If you are a Californian, you know that Tulare is "somewhere in the middle of the state." It is an area of immense farmland and an abundance of 100+ degree summer days. Of all the #CueRockstar sites this summer, Tulare might be considered the least glamorous. For this year's attendees and this presenter, attending in Tulare could be considered a homecoming.
I grew up in Pebble Beach, just a slightly different environment from the vast farmland of the central valley. However, I attended college in Stockton and Chico which required driving through and living near farm country. I remember getting laughed at when I was 20 for stating that I had no idea who or what John Deere was. Ironically, a few years later, I ended up spending many hours riding in John Deere combines and tractors and starting tube lines to water crops so I could spend time with my husband while he worked fields. During that time, I found a love and appreciation for the farming landscape and all it encompasses.
Tulare was the perfect place to attend CueRockstar because it is the convergence of all that is California. The agriculture is the foundation of our state and we were completely surrounded by it at Sundale School. Tulare's central location also pulls in the city influence from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and So Cal. It truly could be considered:
THE nexus of the state - the central and most important point or place, a connected group or series.
The most important thing to remember about attending a #CueRockstar event is that it is NOT about the place, it is about the people and the relationships. Although I was labeled a presenter, I was more of a bright eyed learner driven by the enthusiasm and energy of all who attended. Everything about #CueRockstar nurtures interactions, sharing, risk-taking, active learning and leading, inspiration and innovation. For those of us Lone Nuts, coming together is like coming home to those who accept you for who you are with all of your idiosyncrasies.
This post is more for those who experienced Tulare with me. I want you all to know that my heart is smiling from the permanent imprint you all left. For those who have not attended a #CueRockstar event, the only way you can understand the impact is to go and don't think that the place you attend matters because it is the people who attend with you that matter the most.
The 2015 #CueRockstar fever has begun and will continue throughout the summer. If there is an opening, grab it, it will change your teaching and your life (I know, that sounds so cheesy!).
Here are the daily sessions from #CueRockstar Tulare CLICK HERE - another great thing, they share everything freely!
In closing, I wrote this post back in February 2012, Is it the Place or the Relationships? It speaks to the connections we have/make to the places that are significant to us.
Thank you all who organized, attended, presented, supported, and shared!
Thanks Kristen for writing a thoughtful blog post on #CueRockStar Tulare. My road trip from San Diego to Tulare brought back fond childhood memories having grown up in Oxnard, CA which is also an agricultural community.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that it is not about the place but about the relationships. It was so much fun meeting new people and Twitter friends who came to learn and have fun during and also after official PD hours! The energy level was high as Lone Nuts shared and shared. I'm already marking my calendar for next year! ... loving my summer! @RoseAnn2Teach
Thanks for reading, sharing and actively participating during the camp. It was also great that you came for dinner! I'm glad we can keep in touch through twitter and I want to connect one of my teachers kiddos with your kiddos. Perhaps we can do some Google Hangouts and blog together!? Have a revitalizing summer.
ReplyDeleteSounds great Kristen, let's keep in touch via Twitter. I teach 3rd grade and will be participating again in the Global Read Aloud project as well as the Global Cardboard challenge... My students loved both experiences.
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