This sums up Educon!

This is a well written blog that sums up what Educon is... except it may not have elaborated enough on the PASSION that is oozing from most attendees. As a first-timer to Educon, it was astounding and also mystifying to try to figure out my place and where I actually belonged on the passion scale and who to gravitate toward for deep conversations that support my day to day work. Everyone made me feel welcomed, but so many folks are so connected with past experiences, Twitter conversations and relationships, #edchat, etc. that I felt like I was crashing a party or some special intellectual celebration. I have been so busy these post Educon days with face to face work, but I've also been reflecting on the Educon experience and reading blogs and back stories. But I keep asking myself... What can I do differently? How can I bring forth change and new growth with colleagues that impact student learning in a positive and "out of the norm" way. I struggle with bringing the two experiences together in a meaningful way. I have new colleagues in my PLN and have a face to go with many twitter names, thanks to my attending Educon. I share the same passions as many of these Educonites, but I also feel so mis-aligned and not connected. My daily work as an Instructional Coach and my virtual PLN are often working toward common goals and interests in educational reform, yet they are so juxtaposed. How can my real life in 3 different schools feel so separate from all the conversations in Philly. How can I make meaning of this mis-alignment. I am just thinking through my fingers and rambling... but did I say what a great week I had? I made a positive impact on over 100 fifth graders with a co-planned geology experience, I shared engaging resources for early numeracy with a Sped teacher, I supported a team of 4th grade teachers and their 63 4th graders begin a completely hands on unit on Electricity, I did a couple of demo/model lessons on using Rekenreks in K classroom.... Maybe the reflection is helping with alignment, but it's not enough.