Dear Silver State Reading Association Member,
I know I promised you the information about the Reno Conference a while ago, but here it is finally! I just returned from a wonderful trip to Reno, and I can hardly wait for May! Reno is a lovely town. (I can’t believe that in the decade I’ve lived here I’ve never gone before.) The people were all so friendly, the convention center and hotels look great, and I’m seriously considering adding on a few extra days for sightseeing after the convention. There was too much to see it all this trip! Enough rambling, on to the important stuff…
If you are unable to make the entire conference, daily rates will be offered. The cost will be $65 for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. The daily rate for Thursday will be $45. You may not register for a daily rate on-line. You must get a special form, which you may request from me:
Volunteers are needed to help with registration and to help with poster sessions. If you would be interested in either, please, contact Diane Barone at barone@unr.nevada.edu.
Karen McGee would like ideas for centerpieces that reflect reading and the State of Nevada. Send her your ideas at KMcGee@washoe.k12.nv.us .
With the change of venue, the conference is now in need of speakers who meet Nevada strand requirements. If you would like to be considered as a presenter, please, complete the attached form and return it to Silver State Reading Association president Linda Kraft. The form will also be available at our website www.silverstatereading.org . If you have heard an excellent speaker from Nevada, please, encourage her to apply.
Special Prepaid Registration Form
This special registration form allows you to register for the entire conference for only $175, provided you register prior to March 29. I will be happy to forward the form to you in PDF form if you e-mail me at mecbhc@citlink.net , or you may send a SASE to me at: Sarah Fornara, 2223 Saddlebrook Lane, Bullhead City, AZ 86442, and I will send you a form.
Beginning October 31, you should be able to register on-line for the complete Reno Conference. Don’t forget to use the e-planner to help you decide what sessions you most want to see!
Title I funding can be used for the Reno Conference.
You will receive clock hours for your attendance at the conference.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS CONFERENCE! PUT IN FOR YOUR SUBS NOW!!!!!!!
This takes the place of the usual monthly e-newsletter. The only additional information for this month is that membership chairperson need to submit their updated membership lists, including e-mail addresses, to Sue Gabosch at wolfden@citlink.net. A check for membership should be mailed to Marie Werner, 1174 Casa Blanca Court, Minden, NV 89423.
As always, if you have received this e-newsletter in error or wish to be removed from the mailing list, please, contact your local council membership chairperson by replying to the sender of this forwarded newsletter.
Thank you,
Sarah McFadden Fornara
corresponding secretary, Silver State Reading Association
Conference Proposal – 2004 IRA Convention
May 2-6
Person Submitting the Proposal
______________________________________________________________________________
(Last Name) (First Name) (Initial)
Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________________
(Street)
______________________________________________________________________________
(City) (State) (Zip Code)
Mailing address is: home business e-mail: ___________________________________
Institutional Affiliation: _________________________________________________________
(City, State)
Telephones: Office: ( )____________________ Home: ( ) ___________________
Are you a member of the International Reading Association? yes no membership # ________
Are you submitting a proposal for the first time? yes no
Does the primary focus of the proposal address the history of reading? yes no
ALL PROPOSALS WILL BE FOR ONE HOUR SESSIONS ONLY
Is your session suitable for audiotaping? yes no
TITLE OF MEETING (as it should appear in the program)
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
CATEGORY Indicate the number and category for your proposal. (See the 12 presentation categories) Number _____________ Category _____________________________________
GRADE LEVEL(S) THE TOPIC WILL COVER _____________________________________
INTENDED AUDIENCE (e.g., classroom teachers, reading consultants, teacher trainers, researchers, etc.) _____________________________________________________________________________
PROGRAM ENTRY
On an attached sheet, outline the meeting as it will appear in the program. Please follow the specific criteria and the sample format indicated for your submission. Give a professional affiliation for each staff member and list an individual title for each speaker’s presentation. Include a 25-word abstract. (Proposals lacking the 25-word abstract will receive lower priority.)
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
On an attached sheet, provide a description not exceeding 450 words of the proposed program. Use the following headings:
A. Objectives of the Program C. Content to be Presented
B. Evidence Base (research, expert opinion, theory) D. Methods of Presenting Content
What is the source of your knowledge?
STAFF MEMBERS
Please attach a list of names, complete addresses (including postal codes), e-mail and telephone numbers of the program staff. You must secure advance permission for each individual listed. Names and affiliations should be submitted as they will appear in the program (spelling, initials, etc.). Include all required information; proposals that are incomplete or do not follow the guidelines for the type of presentation indicated will not be accepted.
