NCTE & ALAN

In November, I had the chance to attend my first NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Annual Convention. The conference was in Boston - one of my very favorite cities ... added bonus!

Four colleagues and I presented a session on igniting middle school readers and building a reading community.   

Our t-shirts advertising the session were a hit! 

We presented Friday afternoon, the first day of the conference.  We had a lovely crowd, and the presentation went very smoothly ... quite a relief after planning and preparing for so many months!  After presenting, we were able to relax and just enjoy the conference and the sharing of ideas. 


Highlights of included: 

• a fabulous dinner with Little, Brown.  I was able to sit next to the amazing Matthew Quick., author of The Silver Linings Playbook, and my favorite, Sorta Like a Rock Star.   What a treat to hear about his upcoming releases and many movie deals!  
• an excellent session featuring some literary rock stars  ... master teachers Colby Sharp and Donalyn Miller, literature guru Teri Lesesne, literacy experts Kylene Beers and Bob Probst, and hilarious author and reading promoter Jon Scieszka.  The standing-room-only session was entertaining, informative, and inspiring.
  

  

  Jon Scieszka ... such a hoot!

• a delightful Scholastic brunch with Reader's Theater readings from fabulous authors including Rodman Philbrick, Elizabeth Eulberg, and Barbara Kerley.  The room fell in love with Natalie Lloyd, debut author of A Snicker of Magic. 
• Delicious East Coast food!  One of my favorites was the lobster roll at Island Creek Oyster Bar (Best Lobster Roll 2013... definitely earned my vote!) And, a stop at Flour Bakery, breakfast at The Paramount, and a dinner in the North End are Boston musts!

Blueberry Pancakes at The Paramount

• Visiting the amazing Boston Public Library.  I may move to this city just so I can go here on a regular basis.  It was almost a religious experience.  ;)  

• Sitting with incredible Jerry Spinelli at a Random House dinner.  He is such a talented man and a truly amazing person.  It was an honor to get to talk with him.

•  Meeting Lindsey Leavitt.  She is one of my favorite "chick lit" authors.  Her books are heartfelt and hilarious.  I really want her for my BFF.  ;)

 

• Meeting SCOUT! ... aka Mary Badham, the darling lady who played Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird!  

 

 

After the conference, we were able to stay for the ALAN (Assembly on Literature for Adolescents) Workshop. The event kicks off with a cocktail party for all attendees and featured authors.  

The lovely Sarah Dessen

The hilarious Jon Scieszka

The next morning you show up, and they hand you a HUGE box of books!  Opening it feels like Christmas morning!  Then you get to listen to author panels all day and get books signed by favorite authors.  Pure heaven for lovers of young adult lit!

It was a terrific weekend celebrating books, authors, and literacy in an amazing city.  I am thankful for the chance to attend, and can't for next year!   

Jillicious Veggies: NWP

This summer I took a writing course from a National Writing Project instructor, Dr. Carol Wickstrom of the University of North Texas.  It was an intensive, 3 1/2 week class and a truly incredible experience.  

As a middle school language arts teacher, inspired by the writings of Nancie Atwell and Laura Robb, I attempted to run writing and reading workshops in my classes.  I wish I had been able to take this class then!  It offers the nuts & bolts training that would have really helped me more smoothly and effectively implement the workshops with my students.

The NWP experience is also excellent for fostering growth as a writer and appreciator of the written word.  I grew so much individually through the daily writing, readings, exercises, inquiry research, demonstrations, and participation in a writing community.  Also, I learned a lot of useful teaching strategies that I will be able to implement in the library and in collaboration with teachers in my building.   

The mission of the National Writing Project  is to equip educators to improve writing and learning for all.  There are sites located throughout the US that offer the training.  I would highly recommend this to Language Arts and English teachers, librarians, curriculum directors, literacy specialists, anyone interested in improving their own writing, and any educators striving to foster literacy development in their students. 

Today's students live in a digital information world.  So, writing, reading, and communication skills are more important than ever for the 21st century learner!  Here are just a few inspiring educators doing great things to this end in their classrooms and schools: 

Penny Kittle, teacher, literacy coach, and author 

Donalyn Miller, teacher and author of The Book Whisperer

Sarah @ The Reading Zone, high school teacher and blogger

Two Writing Teachers, two innovative writing teachers and authors who write and blog together but live miles apart!