Michigan Reading Association Conference

I wanted to share some of my favorite "nuggets" and resources from the Michigan Reading Association (MRA) conference I recently attended. I always try to pick a focus area when I attend these things and this year it was all about Reader's Workshop; anything and everything I could absorb from the experts.

I had the chance to hear Peter Johnston, author of Choice Words and Opening Minds, speak in person as one of our keynotes. Choice Words was a book that changed my life as a teacher and a parent and he did not disappoint as he continued to focus on how our words and relationships matter so much when we interact with others. 

I attended Jan Richardson's session based on her newly released "The Next Steps Forward in Guided Reading." I had participated in a book study last year on "The Next Steps in Guided Reading" and it was refreshing to hear her share her knowledge and updated understandings in person. My takeaway from her was that less is more, and the most important thing we can do with students is listen to them read regularly and then prescribe an individualized path to success for each of them. She also made a strong point that there is not a program out there that will single-handedly make a child a reader, but a dedicated, well-trained and supported teacher can. It reminded me very much of the Reading Recovery workshops I attended years ago. The good stuff always comes back around doesn't it?  http://www.janrichardsonguidedreading.com/

​Taylor Mali, poet and teacher, spoke and made us all laugh and cry as he shared some of his poetry and advocated strongly for the beauty and importance of teaching. I had no idea he has continued to write poems after his "What Does a Teacher Make?" poem. https://www.taylormali.com/

Another wonderful session was Ben Zulauf speaking on how to motivate readers. His session was called "Advice from a Fake Reader" and he provided many positive, encouraging activities and ideas of how to build "Book Love" in all students. His message focused on finding "just right" books that will hook your students. I have always loved doing this with resistant/reluctant readers. He believes in teachers as readers, and regular booktalks by teachers and students. One really cute idea was to have a large picture of a grill (or even a small grill) outside your door with a "HOT READ" book of the week. 

The Daily Five/Cafe "Two Sisters" were well represented as Gail Boushey spoke of the updates and new thinking of their Daily Five/CAFE Reading Workshop structures and approach to instruction. In her two sessions, she shared a wealth of free updated resources as well as the research and effect size studies of each of their strategies based on John Hattie's work in Visible Learning for Literacy. Gail too made the point that a teacher delivering solid, well-planned and thought out instruction is the solution to our literacy problems.  https://www.thedailycafe.com/

The recent Psychology Today article "Three Myths about Reading Levels" was referenced in some sessions.  The three big takeaways from that article are:
1. Reading levels should never be used to limit the texts children may access or try to read. 
2. Passion, curiosity, and knowledge are at least as important as reading levels in helping children find good things to read.  
3. Children should not be required/expected to independently read and learn from texts that are considerably above their reading levels. 
Check it out at the link above if you are interested in reading more.

Of course, I have a list of books a mile long that I want to purchase and read and it was exactly the inspiration I needed to personalize my PD.