Dear SSRA member,
I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving and are ready to tackle all of the holiday preparations ahead. I know this is a busy time of year with programs, parties, and end-of-semester grades at school and myriad preparations at home. Here are just a few things to which to give your attention:
There is a special Nevada registration form. You can access it through www.reading.org or request a hard copy from Sue Hendricks at hendrsx@interact.ccsd.net. Don’t use the form in the big brochure or the regular form on the IRA website. The full convention rate is $175. Daily rates are $65 for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The daily rate for Thursday is only $45. Thursday is a special Teacher Professional Development and Parent Day. Many sessions take place that are tailored specifically for classroom teachers and parents.
If you are an IRA member, be sure to sign up for your institutes before January 4, 2004, when they are opened up to non-members.
If you know of any preschool teachers, pass information on the convention on to them. There will be a focus on preschool and beginning readers this year. More info is available at www.reading.org.
If you can only attend one day of the convention (see day rates above) and are having trouble choosing, here is some information on the keynote and featured speakers that may help:
Henry Winkler, Jon Scieszka, Reid Lyon, Dorothy Strickland
Shelley Harwayne, Gordon Korman
Marie Clay, Tomie dePaola
Robert Munsch
There are many, many more wonderful people you can see, such as Richard Allington, the McCrackens, Regie Routman, MaryEllen Vogt, Lesley Mandel Morrow, Gay Su Pinnell, Marc Brown, Cynthia DeFelice, Mem Fox, Lee Bennett Hopkins, Pam Munoz Ryan, Seymour Simon, and Jane Yolen. A complete schedule and list of presenters can be found at www.reading.org.
If you are interested in being entered in the drawing for the books below, e-mail Sue Hendricks at hendrsx@interact.ccsd.net with your name, school, and the book you would like by December 10.
It's Raining Pigs & Noodles poems by Jack Prelutsky, drawings by James
Stevenson
The White House An Illustrated History by Catherine O'Neill Grace
(published in cooperation with the White House Historical Association)
If you are needing an idea for your holiday gift list, consider this idea from the Mesquite Conference. Many parents are suspicious of their children when they bring home a book and say, “My teacher gave it to me.” Solve this problem with a rubber stamp that says, “This book belongs to _____________________ from Mrs. Smith.” You can fill in each child’s name and make it clear that the book is theirs to keep. If you don’t have a stamp like this, put it on your wish list now. I sure beats another apple paperweight!
Don’t forget too all of those great books you heard about at the Mesquite Conference. Put a few of those on your list. Maybe Santa will deliver time to actually read them as well!
Be sure in the midst of all of the holiday hustle and bustle not to neglect your local council. Many have fun holiday events as well as ways to help the less fortunate. Many councils do specific projects at this time of year, such as book trees, to get literature into the hands of children. Do your part to help out – that is what this season is really all about.
Don’t forget the teleconference January 10! Talk with you then.
Have a wonderful holiday – whichever one you celebrate. If you are traveling, go safely. I’ll be back in January with more news and a countdown to Reno!
Sarah McFadden Fornara
corresponding secretary, Silver State Reading Association
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