· IRA appreciates your willingness to share your expertise with conference participants.
· IRA does not offer an honorarium or pay expenses for presenters.
· Presenters must register and pay regular conference fees.
Selection and notification will be made by the Conference Committee.
Checklist for a Complete Proposal
¸ Included complete Program Proposal Application Form, a brief description of the program (not exceeding 450 words), a list of staff members participating, and a 25-word abstract. All materials must be complete and legible.
¸ Contacted all staff members and received their agreement to participate. (Note: Submitting a proposal does not mean it will necessarily be accepted.)
¸ Checked with all staff members to determine that they have not been included on other proposals for this IRA convention. Association policy limits individuals to one appearance on the convention program. If a proposal contains the names of individuals listed on other proposals, it may be rejected because of overlap in staff. Exceptions are only for special assignments by the Program Chair, for those with specifically assigned organizational Association responsibilities, for SIG officers serving in their roles chairing/facilitating the SIG program sessions, for those participating in a convention institute or research poster session, and for cosponsored sessions planned by other related organization.
¸ Submitted the required materials to Linda Kraft, 1886 West Arcadia Circle, Bullhead City, Arizona 86442 or gjkraft@citlink.net no later than December 1, 2003.
¸ Enclosed one stamped, self-addressed envelope for acknowledgement of receipt of your proposal.
Note: All rooms are equipped with an overhead projector and screen; a microphone is provided in large rooms. Andy additional equipment needed must be arranged for by presenters at their own expense. Three months before the convention, presenters will be sent an audiovisual equipment order form.
Please read the descriptions in the presentation categories and then select the category that best fits your proposal. Be sure to not e the number an category on the program proposal application form. Proposals dealing with historical aspects of literacy should be placed in the category of best fit. The categories a re based, in part, on Making a Difference Means Making It Different. A summary of the statement, including its children’s rights, and the statement in full (PDF format) are available at www.reading.org.
1. Teaching Preschoolers and Beginning Readers – includes all areas related to beginning reading such as oral language, vocabulary, comprehesion, phonological awareness, listening, concepts about print, word-ientifiction strategies, and specific approaches to taching beginners.
2. Teaching Elementary, Middle Level, Adolescent, and Adult Learners – includes a wide range of topics such as content area literacy, vocabulary development, comprehension, critical thinking, word identification, study strategies, metacognition, workplace literacy, individual differences, and special programs for lerners at these levels.
3. Educating Teachers of Reading – focuses on all types of programs and research related to preservice teachers, graduate programs in reading and related areas, and inservice and/or staff development programs.
4. Using Literature and Providing Access to Books – highlights nonfiction, fiction, and other print (e.g., newspapers, magazines) and nonprint forms (e.g., technology) in a wide varitety of programs to help teach specific skills and strategies, develop reading tastes, learn about authors, foster a permanent interest in reading, and promote the lifetime habit of reading.
5. Assessing Reading Achievement for Instruction and Accountability – explores how a wide range of formal and informal assessments can be used to make decisions for more responsive instruction in the classroom, assess gains in programs, and help serve as a means of accountability across the curriculum at various levels.
6. Roles of Reading Specialists – considers the various roles (e.g., instrution, assessment, staff development, public relations) reading teachers, specialists, and related professionals fulfill.
7. Involving Parent and the Community – considers family literacy programs and approaches that link important partners (e.g., parents, tutors, librarians, businesses) in the process of learning to read and expanding literacy.
8. Teaching Reading to English Language Learners – offers perspectives, approaches, and descriptions of programs (e.g., bilingual, ESL, ELL) and related considerations that suggest meaningful ways to help learners become readers of English.
9. Using Technology in Reading – provides research, insights, and instructional applications of technology and media to teaching, assessing, and expanding the realms of reading.
10. Policy Perspectives – analyzes and shares insights about how a variety of policies and reports can be used to support students, teachers, and schools.
11. Connecting Reading and Writing – shows clearly how particular programs, methods, approaches, and strategies blend the areas of reading and writing to enhance achievement.
12. Urban and Rural Education – considers the special challenges and opportunities in promoting higher levels of literacy among learners in urban and rural areas and shares success stories that have raised student achievement in reading.
Literature Circles Beyond the Basics: Developing Deeper Discussions
Intended for classroom teachers. Grade level 4-12.
Chair: Michael A. Schreiber, Consolidated High School District #230, Orland Park, Illinois; Speaker: Marybeth Smith, Consolidated High School District #230, Orland Park, Illinois
Specific techniques for teaching students how to create lively, engaged, and sophisticated Literature Circle discussions will be demonstrated.