Tomorrow, I will pack up the car and head four hours east toward Warsaw, IN for the ALL WRITE conference.
This year is my 4th year attending and I couldn't be more excited!
When I went to my first All Write conference four years ago, I went completely alone. I did not know a single person. (And, I might add, I was pretty darn proud of myself for being so brave to go it alone!)
My bravery paid off. I was quickly swooped up by a group of amazing ladies -- Linda Baie, Mary Helen Gensch, Ruth Ayres, LeAnn Carpenter, Leigh Ann Eck, Christy Rush-Levine, Kim Barrett, and others that I'm sure I am unintentionally forgetting -- and welcomed into their group.
Looking back, I think my professional life really started to change when I went to my first All Write conference. I feel like I found my tribe. I connected with other educators who believe in the same things I do -- the power of writing and leading a literate life.
Tomorrow I will see many of these ladies again in real life (versus on blogs, Twitter chats, etc.). I am so looking forward to it.
But I wanted to tell you.....
If you are going to All Write, especially if you are going alone, let's connect! I'd love to meet you and welcome you into our tribe. Look for my "Teach Write" shirt. Send me a tweet (@laffinteach) or stop by my session on Friday and say "Hey!". I'm presenting on "The Cartonera Project: Every Student an Author" during the final session on Friday.
Safe travels!
I will be heading to Warsaw tomorrow, too! Hope to see you!
ReplyDeleteI wish I was going! Tomorrow is our last full day of school, or I'd be up in Warsaw, too!
ReplyDeleteI will miss seeing you, Jennifer. We've had so much fun these past years. I would love to be there, but think that conferences aren't going to be in my future. I know there's much learning and support. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteIt is a conference I would love to attend one day. I totally understand the "I found my tribe" feeling- it really is so invigorating! I wish you a great couple days.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you'll be tweeting and blogging about the conference:) It sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteLess than 24 hours! 🙂
ReplyDeleteJennifer, have a wonderful time at the conference. Say hello to Leigh Anne and all of my writing friends. I will be a learning lurker on the Twitter channel.
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