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Less Physics Mo Problems

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Why am I writing this personal entry? Well, it is not an attempt to gain any sympathy. It attempts to show what is possible if a clear intention and goal serve the learner's needs.  In May of 2022 just near the end of another fantastic school year, I do not remember what happened. But, I was unable to finish the school year and was unable to teach the following year.  Why? On May 21st, 2022, I fell down a flight of 16 stairs (luckily carpeted) from the 2nd to 1st story of our home.  I was found at the bottom of the stairs. I was found foaming at the mouth. This would lead to a 2-month hospital stay which included an induced coma because my seizures would not stop, several rounds of lumbar punctures, and relearning basic physical movements like something as simple as being able to roll in the hospital bed. Simply put, when I was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as being “critically ill.” Please take a moment and read those words: critically ill. They are not terms that are
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EdCamp Elmbrook 2019

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Yesterday we held EdCamp Elmbrook 2019. It was our 3rd time putting on this event in our district. While last year we had around 120 attendees, this year we broke 200 in attendance.
If you are not sure what an EdCamp is, it is an UnConference model. Attendees come to the event and propose the topics for the sessions they want. While these sessions are being pitched, the schedule for the day is being built.



For each session a communal notes document is created for sharing thoughts and ideas for those in the sessions but also for those who are in other sessions or those who can't be in attendance.



Below, you will find our schedule for the day along with session notes documents linked



The variety of the sessions was incredible. This is due to the fact that EdCamps aren't geared to one specific population. It is not a tech conference, it is not a literacy conference, it is not an administrator's conference. It is a conference that is shaped by the needs, interests, and expertise of its attendees.

It is a fantastic model for professional development and learning. As I reflect more, I could write even more. I'll save that for a later post and ask you to simply go to the session board, click on a session of interest to you and 1) check out the conversation 2) follow some of the educators listed in the session docs.

For more about the learning at EdCamp Elmbrook, check out the hashtag #EdCampELM!


A big thank you to all of our sponsors for EdCamp Elmbrook, all of our amazing attendees, and our EdCamp planning team of Amy Digman, Andelee Espinosa, Bethany Swenson, Brandon Buchman, Callyann Meulemans, Danielle Shyrock, Jake Probst, Jen Townsend, John Wilkinson, Kayla Moffatt, Lisa Caponeschi, Mary Beth Bartels, Pragati Bansal, Trish St. George, Dana Monogue, Brett Gruetzmacher, and Tom Juran!



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