Kindergarten teachers at Mt. Carmel Elementary School are bringing new ideas back to the classroom after attending a recent conference.
At the April Wabash District #348 School Board meeting, teacher Julie Hagerty told board members that kindergarten and transitional kindergarten staff traveled to Schaumburg in early March for the “Pump It Up” Primary Conference.
Hagerty says the group attended a variety of breakout sessions focused on reading, math, science, social studies, classroom management, and hands-on learning techniques.
She says teachers made a point to attend different sessions and then share what they learned with one another, allowing them to bring back a wide range of new strategies for their students.
Hagerty says the conference also emphasized incorporating more hands-on and play-based learning in the classroom, along with new ideas for STEM activities already being used on Fridays.
In addition to the educational sessions, the teachers also used the trip as a team-building opportunity.
Hagerty says the experience has already had a positive impact, with teachers continuing to introduce fresh ideas and techniques in their classrooms.
School officials say professional development opportunities like this help enhance instruction and benefit students across the district.
