With so much to see and do, attending the NAEYC Annual Conference & Expo can be both exciting and daunting! To make the most of your experience, it’s important to have a game plan. Here are some tips* for what to do before, during, and after the conference. We want to hear from you, too, so share your tips with other conference attendees below.
BEFORE THE CONFERENCE
- Decide what you want to gain from the conference and what your goals are.
- Use the Annual Conference Itinerary Planner to prepare your schedule. When selecting sessions, ask yourself, “What topics are most relevant to my work?” “Which sessions will address my professional development needs?” “What special events do I want to attend?” Include time to explore the Exhibit Hall, network with others, and explore Atlanta.
- Need to document your conference attendance to meet program or state requirements? Find out in advance what is required so you can get credit for participating.
- Consider subscribing to the Live Learning Center.
- Plan to attend the Newcomer’s Orientation session on Thursday morning, if this will be your first time at the conference.
- Decide how you will organize the information and handouts you’ll collect at the conference.
- Pack business cards or address labels with your contact information to share with all the new colleagues you’re going to meet.
- Pack comfortable clothes and shoes.
- Leave enough room in your suitcase to carry your materials and purchases home, or plan to mail them back.
DURING THE CONFERENCE
- Dress in layers so you can stay comfortable.
- Get as much out of the sessions as possible. Ask questions, respond to presenters, and get clarification if there’s something you don’t understand. Take part in small group activities and discussions.
- Talk to other attendees and share your contact information to stay in touch after the conference.
- Give yourself plenty of time to explore the Exhibit Hall.
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If you’re interested in writing, attend one of these sessions about becoming an NAEYC author.
•Teacher writing workshop
•Writing for and using the NAEYC For Families website
•Writing for NAEYC's publications
•Writing for Voices of Practitioners - Carry water and snacks with you.
- Know that some men’s restrooms will be converted to women’s restrooms in the Georgia World Congress Center to accommodate the large number of female participants. Male attendees should find out early where the “nonconverted men’s rooms” are.
- If you have a problem and don’t know how to solve it, go to the NAEYC Conference Headquarters (Room A307, Georgia World Congress Center) for assistance.
- Pace yourself so that you have almost as much energy by the end of the conference as you had at the beginning.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE
- Take time to unwind and decompress!
- Catch up on your responsibilities at work and at home before planning how you’ll share what you’ve learned.
- Organize your handouts, business cards, and notes.
- Make copies of handouts to share with colleagues.
- Visit the NAEYC Annual Conference website to download handouts you missed.
- Sign up for the Live Learning Center if you didn’t subscribe when you registered.
- Mark your calendar: Plan to attend the Annual Conference next year in Washington, DC, November 20-23!
*Includes ideas from an article that appeared in the September 2005 issue of Young Children on pages 68-71, by Margaret A. McGuire.
How do you prepare for the NAEYC Annual Conference? What tips do you have for maximizing your conference participation? How do you share information with colleagues when you return home?
Comments
bring business cards
Remember to bring business cards and if you don't have them make some. You will meet a lot of people but it's a whirlwind so being able to pass on your contact information quickly is important.
Comfy shoes!
Comfy shoes are a must for all that walking!
Plan for Interactions
Plan at least one time each day to talk with colleagues. Perhaps connect with someone you don't see on a regular basis. Use interaction time to share ideas you are learning at the conference and make connections to practices you do back in your setting. Taking time during the conference to discuss what you are learning will help you to clarify new ideas and plan how you can apply the learning in your daily practice.
Great comments!
Thanks all for posting these. Business cards--yes! Or make mailing labels if you don't have business cards. Comfy shoes--strong yes! And don't try to break in new shoes at the conference. (Yes--I actually did that at last year's Institute--and paid for it!) Plan for interactions--yes yes! The conference time will slip away--you could be heading home & saying to yourself "Wish I talked with X, & Y, & A etc.
Conference tips
This is a great idea. I have sometimes done an informal version of it with first time attenders. Here are some things I have suggested.
--Do some research on the presenters
--Choose sessions presented by people whose work you know and like.
--Go early if the session is presented by someone who is well known in the field. They tend to be crowded.
--If you don't know anything about the presenter and you aren't sure you are interested in the topic sit or stand in the back of the room so you don't disturb the presenter and other participants if you decide to leave.
--Turn off your cell phone
--Listen--don't text or browse the net
-- several sessions on the a topic of interest to give you different viewpoints and more in-depth understanding
First time going. Great
First time going. Great advice, thanks!
Keep up your energy!
*Bring trail mix or other healthy snacks - you may not have time to wait for concession stands when you get hungry.
*Take a look at the list of vendors before you go and be sure to find the ones you want to see - some of your favorites might be tucked in a corner - don't miss them.
*Always have at least two choices ready for each session in case you get in and find it's not what you need - you won't have much time to read your book and pick a new one so be ready with plan B.
*Don't take things from vendors unless you really need it - because all that free stuff gets very heavy and it's a shame to take stuff you'll just throw away later!
*But - some vendors will offer discounts or ship things to your home for free so you don't have to carry stuff around.
*Be prepared to ask questions and participate. Get plenty of sleep and water and caffeine so you can put your energy into active learning in each session - that's the best way to get the most for your conference dollar.
*Take pictures of yourself with the people you meet, the presenters, the vendors -they make great memories and great for your blog, facebook or school website.
Evening Activities
This will be my first trip to the NAEYC conference. I noticed that sessions end at 4:30 and the exhibits close at 5:00. What do attendees typically do in the evening?
dinner with new friends and more
Of course there is having dinner with new friends you make but also a number of events in the evening. An opening reception one night and an event at the Children's Museum in Atlanta to name a few.
packing for Atlanta
Aloha! Coming to the conference all the way from Hawaii and I have no idea how to pack for Atlanta! Any advice? How cold is it?
Packing for Atlanta
The weather here will be in the low to mid 40's at night and low to high 60's during the day. Downtown where the conference will be can get windy too. Comfy shoes are a must too with all the walking. There will be plenty of things outside the conference to see that are within walking distance too!
Enjoy your stay here!
Shuttle Service
I am very disappointed that I made reservations at a hotel that the preliminary program said offered shuttle service. Now I see in the final program that the attendees who stay at the Sheraton have to walk to the Atlanta Hilton for conference pick up. That should have been stated in the preliminary booklet before reservations were made. I plan to call about this on Monday.
No Shuttle??
There are two attendees in my party of four that can't walk the 1.6 miles! One has a hip replacment and recently broke her shoulder. We would have never made our hotel reservations at this hotel knowning there was no shuttle service up at this location. This is poor planing! I will be calling first thing Monday morning!!
Shuttle Questions
Dear JJ and Natasha,
Thank you for giving us an opportunity to respond to your concerns about shuttle transportation at the Annual Conference. If you are staying at the Sheraton, will need to walk approximately 1 block (about 2 minutes on foot) to the Hilton to pick up the shuttle. If you have a mobile disability and are using a wheelchair, crutches, or motorized scooter, please call 310-274-8819 to make arrangements with the NAEYC bus shuttle service company for pick up service.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please give us a call at 404-222-5305 or stop by Conference Headquarters, which is located in Building A, Room A307. Conference Headquarters is open from 9 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. We hope you have a great conference.
Shuttle Shuttle Service
You won't have to walk the whole 1.6 miles. You have to walk about a block to the Atlanta Hilton from the Sheraton. I'm glad you called. I called, too, and left a message. We shouldn't have to even walk a block. The shuttle should pick us up in front of our hotel the same as the others.