February 3, 2026
Volume 60, Number 8
CONVENTION READY Veteran teachers shared their tips for making the most of teachers’ convention. Some responses have been edited for length.
Attend at least one WELLNESS session, and don’t feel guilty about it. Your convention board has worked hard to give you a balance of sessions.
Go to the KEYNOTE SPEAKERS , as they are usually quite inspiring. Meet FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES for lunch and attend sessions that interest you, not necessarily those you think you “should” go to.
Find one or two sessions that are directly related to your assignment/role in your division. Then find some sessions that are of pure interest and OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE . I find this gives me a recharge to get through that long winter.
Bring a BACKPACK FOR SWAG so your arm doesn’t fall off. Talk to whoever is in charge of budgets at your school to see if you can be reimbursed for any purchases.
Consider if PRESENTING is something you’d like to do, and what kinds of skills or ideas you could share with others.
Always PLAN FOR LUNCH ! And PRIORITIZE the sessions that look the most helpful.
Pay attention to WHERE SESSIONS ARE . You don’t want to sign up for great back- to-back sessions only to realize you have just 10 minutes to travel between the convention center and the art gallery.
PACK FOOD if you’re travelling from out of town. It isn’t always easy to find food there and if you do, it’s busy.
Don’t feel obliged to implement everything you learn. ONE OR TWO NEW THINGS for the rest of the year are plenty.
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