** This post is a part of a series I’m doing this year… in which I repost articles I wrote years ago for a different platform and are no longer on the internet. These posts have a dual purpose: to reuse quality material in an effort to share solid content with my audience and free up my content creation calendar to make even more great stuff. Each piece includes the — old— post along with some new insights. I hope you’ll enjoy this walk down memory lane with me, which I promise will be both education and relevant! **

They say if you say in teaching long enough, the pendulum will swing back to where you began. When I attended the conference I’m going to recap in this post, I was about six years into my teaching career. Now, nine years later, I can see that sentiment coming true. Sure, sometimes we call it something new, but the theories and ideas circle back. It was fun for me to see that some of the things I was excited about back in 2013 are still some of my all time favorite strategies. It is also interesting to see a few things that were new back then, that have exploded and remain at the front and center of reading education (here’s looking at you graphic novels and Donalyn Miller!). Like unearthing that long dormant notebook in your desk and rediscovering the goodness of a conference of the past, I hope that reading these reflections provide some fun ideas, inspiration to try something new (or again) and the little boost we all need this time of year.

Also, if you’ll be attending the conference this year, I hope our paths will cross! Click here to see the schedule. Maybe you’ll attend one of my presentations/workshops or we can meet up for a stroll through the exhibit hall. Reach out via the WordNerdopolis post office to let me know you’ll be there too!

My Recap of the 2013 Wisconsin State Reading Convention

** This article originally appeared on Yahoo.com through the Yahoo Contributor's Network, which no longer exists. At the time I made $.015 per 100 views. The articles for the YNC were wiped from the internet in 2014, and so I have full permission to repost it here, on my own personal blog, on which I make no money at all. :) **

I think the doorman at the Hilton nailed in on the head when he said, “All jacked up to go get some education today?” As my colleague and I tromped through the snowy streets of Milwaukee on the way to the City Center we smiled and enthusiastically replied, “Yes we are!”.

As a first timer at this major Wisconsin education event I was pretty jacked up. I had my session handouts downloaded, a new notebook and even business cards freshly printed and ready to be handed out as a networking tool.

It was an amazing two days full of learning, laughing, sharing, listening, collaborating and start struck staring (Richard Allington! Cris Tovani! Jack Gantos!) I came away with countless new ideas, good intentions and a renewed sense of purpose. So, in the art of reflection and sharing, here are the top 10 things I learned at the 2013 Wisconsin State Reading Association Convention.

Number 10: Google Search Stories

I learned about Google Search Stories and the way educators can use them to teach deeper level thinking skills. After reading a novel, students unearth new levels of understanding in the areas of theme, setting, and social issues while making connections to literature and life.

Number 9: Teach Them Why You Love It

Keynote speaker Jeffery D. Wilhelm clearly communicated the message: If you want your students to love your subject, then teach they way you love it and how you fell in love with it. Such a simple sentiment, but so true!

Number 8: Freebies

I learned about freebies. An hour in the exhibition hall earned me two sets of six biographies featuring Wisconsin natives, A Lakeshore Learning Language Arts software CD, a Lego learning kit, and an educator’s pass to the Milwaukee Public Museum all at the cost of sore feet and aching arms… both a wiling sacrifice.

Number 7: No Doctors Required

While many of the presenters had more degrees than a July afternoon in Phoenix, some of the speakers were just your plain, old, regular education teacher. I learned that you don’t have to have a doctorate or a book published to lead or instruct others. Several of the presenters were general educators from local schools. How cool is that!?!?!

Number 6: Hold Your Judgement

As a mother of two boys, I was particularly interested in William Brozo’s session: Reading is a Guy Thing. In my hour and a half time I learned (among many other pieces of interesting information) “not to be judgmental about a boy’s reading material because it may be their entry book into active literacy.” So mask your eye rolling and control your urge to groan at Super Diaper Baby and just be glad the boy is reading something… for now. You can broaden his literature horizons later.

Number 5: Twitter

According to Donalyn Miller, author of the amazing book, The Book Whisperer, I learned that using Twitter is like, “being thirsty and trying to drink from a fire hose”. Simply ask a question and receive a deluge of useful information. She also introduced me to Wallwisher, Wonderopolis, and the Reading Zone (a book blog).

Number 4: Graphic Novels

Of course I knew about the popularity gaining genre of graphic novels before I arrived at the conference, but I discovered three new titles in my WSRA wanderings. First, a graphic novel version of A Wrinkle in Time, that I can’t wait to pair with my novel study this spring. Second, a title that was raved about in a lit circle session as a great gateway graphic novel: Amulet. And finally, the graphic novel, Max Axiom: Super Scientist. Check them out and make these great additions to your classroom library ASAP.

P.S. Check out this video of my son and I talking about his favorite graphic novels, why he loves them, and what I, as a mom, writer and educator think is great about each title too.

Number 3: Feedback is a Two Way Street

Cris Tovani taught me that feedback is a two way street. Information student provide for teachers is just as valuable as the comments teachers painstakingly pen on student projects. For example, imagine the feedback you’d get if you simply asked your students: What was hard for you as you worked through this project? Voila! Next week’s lesson!

Number 2: Book Power!

From reading guru, Richard Allington, I learned that $50 worth of books for each student can cure the summer slide (AKA: the set back students accrue during the summer months.) Talk about a big return on a small investment!

Number 1: I have learned I have more to learn.

I have a confession. As an under thirty teacher with a master’s degree and certifications in multiple subjects, I sometimes think that I know quite a bit. As I stood in the presence of educational dynamos and incredible raw brain prowess, I was reminded very clearly, that my educational path is just beginning and I have a long way to journey to total educational enlightenment. Thank you WSRA and thank you to my district for investing in my and my journey.

This year (2022) at the conference I’ll be presenting on YouTube and Your Reader, 5 Great Anytime Read Alouds for Middle Schoolers and a Graphic Novel Writing Workshop. Here’s a little preview!

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