Spring Blogger Meet-Up Hop!

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting over 40 other teacher bloggers at  the beautiful French Lick Springs Hotel!

I grew up in Indiana and I’d heard of French Lick, but I had no idea these historic resorts were so gorgeous! (And décor for our meet-up being sponsored by Schoolgirl Style didn’t hurt one bit!)

The French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Resort in French Lick are over 100 years old, and have been restored to look every bit as beautiful as when they were first built. The detail and feel of the place was incredible! I would love to go back for a weekend getaway!

Even better than our beautiful surroundings, though, were the amazing teachers I met!

Of course, I was thrilled to see some friends I had met at an Indiana blogger meet-up the year before…

But I loved meeting more friends from Indiana (and nearby in the Midwest, like me) too! Here’s a shot of most of us after breakfast on Sunday.

We gathered to share blogging tips, chat about teaching, and just plain have fun!

I got so much out of this! My top 3 takeaways:

• Instagram (follow me here!) is a GREAT way to connect with other teachers and to let blog readers get to know your personal side! I am having so much fun taking snapshots of my days, but also seeing yours!
• When it comes to blogging, set routines and stick to them. (Sounds simple, but it’s definitely an area where I need to improve!)
• Be grateful. This year, I was so fortunate to get a teaching position. Even though I miss the classroom, hearing so many other teachers talk about the conditions in their schools (from 37 kindergarten students to a floundering new school to poverty and transiency and crazy co-workers)… well, let’s just say I came away grateful and renewed to love what I do and where I am right now!

After our lunch together, we had a teaching tool swap. Each blogger bought their favorite teaching tool! I brought some finger lights, like the ones in this picture…

And received an amazing staple remover! If you have ever tried to use one of those claw staple removers on a bulletin board, you know how awful it is. But this one, being thin and smooth, easily slides under staples on a board and pulls them out seamlessly. I am so thankful that Stacey of Teaching Ever After thought to bring this to the meet-up!

What’s even more amazing? Holly of Mrs.  Ehle’s Kindergarten Connections did an incredible job of organizing this blogger meet-up and rounding up donations from a cast of all-star sponsors!

There was a giveaway of amazing prizes- and I won some beautiful classroom décor items from Creative Teaching Press! I am so excited to get these laminated and look for ways to use them in my classrooms- especially the chevron nameplates in my favorite color (teal!) and the cute hexagon labels to keep me organized!

We each came home with brand-new Scentos markers and pens (some of which haven’t even been released to the public yet, like these candy scented sets!)—and they smell so delicious! My students love them : )

Kaeden Books sent a personalized sample of books for each attendee (even for someone like me, who teaches multiple grade levels!) A company that personalizes their donations for each attendee? I can only imagine what kind of personal attention you’d get if you were ordering for your school! (And the World War II graphic novel? AMAZING!)

We were also lucky enough to pick up an Erin Condren gift card, Jamberry nail wrap samples from Holly, and some resources from Crayola and SDE, too!

The Vera Bradley company was even kind enough to send a tote bag for EVERY person. Yeah, not even kidding. How generous of them to donate their beautiful bags! (And, let’s face it, what teacher doesn’t need more tote bags?)

Thank you to Holly for all her hard work, and to all of the companies who sponsored our meet-up. I have been sharing everything I brought home with my colleagues, and I am simply amazed at your generosity!

Even better? Many of the companies who sponsored our meet-up are offering YOU a chance to win prizes, too! Look what you can win at the end of our hop! : )

 

Okay, enough gushing—keep hopping and enter for YOUR chance to win all this and MORE! Next in the hop…

Greg drove all the way up from Nashville to hang out with us, and he is every bit as personable and genuinely sweet in person as he seems on his blog!

Thanks for stopping by! Hop to Greg’s blog here: