenate from a long school year and develop new skills, tools, and knowledge for the next year.

Why Attend?

The Elementary Technology Conference isn’t your average ed tech conference. It’s designed expressly with elementary educators in mind. From makerspaces and active learning to coding and robotics, math and reading activities to the latest brain-based research, you’ll find the resources and strategies you need to enliven your PreK-5 classroom, library, or school all in one place.

  • Learn innovative tools and techniques to engage, empower, and inspire young learners
  • Network with like-minded elementary educators in informal settings and facilitated breakout groups
  • Engage in hands-on learning in hundreds of sessions and walk away with exciting lessons and ideas for the new school year
  • Discover cutting edge products and services to make your job easier
  • Recharge your energy and excitement about teaching

What You’ll Experience

Without fail, attendees at this learning extravaganza walk away thrilled with what they’ve gleaned. Because the conference is smaller than summer of innovationTCEA’s annual Convention & Exposition, there is more one-on-one time available with the presenters. We also build in more time for networking and sharing with colleagues who are experiencing the same challenges that you are. In addition, we pack in the fun so that you can’t wait to get back to school and your new students.

The best way to learn is with a team. So bring others from your campus with you to this amazing event. We’ll have content specifically for elementary administrators, librarians, teachers, curriculum specialists, early learning center staff, and campus technology specialists.

The Best Bang for Your Buck

TCEA has worked to get the lowest possible prices for hotel rooms at the conference. And we provide a continental breakfast and full lunch for attendees both days. There’s also a very cool t-shirt that each participant will receive. To save even more, register before April 1 when the price will increase.

Want to Share Your Knowledge?

The call for presenters for the Elementary Technology Conference is currently open through February 28. Your peers need the ideas and strategies that you have found work with your students. So complete the proposal form and receive the recognition you deserve!

The Elementary Technology Conference represents the best of TCEA with its focus on real learning, best practices, networking, and fun. Register today and join us at the beautiful Galveston Island Convention Center!

summer of innovation

 

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#TCEATots Voxercasts: Learning for Elementary Educators

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to travel to the TCEA Tots and Technology Conference taking place in Galveston, Texas for elementary educators. When I attend conferences like this one, it can be overwhelming to process all the information that’s being shared. That’s why I took a few moments to start up the Voxer app and interview folks on the way to TCEA Tots.

Below, you’ll find short “voxercasts.” The Voxer app makes it easy to record content and then quickly share it. I bookmarked the tweets where I shared the Voxercasts and you can subscribe to the #TCEATots Voxercasts RSS feed via the Diigo social bookmarking tool.

These TCEA Tots voxercasts really help capture the flavor of this fantastic conference geared to teachers of young children. Note that links below will open to a Voxer page.

Seven Tots and Technology Voxercasts:

  1. Green Screen Tips from Dr. Bruce Ellis – This conversation really blew my mind, so to speak, and sharing the tips Dr. Ellis included in his overview of green screes caught the attention of pre-conference attendees in my Become a Storymaker session.
  2. GeoGuesser with Dr. Bruce Ellis – This conversation expands on social studies/geography connections possible with GeoGuesser, a Google feature I had never heard of. In fact, when I spoke with Lampasas ISD teachers who were presenting on virtual field trips and geo-related activities, they did not know about it either.
  3. iPad Sharing Made Easy (Part 1) with Miguel Guhlin – This conversation has me sharing about iPads and getting information out there. I highlight several apps, including Readdle Documents and Seesaw. This is a two-part series since we were having too much fun, and Part 2 also mentioned Android.
  4. iPad and Android Sharing Made Easy (Part 2) with Miguel Guhlin and Dr. Bruce Ellis – You may have noticed that the previous voxercast was cut short. This is the second half.
  5. Notecard Confessions with Pedro Delgado (El Paso ISD) – What a joy to chat with Pedro Delgado (Twitter @neuropete01), TCEA Teacher of the Year Award finalist. He describes how he and his fourth and fifth grade students adapted the Paper Slide Videos, which I shared in my pre-conference session at TCEA Tots and Technology, to create Notecard Confessions. Check out Pedro’s phenomenal web site here.
  6. sherrieshelleyVirtual FieldTrips and More with Sherrie Berry and Shelley Kozma (Lampasas ISD) (shown right) – We discussed Seesaw, as well as other awesome ideas and tips in the iPad classroom. This really addresses collecting student work from iPads. Also discussed Microsoft in Education, as well as Skype in the Classroom. And Google Lit Trips were also referenced. Catch them on Twitter @shelleykozma and @sherrie_berrys.
  7. Digital Storytelling with Dr. Martha Green (Texas A&M) and Cecelia “Cece” Porra – In this wonderfully rich conversation, Martha, Cece, and I discuss digital storytelling and its application for instructional purposes. Martha provides some insights into using digital storytelling for mathematics, as well as shares other ideas.
  8. codinginlangartsCoding in the Language Arts Classroom with Kelly Hong – Listen to Kelly share what she knows about coding in the language arts classroom. Who would have thought you could “write” or “code” fantasy stories and tales with MIT’s Scratch program?
  9. Seesaw with Brittany Adcock (@adcockb10) – Listen to Brittany share about Seesaw, a phenomenal digital portfolio tool.
  10. digitallearningctrsDigital Learning Centers with Crystal Flores and Jeanine Freeman (@techtimewithj9) – This is a fascinating presentation by Crystal and Jeanine about how Crystal created audio versions of her classroom books. Also listen to Dr. Roland Rios share his reflections, too.
  11. TCEA Tots participants were asked to share their insights: What is one take-away from TCEA Tots? Other participants Image 276(TonyaHinkebein; MalvernMRS shown below with service dog, Nelson) also offered their thoughts on Promoting Technology Use in their classroom.
  12. Collaborative Grant Writing (Part 1 and Part 2)– This was an enlightening session regarding crowdfunding (e.g. DonorsChoose) with Brandi (@aesfinearts) and Mandy Bryan (@mandyrbryan) and collaborative grant writing tools. It resulted in two parts.

