Speaker: Chris B., Kindergarten Teacher, TX
What would you tell another educator considering attending the Learning Lab next year?
Chris B.: If another educator was considering attending the Learning Lab next year, I would tell them, get ready, get ready, get ready, because it's going to be so good! It's so good to where it has me talking with my hands. That's how good it was! I mean, from interactive sessions — there is so many sessions to choose from. There were sessions where you, as a teacher, where you could be involved, where the speaker wasn't just speaking the whole entire time — it was very interactive. I received so much information from different panel discussions, from the training. And the great thing about it is if you missed a session, they're recorded. The speaker and presenters always share notes. So if you're considering attending Learning Lab next year, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please do it! Because it's helped me out so much, and even though it was a virtual experience, I felt like I was just right there with them. I felt like I was in person. It was so, so, so very good.
Which ideas from the Learning Lab are you most excited to implement?
Chris B.: I'm most excited to implement the ELD lesson plans. Let me tell you, if you're not using those ELD lesson plans, you need to use them. They help support all learners. They are slide decks — all you have to do is you can go, and they give them to you for the whole year. Or you have to go in there, what I do is I crop them, or I may take a screenshot of them or screen capture, and I insert them into my slide decks. They are very useful, they're very helpful regardless of what grade level you're teaching. Please use and implement those ELD lesson plans! They will help and change and upgrade your lessons.
