This year’s KEEN Conference theme is Got Heart? Every great educator has a heart for students that encompasses a sincere desire for each child to grow and become a successful citizen.
This session is geared toward all educators. Research has proven one method for healing a traumatized brain stem is through the use of music. During our time together, we will share insights, information and will utilize hands-on participation using bucket drums, world music drums and yoga balls.
Fishing, camping, gardening, hatching chicks, connecting science to character, survival skills, zombie apocalypse prep – who says school isn’t fun? Student-focused outdoor activities led from the teacher’s heart can facilitate meaningful teacher-student relationships and improve social-emotional growth. Find the inspiration to redesign your classes to go out into the real world by leveraging community resources and partnerships. Outdoor education can be linked to many different subjects. Gain connections, lesson plans, ideas, and free, ready-to-use resources to implement exciting activities into your classroom. Attendees will also gain free access to a Google Drive with 186 character education lesson plans.
Heidi Albin teaches biology, physical science, earth science, chemistry, health and agriculture at Complete High School Maize. Albin is the character education coordinator for her school and teaches career skills. She was named the 2017 Kansas Milken Educator and a 2019 National... Read More →
Thursday February 14, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm CST
River Room
This session will define chronic absenteeism and assist teachers and administrators with defining what this looks like in their classrooms and schools. Models of intervention will be shown to participants with ideas and solutions to solve chronic absenteeism in their schools. Community partnerships and relationships with families and students will be highlighted as solutions to this issue.
Education Program Consultant, Kansas State Department of Education
I have been in education my entire career. I spent 12 years as a 7-12 grade Social Studies teacher, coach and athletic director. I also spent 5 years in building level administration before moving to the Department of Education in October of 2017. I left the department for a couple... Read More →
The Kansas Vision for education - "Kansas leads the world in the success of each student" - will be achieved by building relationships and effective classroom management. This informative, interactive and entertaining session will share research and practical strategies about effective Classroom Management and how Rigor, Relevance, Relationships, and Responsive Culture lead to learning and positive Results for students. This presentation includes three modules: Preparing for the First Day, Classroom Environment and Lesson Planning. If you build it, students will learn!
Julie Doyen is an experienced, passionate and dynamic educator. She earned her Elementary Education Degree from Kansas State University, her first master’s degree in Curriculum and the second in Library Media Science. She was one of the first one hundred teachers in Kansas to earn... Read More →
Thursday February 14, 2019 2:50pm - 3:50pm CST
Shawnee Room
Currently, Kansas schools are taking an active approach to becoming trauma-responsive. Vicarious trauma affects teachers’ brains in much the same way that it affects their students’. Yet many teachers are never explicitly taught how to help students who have experienced trauma, let alone address the toll it takes on their own health and personal lives. In this session we will explore coping strategies for dealing with vicarious trauma. How can we care, and not cost our own health and life satisfaction in the process?
School is tough. Going to "work" should be fun. During this session, participants will find ways to capture the joy within their students, grade-level teams, administratiors, buildings, and districts. Smiling at school is better for everyone involved. Scavenger Hunts, games, team building, useful ice breakers, and technological tips will help bring together collegiality in classrooms, communities, colleagues, and kids. Come find those smiles.
A heart for learning includes embracing our failures as bumps in the road to learning. Fostering a culture of responsiveness and critical thinking, we will explore strategies to help your students turn fixed mindsets into growth mindsets. Participants will use hands-on techniques, activities, and games that can be adapted to students of any age and your staff.
Come ready to move and groove! Movement is good for your heart, helps with focus/engagement, and fosters a better learning environment for all. Attendees will get to participate in practical mindful movements that we currently do in our classrooms, during transition times throughout the school day and at recess. These activities can help your students be more successful in the classroom and may benefit your most needy populations within your building.
Current KAHPERD Past President 2016 KAHPERD Elementary PE TOY2017 SHAPE America Central District Elementary PE TOY2018 Kansas TOY Semi-Finalist. Talk to me about all things health and physical education related.
Our project will demonstrate two school districts working together, from different locations within the state of Kansas, for the benefit of their communities. It will be of value to the participants to hear about how each District has partnered with their unique communities to support these long lasting community projects. Information will also be shared about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Read and Sing to Your Bunny and establishing partnerships within your community and District/BOE.
