300 turn out for kindergarten conference
A team of local teachers helped host a conference that drew 300-plus educators.
by Jim Boyle
Editor
More than 300 kindergarten teachers descended on Elk River this past weekend.
They sailed the high seas in the Zabee Theater, while being entertained and inspired by Penny & Pals on Friday night and by national presenter and author Kim Adsit on Saturday afternoon. {snippet instory}
Both made good use of the pirate ship-shaped set, that just so happens to be there for a high school play. Ironically, the kindergarten conference was pirate-themed as well, and was put on under the premise that “The Adventure Begins in Kindergarten.”
“Penny even sang from the gangplank,” said Janine Ahrens, a kindergarten teacher at Otsego Elementary School.
A team of six kindergarten teachers pulled the conference together for the Minnesota Kindergarten Association.
Above:Penny & Pals was one of the hits at the state-wide kindergarten convention in Elk River.
Core committee members included Peggy Kohl, Carole Boelter, Colette Kilber, Cindy Eversman, Jill Jopp and Ahrens. Thirty District 728 kindergarten teachers attended the conference.
The conference featured local educators, vendors and others from around the state, and some out of state, to put on the annual event in Elk River for the first time.
Bill Hjertstedt, the president of the Elk River Education Association, welcomed the teachers to the district on Friday evening and Jana Hennen-Burr, the assistant superintendent, welcomed the group back on Saturday morning.
The biggest hit among 30 vendors who set up shop was “Always a Dollar,” of Elk River, which had some of the longest lines over the weekend.
The biggest-name speaker may have been Adsit. She is a 2002 Teacher of the Year who has taught kindergarten for more than 26 years.
Focusing on developing curriculum and strategies that incorporate child-centered activities, she emphasizes the fun of kindergarten by tapping into the curiosity of 5-year-olds.
This co-author of five books has a specialist degree in Early Childhood Education as well as an at-risk endorsement.
Adsit, a self-proclaimed dollar store diva, shared how to use dollar store finds to create useful materials for the classroom … and cheap.
Adsit also talked about topics like phonemic fun that children will enjoy and is supported by research on how to get children thinking and writing about math. She talked about activities that are sure-fire ways to help students develop a deeper understanding of many math standards such as data analysis, numbers, problem solving, sorting and measurement through interactive writing, glyphs, literature and other engaging activities. Mostly, however, she had the audience laughing with her crazy antics.
“She’s a hoot,” Ahrens said. “People really liked that she had tons of practical ideas that you could use right away.”
Penny & Pals was also a highlight, Ahrens reported. Kindergarten students (B day students) attended a concert during the day.
“They loved it!” Ahrens said.
So did the teachers, who appreciated the music that has been nationally acclaimed for its excellence. Penny Andrist and Gail Benson have produced seven CDs and won numerous awards, including the International Reading Association’s “Celebrate Literacy Award.”
The kindergarten conference included many breakout sessions, including many that were led by district employees like Kristi Meitner, Amu Herfindal, Dr. Stephen Schroeder-Davis, Linda Ayers (retired, but still active) and Mary Beckman (also retired).
Topics of the breakout sessions included teaching through the arts, handwriting (why it’s not just handwriting) and differentiated instruction as well as attention, behavior and interventions.
