teacher convention

every year we teachers get a couple days off of school to gather together and remind each other why we do this whole teaching thing. this past thursday and friday we had our annual teachers convention in south bend, indiana. its usually a good time of listening to speakers talk about different subjects that pertain to our field and give advice or ideas on how to improve our curriculum. the seminars are pretty interesting, but the real highlight of the convention each year is just getting to sit down and talk with someone who does the same thing as me. talking through some of the things that work and dont work with fellow middle school teachers is always great. hearing others problems or triumphs renews me as a teacher, and its just at the right time: when the newness of the school year has faded away and the harsh reality of three more quarters sets in...