Slicing this week is full of lists and planning. I'm off to my state reading conference on Thursday, early in the am.
Since I'm filled to the brim with anticipation, it makes me pause to wonder how much we as teachers take for granted that students will be excited about a new activity, assignment, or trip? What if we did something like producing a fun calendar or flier about something coming to the classroom? What if we created a special song or rhyme that invited a certain tradition that occurred every week? What if? I know with the catalog, the e-mails, and all the advertising my reading association is sharing, I am really excited! I am preparing for a positive experience! I'm hoping to learn and to bring back ideas for colleagues! We live in a world of marketing. Is there a way to use some of the ideas marketers use with our students? At least it's something to contemplate?
At CCIRA - my travels (Colorado Council of the International Reading Association):
Regie Routman - Thurs. keynote
Harvey "Smokey" Daniels - close reading
David L. Harrison - poetry
Sharon Taberski - conversations
luncheon - Patricia Polacco
Nancy Meredith, Annie Patterson, Michelle Jones - Thinking like historians
Doug Fisher - Fri. keynote
Lynda Mullahy Hunt - reluctant readers
Barbara Richman - heroes' texts
Carol Wilcox (hurrah!) - connecting comprehension through poetry
luncheon - Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Donalyn Miller - wild readers
Michael Opitz - Sat. keynote
Sharon M. Draper - engaging adolescent readers
Excited? Yes! I promise to bring back many things for all of you, too! And I promise to do some "wandering" too!
photo credit: Oliver Scott via photopin cc
54 comments:
WOW! What a conference you have in store! Can't wait to hear everything you've learned!
It will be terrific, I know, Katherine. Now we just need to hope there isn't much snow!
Hello Linda,
Your conference sounds so exciting. People to meet and new things to learn. I like your idea of building anticipation in the classroom. I will try it in my classroom.
Sounds like an amazing conference! Enjoy!
Wow what a line up. I feel your energy. It's contagious. I'm sure your students feel the same. Enjoy and report back!
Thanks Pamela-I'm making lists of what can be done!
Thank you! I know I will, Tammy!
It's just terrific being at a conference, and our state one is always good! Thanks Julieanne!
Hi Linda,
It sounds like a great group of speakers. I could listen to Donalynn Miller every time. A not to miss. How far from where you live is it? Will be looking forward to your tidbits and shares about what you find out/learn! Have fun.
Janet F.
It's just across town, Janet, but I'm staying at the hotel-only way to do it up right! And fun to be there in the evening. Will let you know how it went!
Okay...officially jealous. But I know that you will share, which tempers my envy somewhat! :)
Cold & snowy here! You would feel right at home! Seriously, I will share!
Now, I am torn. I don't know, should I take on Bonnie's offer or join you. Both in my dreams of course. Wander, learn, share. Enjoy.
Excited I am, but please, go to Puerto Rico!
Wowzer, that's quite a line-up! You're right - we should take a lesson from our own excitement and think about what built it up. I like that.
Excited for you...wish I could hear Carol...how cool that she is doing poetry. I always want to hear what Smokey and Sharon have to say. You will be sharing out, I know you will. xo
I just discussed this for a classroom SOLC-we want them yo be so excited!
What a lineup! It's like a national conference lineup in your own state. (I've heard CCIRA is amazing!) Looking forward to hearing more about it.
Sounds like an amazing conference! Looking forward to reading your thoughts about all you learn. Have a great time!
Yes, I all share, & I am excited to see all three, but especially Carol. Thanks, Nancy!
And those are just the ones I chose! There are others! I know it will be fun, if I don't freeze first. It's very cold here this week! Thanks Stacey!
Thank you, Catherine. I hope it will be as exciting as my anticipation is predicting!
How exciting! I love anticipating things like this. I wrote about my trip to ALA midwinter this week :)
Oh, can I hide in your luggage? We had Patricia Polacco come to our corp. several years ago and that was a great experience. A great story behind it that I need to share in March. What a celebration you will have upon your return!