Be sure to check back for even more interviews from TCEA Tots and Technology 2016 in Galveston, Texas. And if you want more learning for elementary educators, consider joining us for the Tots Frisco conference July 24-26.

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Be the “Big Tot” on Campus!

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

My heart and soul is invested in the elementary classroom. After all, I did teach for a quarter of a century in the K-6 setting and my students have had a profound impact on my life. My second grader, Ross, told me he didn’t eat apricots because they had fur on them. And, to this day, I still don’t eat canned apricots! On the last day of school, my first and second graders were allowed to ask me any question. Someone asked “How old are you?” I had them take a guess before I answered. Sarah G. piped up “65.” I was only 23 at the time, but to elementary kids, if you are a teacher, you are OLD. So numbers aren’t a big thing to me. But the sixth summer conference for elementary is BIG, in my world!

Haven’t you always wanted to be the Big Tot on Campus? Well, attending TCEA’s Tots and Technology Conference will give you that title. There are two locations this year for the BIG state of Texas. If you want a sunny island feel for summer learning, Galveston on June 12-14 will meet your need. The second T&T conference is located in Frisco, part of the greater Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex with art museums, amusement parks, and shopping galore. It will take place July 24-26. The Texas Rangers will also be in town during this time playing the Oakland A’s. What a great time to squeeze in a little major league play after a day of amazing collaborating and connecting!

I ask you, where else can you attend professional development:

  • in shorts and flipflops?
  • in a laid back, relaxing atmosphere?
  • with a photo booth with the best silly props?
  • that has you participate in BIG GAMES at the Sunday evening welcome reception?
  • to network with peeps that are focused on the same grade levels?

The top three reasons to attend Tots are:

  1. It’s the perfect summer learning space.
  2. You can share successes and setbacks with like-minded educators.
  3. You will get energized and empowered for the 2016-2017 school year.

But don’t just take it from me. Here are a few quotes from the 2015 attendee survey.

  • I want to come every year.
  • To be honest, I was amazed at all the knowledge that was in one place. This was my first conference and I absolutely loved it!
  • I especially enjoy attending sessions given by classroom teachers.
  • I got so many great ideas it is hard to pick just one.

The  *VIN* (very important news)

  • TCEA is planning a super-charged, super-fun time for the Sunday evening welcome reception. It involves pit balls, LEGOs, swimming pool noodles, and rock/paper/scissors, all on a BIG scale. Curious? I hope so. 
  • If you need a flyer or a letter of support for your principal, TCEA has already written it. All you need to do is access it here.
  • Don’t delay; register now. See you soon, as summer will be here before we know it.

Featured Image: Photos take by TCEA

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Summer Learning at Its Best for Elementary Educators

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Looking for a great learning experience this summer that will enhance your teaching skills and energize you at the same time? Then look no further than the TCEA Tots and Technology Conference, an event so popular that we are offering two this summer. Join us in Galveston on June 12-14 or the next month in Frisco on July 24-26 for workshops and sessions that are designed by elementary educators for elementary educators.

With all the choices you have this summer to get ready for the fall, here are the three biggest reasons to attend one of our stimulating Tots and Technology conferences this summer:

  • Attend sessions and workshops designed especially for educators and administrators integrating technology with 3 year olds through fifth grade;
  • Network with other like-minded educators to expand your resources for the new school year and get tons of hands-on, relevant, classroom-ready ideas and activities to implement in your classroom; and,
  • Earn up to 17 hours of professional development credit for meaningful learning targeted to your needs.

 

Sessions and workshops for these events will be posted April 1, so you can plan which sessions to attend and coordinate your schedule with friends and colleagues. Get support from your administrators about the value of the Tots and Technology conference by downloading and sharing this template with them.

If you are an elementary educator or work with elementary educators, join us for a great learning experience. Find out more and register here. If you have any questions, contact Peggy Reimers at preimers@tcea.org. We look forward to seeing you in Galveston, Frisco, or both locations.

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Announcements/Important DatesGood TeachingLeadership

Elementary Educators, Have Something to Share?

by Alexis Cline
written by Alexis Cline

Are you an elementary teacher, librarian, technologist, or administrator using technology to enhance learning for PreK-5 students? Do you have advice, ideas, and tools that can help empower your peers to excite young students and differentiate their learning? Share your knowledge and experience as a presenter at one of TCEA’s two Tots and Technology conferences this summer.

Each year, the two-day Tots and Technology conference is packed with elementary educators looking for resources and best practices that will motivate students and transform the learning experience through technology. This year, TCEA is offering two elementary conferences to make travel and attendance even easier.

  • June 12 – 14 in Galveston, Texas
  • July 24 – 26 in Frisco, Texas

Tots - Split Star

Whether you’d like to host sessions at one or both events, submit your ideas today. Your insights could make all the difference for attendees and their elementary students. The call for proposals is now open and ends February 29, 2016. Submitting your proposal is quick and easy, so share your knowledge today!

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