TESOL 2016

I've spent a good two solid weeks away from the trenches.  I was on spring break followed by the 2016 TESOL Conference this week.  This was my first TESOL conference.  While I have heard of this annual event, this year's location (twenty minutes from my house) and the availability of professional development funds made it possible for me to finally attend.  I can definitely say that it was worth the wait.

The week started off with PreK-12 Dream Day, a pre-conference event dedicated to the professional development needs of PreK-12 educators.  This was followed by over 800 educational sessions ranging from roundtable discussions to the latest research findings to teaching tips.  There were also technology sessions, poster sessions and a job fair.  Many of the PowerPoints and handouts that were made available during these sessions can be found here.

Aside from the professional knowledge gained, this conference provided an opportunity to network with new contacts as well as those I have been communicating with on Twitter for the past two years. I was also amazed to meet fellow educators who complete inspiring work day in and day out under circumstances that make my daily challenges seem small in comparison.  While attending conferences can be exhausting, it is events such as this that make life in the trenches a little less lonely.  While I am not 100% sure that it will be possible for me to attend 2017 TESOL Conference (in Seattle), it will definitely be on my professional development radar.