Come on down!

These are disheartening times for educators, who are feeling more underappreciated than ever before. For the most part, people outside of our profession can’t relate to what it feels like to be under attack for the job you do--and how much you get paid to do it. So what’s a public school employee to do? Advocate for yourself and the profession, and spend time with colleagues who understand what you are experiencing. What’s a great way to do both? Attend the NJEA Convention in Atlantic City, Nov. 4-5.

This year’s annual event features the excellent programming you’ve come to expect with over 300 professional development workshops. As always, there are hundreds of exhibitors, just waiting to tell you about classroom materials, graduate programs, field trip destinations, fundraising ideas, and much more. But there’s a lot that’s new too, so even a seasoned convention attendee will find something to get excited about.

Plenary sessions feature CNN anchor and creativity expert

Sir Kenneth Robinson, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation, and human resources. Author of The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, Robinson speaks to audiences throughout the world on the creative challenges facing business and education in the new global economies. On Thursday, Nov. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., he will explain how to incorporate creativity and innovation in our individual classrooms and in broad plans education reform in the 21^st century.

In 2003, Robinson received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the arts. Visit http://sirkenrobinson.com/skr to learn more.

CNN anchorwoman Soledad O’Brien will address “Mentoring: The Benefits and Challenges” on Friday, Nov. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A question and answer period will follow her address.

Believing strongly in education as a means to achieve, O'Brien is a powerful advocate of mentoring as a way to keep young people motivated and hopeful. A product of mentoring herself, she discusses how mentoring allowed her to find her way in the world and learn the values of determination and hard work as a means to a greater end.

O'Brien is an anchor and correspondent for “CNN: Special Investigations Unit.” Her book, The Next Big Story, is due out in November. It provides an intimate look behind her most compelling moments as a reporter and how they have shaped her perspective on America's future.

NOTE: Although the exhibit floor will be open during these presentations, there are no workshops offered during the plenary sessions.

New this year: preregister for a limited number of workshops

For the first time ever, NJEA will pilot advance registration for a small menu of workshops. You will be able to preregister starting Sept. 25.

It’s easy. Just go to njeaconvention.org and look for the links to sign up for some or all of the sessions below. Seats will be available for walk-ins if they are not filled through preregistration.

Register in advance for these selected workshops (see your Convention Program for descriptions, room numbers, and presenters):

• *The Kinesthetic Classroom - Part 1, Thursday, 9:30-11 a.m.
• *The Kinesthetic Classroom - Part 2: A Framework for Classroom Application, Thursday, 1-2:30 p.m.
• *The Kinesthetic Classroom - Part 3: Make Your Classrooms Come Alive, Thursday, 3-4:30 p.m.
• I’m the Write Teacher, Thursday, 9:30-11 a.m.
• Managing Emotions: A Core Competence for Academic and Life Success, Thursday, 1-2:30 p.m.
• Boot Camp for School Counselors, Thursday, 3-4:30 p.m.
• Simple Rockets, Friday, 9:30-11 a.m.
• Geometry and Math Poetry, Friday, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Helpful Hints for New Physics Teachers, Friday, 3-4:30 p.m.

Do you want to explore if your school is ready to support professional learning communities (PLCs)? Is your school already planning a PLC? Is your team up and running, but could use a tune up? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you’ll want to attend the Lessons for a Learning School series, presented by the N.J. Staff Development Council (NJSDC). NJSDC is a partner organization of NJEA devoted to collaborative professional learning focused on student learning.

Lessons for a Learning School’s four sessions are all offered in the same location—Room 311—and in a logical sequence starting first thing Thursday morning, and concluding Friday morning. Participants may preregister for one, two, three, or all four sessions.

• Planting the Seeds for a Positive School Culture, Thursday, 9:30-11 a.m.
• You’re a Team, Now What? Thursday, 1-2:30 p.m. 
• Assessing Ourselves and S.M.A.R.T. Journey for Purposeful Collaboration, Thursday, 3-4:30 p.m.
• Making Time and Facilitating Change, Friday, 9:30-11 a.m.

What’s happening in High Tech Hall?

NJEA’s High Tech Hall, unveiled in 2008, gets bigger and better every year.

Be sure to visit Hall B, where you’ll find two technology classrooms, the Technology Integration Showcase (now with overflow seating), a new e-Learning Academy Classroom, and the new NJEA EdCamp.