Your brain will be buzzing by the end of the weekend. Of course a good buzz and I am excited that I will learn from you too. I know you will enjoy every moment.
I watched all the feeds I could about this ALA Maria-so happy you got to go! I am excited!
I hope I'll take plenty of notes to capture all, & a little bit more, Leigh Anne. I'm ready-pack tomorrow! Thank you!
Thanks Elsie, you know that it will be good, not quite like All-Write, but still fun!
Oooh, the anticipation of a great conference is always so exciting! I'll look forward to hearing what you learned and about your wanderings too!
Pack me in your suitcase, please! I like your thoughts on advertising in the classroom. Hmm, makes me think.
Have fun! Look forward to reading your thought after the conference! New ideas coming.....
Thanks Robin-I'll be sure to wander as much as possible-especially in the exhibit room!
I have one colleague who's going to do the SOLC with his class & we discussed getting the students excited today, advertising! Thanks Margaret-love your poems with Laura!
Yes, new ideas are always there! I'll fill up with them! Thanks Jaana!
That is a VERY exciting line-up of speakers. I can see why you are anticipating it! Can't wait to hear what you learn.
What a LINEUP! It's like the Super Bowl for Literacy People!
I can feel your excitement about this conference through your words! I look forward to hearing about the conference. I hope students feel this excitement, too, as they hear about new topics, projects, etc.
I can't wait either!!!!!! Gotta finish my presentation!
Great thinking, Linda! I know my students have been more excited whenever I've made invitations, flyers, build-up hints, etc. for special activities... you are making me think of what else I could do for the March Challenge! I actually started hyping it today and encouraged them to start writing Tuesday slices, so hopefully they will be super excited (and a little bit experienced!) when March rolls around!
Thanks Betsy, can't wait to get my mind off the weather and into better things!
And those are just the ones I chose, Anita. It will be a very fun learning time!
I'll certainly pay it forward, Maureen to you all & to colleagues & students. Thanks!
If you need a 'carrier', let me know. I hope you'll have some time at least to have a Starbucks!
How great you're already doing something! My colleague Max is going to do it with his class (6th, 7th & 8th grades-mixed). Would you like to hook up with them maybe one day a week or something? Let me know & I'll introduce you. He sometimes posts, but not often. Thanks Jennifer!
Oh, Elsie, I want to come! My top three choices: Lynda Mullaly Hunt (she wrote on my blog once), Sharon Draper, and Carol Wilcox. I know you'll take good notes for us and share! I love the idea of getting our kids excited about upcoming projects I need to think of something special for Poetry Friday and some ideas for March SOL.
Oops, I meant Linda - it's too late for me to be doing this.
It's okay, Ramona, I've done it before too (ha!). Very fun to hear you have some favorites. I'll try to take extra good notes from them!
Two things stick out for me in your post - the feelings of excitement and energy that headed to a conference brings. I love that! Have a great time and enjoy hearing our friend, Carol. She will have many brilliant things to share, I'm sure!
The other thing I'm wondering is how building this type of excitement with our students would look. Maybe this warrants further conversation... :)
I will have a good time, Karen, always do. As for building the excitement, I would agree that a good conversation and brain-storming ideas is a must. A colleague and I had one just yesterday about increasing the enthusiasm for his class taking on the SOLC challenge-small fliers, posters, challenging others, scorecards, creating 'cheers' for first week accomplished, etc. all were part of the ideas we discussed. Thanks for the nudge..
"What if we did something like producing a fun calendar or flier about something coming to the classroom? What if we created a special song or rhyme that invited a certain tradition that occurred every week?" -- love these ideas, Linda! Have a good time!
Thanks Tabatha. It's been a long day, but a very good one! Anticipation is a big deal to me. Now I'll need to have a big discussion with my colleagues!
Love your marketing ideas about anticipation! And what a conference. I look forward to reading about your experiences there.
I love your marketing ideas about creating anticipation! And what a conference! I look forward to hearing about your experiences there.
Sounds like an amazing conference. I hope you share about it with us.
Post a Comment