Each July hundreds of MEA members gather in Portland for our annual summer conference at University of Southern Maine—MEA Summer Camp. This FREE professional learning opportunity offers members an opportunity to connect with union members from across the state while enhancing their skills as educators, leaders, and changemakers. With over 30 sessions delivered by experts in the field, we have something to offer everyone!
Plenary Speaker:
→Desi Peña, M.A., CCC-SLP
Connecting Intentionally: Fostering Relationships with Multilingual Students and Families
According to the Maine Department of Education’s Multilingual Learner Dashboard, the number of multilingual pre-K-12 students continues to increase every year. Currently, 4.7% of all Maine students are identified as multilingual learners and the number continues to grow, especially among younger students. This information highlights the need for all educators to find ways to connect with culturally and linguistically diverse students and to establish avenues for two-way communication with their parents. This keynote will highlight culturally responsive teaching practices that can be incorporated into their classroom. It will also address the important connection between educators and parents and discuss actionable strategies for strengthening engagement among the two. We will be centering the value of partnering with culturally and linguistically diverse families as a means to enrich school communities and to increase academic success for all students.
Highlighted Sessions
→Mallory Cook, MEA Director of Training and Early Educator Engagement
Responding to Challenging Behaviors Through Root Cause Analysis
Behaviors occur, and while we can’t control every root cause, we can make adjustments and use interventions to support student regulation. In this training, participants will identify a challenging behavior they are facing, determine what is within their control, and use a fishbone protocol to pinpoint the root cause. This process helps in identifying ethical interventions to achieve behavioral goals.
→Kay Grindall, MEA Board Member
The Empty Chair: Helping Students Cope with Grief
Kay Grindall is a retired English and journalism teacher of 30 years at Waterville Senior High School. She has experienced the heartbreaking loss of a child and can share classroom and student insight as a mother and educator–speaking from both sides of the desk. She will share effective classroom projects and suggested protocol when our students experience the death of a loved one.
→Gretchen Scheibel and Alicia Thomas
Keeping Disruptive Students Engaged: Examining the Need for Targeted Classroom Management Training
Teachers often encounter disruptive behaviors, which can escalate into more severe behavior if classroom management strategies are not employed. This session will discuss the ongoing behavior crisis in schools, and participants will leave with practical, evidence-based classroom management strategies they can implement immediately.
→Kate Fields, Connecticut Education Association
Developing Executive Functions in Students of All Ages
Executive functions are a set of mental processes that allow us to connect past experiences to present and future action. Executive functions also help us plan, organize, strategize, focus, remember, manage time and space, and regulate emotions and impulses. Students with strong executive functioning perform better in school, have better attendance and behavior, and are more likely to achieve long-term goals they set for themselves. This workshop provides tools and strategies to help teachers systematically improve students’ executive functioning skills at all grade levels.
→Jessica Harvey and Emma Carey
Teach ME Outside: Building a Culture of Teaching Outside
Learn how to build a culture of outdoor learning at your school! In this workshop you will navigate open-source resources about how to foster a conversation among your colleagues to support long-term change, and hear directly from a teacher who has done so successfully. You will experience hands-on, interdisciplinary activities and explore strategies to support taking students outside. Come network, learn from others, and leave with new outdoor learning ideas.
What Members are Saying
→Union Professional Learning Opportunities
“The union provides opportunities for lifelong learning, improving my teaching practices, and connecting with other educators. The union supports the acceptance and inclusion of all students.”
→My Favorite MEA Event of the Year
“MEA Summer Camp is my favorite event of the year… As a direct result of last year’s camp, I became much more involved in MEA. I have become better at my job and a more engaged member of my profession and community.”
→More Confident, Connected, and Ready to Lead
“As a result of this year’s summer camp, I’m even more confident and empowered as an educator, coworker and leader. The built-in time to network with peers from around the state (generous breaks and lunch time) was particularly helpful! What a great experience!”
→Inspired to Learn More, Do More, and Get Involved
“This was my first MEA Summer Camp, and I loved it! It was a wonderful, enriching, enlightening experience. It leaves me motivated to learn more, do more. I also want to be more involved with the Union! I’m excited to attend next year’s Summer Camp! “
→How Do You All Do That??
“I have left summer camp feeling supported and confident, having just attended the most banging PD sessions I’ve ever attended. Each session is a 10 out of 10 — how do you all do that??”