In Classroom 1, teachers will demonstrate how they are using Thinkfinity.org to enhance their instruction. Thinkfinity.org is the Verizon Foundation’s comprehensive program and online portal to more than 55,000 standards-based, grade-specific, K-12 lesson plans and other educational resources.

In Classroom 2, more NJEA members will demonstrate how they use technology in the classroom. Topics include SMART™ Boards, Voicethread, Skype, online portfolios, shared bookmarks, drop.io, Audacity, and much more.

See your Convention Program for all topics, days, times, descriptions, and target audiences for these presentations. The technology classrooms are sponsored by the Verizon Foundation and Dell.

The Technology Integration Showcase, sponsored by the N.J. Center for Teaching and Learning (NJCTL) includes nearly 30 drop-in learning opportunities during the convention. Topics include podcasting and webcasting, creating class blogs and online magazines, using Google forms to create self-grading formative assessments, differentiating instruction for ELL students through technology, moviemaking in the classroom, online personal learning networks, and SMART™ board technology. See your Convention Program for all topics, descriptions, days, and times.

The two new features of High Tech Hall this year are the e-Learning Academy Classroom and the NJEA EdCamp.

The e-Learning Academy will allow convention-goers to take one or more of NJEA’s newly redesigned and expanded list of e-learning courses right in High Tech Hall. Remember that if you don’t finish the course you can save what you completed and return to it at another time from another computer!

An EdCamp is an open workshop whose content is provided by participants. In other words, the attendees are the presenters! The subject matter of the EdCamp is directly tied to the ideas that people bring to share with the community. The area will be equipped with a SMART™ board in case presenters would like to project their presentation.

Participants will create the EdCamp schedule by posting on wikispaces.com. Each day will be divided into 45-minute slots. To learn more about EdCamp, go to njeaconvention.org.

Want another great reason to go to High Tech Hall? Raffle prizes! Just drop by to register to win. Each day, an iPod touch, a Flip Video™ Camera, and a Dell and an Apple gift card will be given away. Winners need not be present.

Don’t miss this!

Still aren’t convinced that the convention has something for everyone? Have you ever wanted to speak directly to members of the State Board of Education about the core curriculum standards or the state’s standardized testing program? Have you ever hoped to ask the commissioner of education about his goals for our schools? If so, the NJEA Convention provides the perfect opportunity for you to do both.

On Thursday, Nov. 4, from 3-4:30 p.m. in Room 404, members of the State Board of Education will appear on a panel ready to answer your questions.

The Commissioner of Education will discuss current initiatives in education in New Jersey on Friday, Nov. 5, 9:30-11 a.m., in Room 404. A question and answer session will follow his/her remarks.

If it’s inspiration you’re looking for, then don’t miss the Frederick L. Hipp Foundation Celebration of Excellence at 1:30 p.m. on Friday in the Sheraton Crown Ballroom. Come honor the accomplishments of people who work in New Jersey’s public schools—and the people who graduate from them!

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian will deliver the keynote address and the winners of this year’s Hipp Foundation grants will be recognized. You’ll also hear from the 2010-11 N.J. Teacher of the Year and the winners of the 2010 NJEA Award of Excellence: Nobel-laureate Dr. John C. Mather, an outstanding graduate of Newton High School in Sussex County, and noted educational psychologist Dr. Joseph Renzulli, an outstanding graduate of Asbury Park High School.

Make your plans—now

If you’re planning to stay over, NJEA has blocked hotel rooms at a reduced rate during the convention. Free shuttle service will be provided from these hotels. See njeaconvention.org for details on what hotels are available and how to book your room. The reservation deadline is Oct. 3. And while you’re at it, why not sign up for the annual NJEA Boardwalk Run and Fun Walk? You’ll find details about this sanctioned 5K race on Page 27.

If you’re thinking of a day trip, be sure to check with your county education association to see if it runs a bus to Atlantic City for the convention. Information about public transportation and parking can be found in the 2010 Convention Program, which will arrive in your mailboxes by the beginning of October. You can also visit njeaconvention.org for more information, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about convention. Both the program and the website will give you even more reasons to come to the convention, from the Great Ideas Forum on the exhibit floor, to after-hours entertainment on Thursday and Friday.