What I Learned in Vegas at the TpT Conference

Link up with A Burst of First the share your Vegas Story!

Oh my word!  It’s been three days since I left Vegas and my mind is still reeling!  I cannot believe what an amazing opportunity it was to be there, learning from the best.  In the true TpT spirit of sharing, I wanted to share some of my major take-aways. 

Even the best are still leaning

Sitting in Cara Carroll and Erica Bohrer’s session, I realized, they still have lots to learn too.  In the middle of the session, Cara learned a new way to make Product Previews that was way faster than the way she had been doing it.  Whaaat?  You don’t have it all figured out either?  TpT is "new" and we’re all learning the “best” ways to do things.  There’s still plenty of time to learn more.  I don’t know about y’all, but each time I make a new product, I learn something new.  I realize now, that will continue!

We’re all in this together

I couldn’t have gained over half of my knowledge at the conference if it wasn’t for talking to other TpT'ers.  I love how open and willing everyone is to share.  It also shows me that the conference doesn’t have to be the only time we share.  When I have questions, I can take them to the blogisphere.  We can work through them together.  This is a group effort and everyone supports it as such!

Loved loved loved meeting Catherine from The Brown Bag Teacher!!

There is not enough time and sessions

There was SOO much more I wanted to learn and see and explore.  I wish I could have gone to every single session and talked to everyone.  Just like I would love to spend more time working.  I can’t do it all and so reading about other people’s experiences, talking to other bloggers and TpT'ers, and doing my own professional development will have to be enough.  It’s okay to not do it all and to not know it all.

It was SO nice to catch up with Martina from Mrs. Cahill's Class

Sometimes, you’re doing it the best way, even if it feels like you’re not.

Some things I do, I feel like there has to be a better way.  And I realized at the conference, whatever works for you IS the best way.  Other TpT'ers and bloggers are creating in Powerpoint like me (or Publisher or Notes- please don’t ever try to create in Word!) and working through clip art issues and sizing issues and coloring issues just like I do.  It was a great affirmation that I’m doing what I need to be doing.  

We are all teacher nerds ;)

I won a free commercial font license, y’all!! From JEN JONES!  Oh my word… SO exciting!  No big deal or anything, but I woke up this morning to an e-mail from Mrs. Jen Jones.   

AH!  Now, my husband looked at me when I told him all this and said “wooooo” in the most sarcastic way possible.  But I can literally feel your excitement for me through the screen.  Being surrounded by people who share your enthusiasm and care for teaching and blogging and TpT like we do is just amazing.  I’ve never been in a school where all the teachers share that level of enthusiasm, and so the energy at the conference was just unreal to me.  Everywhere you looked, you could meet people ready to share their brilliant ideas and discuss what they’re doing.  Sigh.  Is it July 2015 yet??  

P.S.  My phone decided it wasn't going to take any more pictures during the conference but I know I have pictures with some amazing bloggers such as Molly from Lessons with Laughter.  If you happen to have any pics, please send them my way!!  Muchas gracias :)