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Saturday, December 31, 2011

California Teachers: Are You Coming to This Conference?

Okay, I am willing to admit that I loved my blog meet-up so much that I am ready for another one. If you live in California and teach kindergarten I hope you plan on coming to this conference so I can meet you! Pleeeeese... How much fun would that be-right? Those of you who live in northern California just have to travel to Santa Clara. I have a daughter in San Francisco (attorney girl) and she is dying to spend more time with her mom. So for me this is a no brainer.I love to hang with kinder teachers, spend too much money on things for my classroom, see Dr. Jean and do the Tooty-Ta with her, and buy another corny kindergarten t-shirt. Heidi will be there Saturday too. I always come back re-energized but this time I want to learn more about transitional kindergarten. I want to hug the people at the state level who recognize that four year olds are not developmentally ready for a rigorous kindergarten program. Yeah! Love you guys. So are you game? Come on... I am dying to meet you and talk about blogging until you get sick of me.Find out more here.

18 comments:

Freckleteacher said...

Hi Fran! I am planning to attend on Saturday or Sunday. When do you see the blogging meet-up happening? I have yet to sign-up for the conference, but will soon. I am really going just to see you!!! Oh and of course hear Heidi and Dr. Jean and hear more about TK. But truthfully I am the most excited to meet you and any other bloggers who can come!
How can we plan a meet-up?

Fran Kramer said...

OMG we will have to wear something that you can download from one of our blogs. That would be hilarious!
I am so excited to meet you friend!!!
Fran

Vickie said...

Think my school would pay for the flight from Florida to California...haha. Sounds like a great time!

Freckleteacher said...

How about something Pete The Cat?
That would sure be cute!

Camille said...

Count me in! The really funny thing is that both of you have mentioned the TK workshops and I signed up for several of those so I think we all are destined to me regardless! I had actually been feeling sad when I signed up a week ago because I figured I would be the only blogger in the TK strand. Are either of you teaching a TK class next year? I am seriously considering it because I LOVE the idea of creating my own curriculum and being required to teach in ways that are developmentally appropriate. Just imagine?!?

I am liking the idea of wearing something that we could all download - a special name tag??? necklace that we could wear on yarn? hhmmmm... a hat that had feelers or something on top so that we would stand out in a crowd and be able to find each other. (I assume there will be crowds.)

Oh, I didn't plan on going on Friday night, but can if that is when bloggers want to meet up. But I did sign up for both Saturday and Sunday.

Camille
An Open Door

Kat said...

Dear Fran,

My name is Kat and I have been a K teacher for (gulp) 13 years. This year I have a huge class with lots of behavior issues and frankly I am feeling a little low. I was so excited to recently join Pinterest and from there jump on the amazing bandwagon of BLOGS like yours so full of fun, enthusiasm and inspiration. It really was just the boost I needed at this time of my year and career.

I haven't been to the conference in a couple of years and so I am excited to say I WILL BE THERE and would love to meet you and shop and maybe chat. I'll be there both days...

Happy New Year!

Kat

Fran Kramer said...

Okay smart Cindy... I will make some kind of Pete the Cat tag for you to wear but somehow I think I would recognize all of you. We should make blog t-shirts and wear them but I am not sure we could pull this off in time and my daughter would avoid me.
I am not even kidding.
By the way I am just as excited to meet all of you guys. I am dancing around my computer!

Fran Kramer said...

Kat,
I have a huge class this year too so we have lots to talk about. I cannot wait to meet you. We can all meet in the lobby of the Hyatt. I will solve all your problems. (LOL)

Rachelle said...

How fun! I wish I could meet you!!!!! Have a blast!!!

P.S. I teach a transitional 1st grade! I love it! :)

Kristin's Bilingual Kindergarten said...

Are you all paying out of pocket for the conference? I went last year (live in San Francisco) and my school paid last year. Not sure if they will pay again. I will be asking this week!

Thank you!

Fran Kramer said...

I always pay my own way but I walk away feeling so much more energized and I make a 100 new friends so I feel like it's worth it. I see Jean Feldman, Nellie Edge, Charlotte Diamond, and other educators that really guided my thinking and helped me improve strategies in my classroom. Usually I go alone and no one from my district comes. Budget cuts have really impacted on this conference but I could never pay this organization back for the information and experiences I have had.

HeidiSongs said...

OOOoooh! Let's have a meet up! But PLEASE! Don't do it on Friday! I can't be there until Saturday! I have to do a presentation for a private school in Dallas all day on Friday, and then I am flying in on Friday night. I will probably be dead on my feet by the time I arrive. But I am free on Saturday or Sunday, as long as I am not presenting! I present on Saturday from 1:30-4:30, so I will be tied up from 1:00-5:00.
Heidi
http://heidisongs.blogspot.com
http://www.heidisongs.com

Freckleteacher said...

I can't be there on Friday either. I will be at The Michael Jackson cirque de soliel show in San Jose with my son. (His gift to me!) I can meet on Saturday morning before (Heidi's workshop) or for dinner after her workshop.
I live only about 1 hour away, so I am flexible. I plan to attend on Saturday, but could also meet on Sunday. Up to you gals...
Fran...any more thoughts on what we can wear? Blog buttons? Headbands? (I know you love those!)

Fran Kramer said...

OMG headbands! Do not tempt me. Relax. We will meet when everyone can be there. I would not dream of doing this without ALL of you fabulous ladies.. pinkie promise.

Camille said...

I'm loving the idea of us all having name tags or somesuch related to Pete! Great idea! I can just imagine Pete walking along and singing his song "I love to blog! I love to blog! I love to blog!"

What if we all wore red shoes? (Of course, that means I would have to get some red shoes!)

It sounds like I live the closest so I am also the most flexible - you all name a day and time and I will be there! You will recognize me because I will be wearing a HUGE smile.
Camille
An Open Door

Freckleteacher said...

Hey Fran and fellow N. Cal Kindergarten Conference attendees!
I am finally all signed up for the conference on Saturday. Not sure which workshops I will end up with, but I am mainly going just to meet you guys! Can we meet in the am at the registration table? Name the time and I will do my best to be there! :) Then we can compare workshops and maybe we will have some together! Can't wait to meet everyone who can attend and Heidi and Dr. Jean too I hope!

HeidiSongs said...

I can't wait to meet you, too, Freckleteacher!!!! Let's just let Fran tell us when to meet, and I'll do my best to be there. I also have an exhibit booth to help with, so I'll have to work around that, but there are three other people to help with that, so hopefully it won't be too big of an issue.
:)
Heidi Butkus
http://heidisongs.blogspot.com
http://www.heidisongs.com

Unknown said...

Hello!
I am attending the CA Kindergarten Conference on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I live in the SF Bay Area, so I am only staying at the hotel one night. My amazing principal is paying for the entire weekend!!

I would enjoy meeting you and other bloggers. Please let me know where, and I will be there!!

BTW, I have been teaching K for 5 years. I have attended this conference every year since I began teaching K. It's a fantastic event, and I gain so much knowledge and creative ideas from it each year.

Take Care,
Jennifer F.