In late October, two O’Connell teachers participated in collaborative learning opportunities that allowed them to stay connected with their peers in the region and around the country.
English teacher, John Meehan, was invited to a weekend conference, called “Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching & Teachers.” This event brought approximately 300 educators from all across the country to New Orleans for an all-expense paid three-day event which Meehan described as an “educators’ retreat.” “I was energized by this group of great teachers who love their jobs, and humbled by the number of state-wide ‘teachers of the year’ in the group.” said Meehan.
The conference included breakout sessions and small group discussions that focused on leadership, collaboration and innovative instructional practices. “I was talking shop with great people,” said Meehan. “There were informative presentations by veteran teachers, and roundtable discussions on the meaningful use of technology in today’s classroom.”
Vocal music director, Peter Kadeli, was invited the same weekend to join other alumni of George Mason’s music education department for a panel discussion on classroom management in the music classroom. The audience included currently enrolled students in the master’s program at the University. The panelists discussed their own strategies and techniques for dealing with behavior issues at all grade levels. Kadeli’s comments were focused on teacher preparation and teaching approaches. “When the students are engaged in learning, behavior problems are minimized,” he said.
Read more about the event:
http://gmusiced.blogspot.com/