I haven’t often publicly blogged my reflections regarding conferences I have attended, anyone looking at this blog could clearly see that. However, my experience was changed this year by the Keynote speakers and sessions I have attended at CCIRA 2012 in Denver this year has changed that.
The Keynote Speakers and sessions I attended began to transform my thinking about my teaching and perception of myself and my students. Richard Allington, Dr. Steven Krashen, Angela Maiers, Larry Farlazzo, and Cheryl Arnett were amazing in the messages they were delivering regarding teaching and encouraging student literacy.
Richard Allington- We could teach them all to read, but will we?
- Encouraging reading choice for student reading
- Understanding what you read is different than remembering what you read
- Need to talk about their reading and writing
- Don’t teach comprehension teach kids comprehension through conversation and questioning
This session really had me thinking about the students using the Media Center at school and how they view themselves as a reader. Most often I encourage students to get “just right” fiction-focused books that for the most part, some students do find interesting and want to read. However, am I discouraging those students who want to use the Media Center books to explore reading they are passionate about and wanting to learn from. After this keynote, I began reflecting about how work with students in the Media center and my focus on using books with students. How do I need to change my approach of the Media Center and reading to help encourage the passion of reading in all students in my school? This question was Focusing on this question I have come to some beginning steps, which include
- Posters-focused on reading strategies with examples of text and annotated with thought bubbles to help students understand how to use these strategies while reading
- Author Posters-noting the genre of writing, characters/topics, titles and a sample of text from the book to help readers understand the characteristics of the text.
- Students must have time to share their thinking about different types of media in a variety of ways ( need to determine the tools to be used and how to share)
Along with these steps also affects the design of my media center and further transformation of me being a guide on the side. This can have most impact on student learning and developing their independence and passion for reading.
Dr. Steven Krashan-The Case for Free Voluntary Reading. His keynote was not only hilarious it was engaging for an early Friday morning. His focus on free reading and students having choice for their reading was relevant and build on my reflections for Richard Allington’s keynote. As an expert on Second Language Learners and language development, his focus on students need to read and read what they want was powerful. Two things Dr. Krashan said that impressed me the most were
- A better definition of readability-A book that a child chooses to read has perfect readability
- There is a difference between assigning students difficult reading and teaching them to read deeply
Dr. Krashan’s keynote was a perfect follow up to Richard Allington as I was able to feel about they way students use the books in the Media Center and encouraging reading. Now pondering how can I get my students to share what they read to encourage deep reading.
Angela Maiers session on Digital Literacy was to say the least earth shattering. Her passion, knowledge, and connection with everyone in her session was amazing. the way she challenged all of us to rethink the definition of Literacy to power and privilege was amazing. She is right, literacy in real world isn’t just reading and writing; it does mean power and privilege to who is hearing your message. Understanding the different Digital Literacy tools such as twitter and facebook are essential in helping students develop their real-world literacy.
On Saturday, Angela Maiers filled in for the Saturday’s Keynote which was a real treat. Her #YouMatter presentation was very thought provoking and challenging. She talked about the power of noticing and referred to the movie Avatar to reinforce her point that their word for noticing you is I see you. Noticing and seeing are powerful ways of recognition. I also learned a very powerful phrase that impacts children and adults alike– You Matter. These words are so powerful and when I was told I matter, it was amazing how positive I felt sitting with individuals at my table. The other phrase is You are a Genius and the World Needs Your Contribution. What a way to motivate students to be engaged with their learning, sharing, and creating.
Angela Maiers is a passionate presenter that totally engaged me thinking about how I communicate with peers and my students. It is important for me to use my literacy (power) to help students share their understandings and knowledge about their world. Again, this comes back to my room and how students share what they are learning and have read and what they are feeling about their place in the world. Thinking about the children in my school, they are really wanting the adults in the building to notice/see them and to build that realtionship with them so they feel confident enough to share their genius with the world.
Two sessions I attended were by Larry Ferlazzo and Cheryl Arnett. Both of these presenters are people I have been impressed by their knowledge they have shared at other conferences I have attended.
Larry Ferlazzo is a educator that works with ELL students in California. His session-High Tech, Low Tech, No Tech focused on student motivation. It was very interesting listening to him. Without the ability to motivate your students to learn, it really doesn’t matter the different tools you have in your classroom if you can’t get students motivated to take interest in what you are wanting them to learn.
I have some thinking after this presentation. I’m conflicted about a reward system not building change through intrinsic motivation due to my school being a PBiS school and the reward system currently in place. One thing for sure proximity is important in making change and that is one technique I can easily use when encouraging students to change their behavior.
Cheryl Arnett is a 2011 Microsoft Innovative Educator. Her session Making Learning in the Real World. She is an amazing teacher how she uses the Common Core Standards and project-based learning to help her students learn content while exploring the world around them. She shared her project that she presented the 2011 IEF. She shared how her approach to teaching is total standards-based and integrated across contents to build student’s literacy. The website she shared Shoutlearning.org is the website she uses to connect with different activities her students participate in. What a way for her students contribute to their community and world.
I co-presented 2 sessions with Shannon Wentworth ( Apstechgoddess) that were well attended in spite of an incredible historic snowstorm. The participation from the attendees was positive and supportive which was greatly appreciated. On Saturday afternoon we were approached to offer an impromptu session in the Technology Playground on Google Docs. It was great to see more people coming and participating in the session. The questions and ideas generated while showing how to create documents in Google docs, were genius. It was great to share and provide opportunity through all three of our presentations for interested participants to learn how technology integration can support all students achieve.
This year’s CCIRA conference was amazing! I left feeling empowered that I can help students be powerful with privledge, find their genius and share. Now is the time for me to transform so that the students can create, innovate, and value learning because YOU MATTER-students, teachers, colleagues they all matter.