Read 180 Conference Sessions- Day 1, Sessions A & B

So far, I have attended 2 sessions (1 full session, .2 of a session, and .8 of another session) today. I walked into my first session, Scaffolded Writing in Whole- and Small-Group Instruction, presented by READ 180 Certified Instructional Coaches, Pam Crowley and Jane Balash. From this session, I learned from the teachers at my table. We shared successful classroom strategies. After talking to one of the teachers, I am going to look into the Step Up To Writing Program and the use accordion method of organizing writing to create paragraphs. Another teacher mentioned creating a word/definition poster with her class that breaks down the language contained in reading comprehension questions into kid-friendly definitions. She learned this from a PD given by Larry I. Bell who spoke about the 12 Powerful Words. I would also like to create a page with a combination of information from this one (parent suggestions at the bottom) and this one (English/Spanish words and definitions) on my own blog in order to give parents a way to reinforce the use of the words.

I signed up for Powerful Phonics for Older Struggling Readers-Accelerating Beginning Readers. I saw the logo for the System 44, Scholastic's newest technology program geared toward beginning readers. So instead of learning about Read180 and how to improve my instruction, which happened to be my entire purpose for attending this conference, the workshop's aim was to sell the System 44 product. I left 2 minutes into the presentation.

I walked into a session called Maximizing Learning for Special-Needs Students Within the Instructional Software and thought I would learn new ways to instruct my students on the proper use of the software or even ways to control the software to promote certain reading skills with my students. Instead, I heard a presentation, very similar to the introduction to the Read180 software presentation that I received when my school first purchased the Read180 package.

Scholastic was smart. Create a conference and tell the participants that they will learn new and exciting ways to use their existing resources. When you have their money and they physical presence, use them to promote the existing products through videotaping their testimonials (everyone want's to volunteer to be on camera right?). Use the workshop sessions to introduce the new software line and voilà: instant consumers of the new product.

When I attended ALA's conference, I could count on the fact that the purpose of the conference was to develop my skills as a professional librarian. At this conference, the only thing that I can count on is my ability to see through the marketing bubble that I am trapped in. They will release me on Saturday.

The one presentation that I am looking forward to is seeing Kate Kinsella. I have heard great things about her methods and how they work with EL students.

First day at the Read180 Conference

I'm so tired but I needed to get this out before I turn in. I feel deceived. When I walked into this conference I really believed that I would learn something that I could take back to my Read180 class. Instead, I feel that I have been used to create a marketing campaign for Scholastic and that this entire conference was created to inform Read180 teachers about a new product that they want us to purchase, the "L-Book".

My evening began with a reception of 800 educators. The Read180 team created a talk show that resembled the set of Oprah in order to present the Read180 speakers. Now I am a huge fan of creating entertaining ways to present to audiences, but when I looked around and saw all of the cameras, I realized that we were all props in a marketing campaign. We should have been notified in advance that they would be video taping the conference for their own purposes.
We were provided a wonderful dinner spread and free drinks. During this time, again, the cameras were everywhere. They also had Scholastic representatives rounding up educators to give a brief testimonial about their Read180 experiences. At my table, they approached my Polynesian colleague and asked her to speak on camera. She declined. Then they asked me. I declined. There were six other people at my table, but none of them were asked to speak (they were Caucasian). Then they walked around a bit, found a table with an African American man, and asked him to speak. He agreed and was walked over to the interview area. The Scholastic Rep returned, searched around the crowd and approached an African American female, who agreed to speak on camera. Why were they singling out the minorities? Was I the only person paying attention?

Tomorrow will be my first conference session. I really hope that I learn something that I can take back to my classroom. Right now, I feel like this conference was not created for the educators, but it was created to collect a bunch of Read180 users in one place in order to build a marketing campaign.

A funny thing happend on the way past the Ellison Die-Cutting Machine Table

So, there I was walking around the Exhibitor's Hall, looking at hundreds thousands of books and library materials, when I sneak a glance at the Ellison table. I have been severely underutilizing our Die-Cut machine! The sales person showed me how to fold the paper and make a notepad, connected paper dolls, a wreath, a booklet, a standing sign, and more. She also told me that the machine can cut more than paper. It can cut felt, fabric, pop-up sponge, and laminated paper! She directed me to their website where I found even more ideas. I can't wait to create new projects for next year!

ALA Session: Sisters' Act

Sisters' Act: Learn How to Make Your Library Lessons Award Winning and Generate Enthusiastic Readers
Presented by sisters, Brenda Copeland and Pat Messner.

This session was a breath of fresh air. I love watching presenters who are obviously passionate about what they do and know how to present at a rapid pace to keep the audience interested. In addition to providing a handout with standards based lessons, resources, and a bibliography, the presenters offered to forward the lessons presented if you send them an email.

Lessons learned from watching these presenters:

1. Show the audience, don't tell them. I love that they both became the character during their book talks (Rosa Parks from the book Rosa and the student from the book Sister Anne's Hands.
2. Use realia. They showed several ways to incorporate the use of objects from the story into library lessons. Examples:
   
1. Reading with Mr. Dewey using a vest, glasses, umbrella or cane and a briefcase. Put books in the briefcase and have students figure out where they belong in the library.
2. Atlas Review Lesson- Cut a map like a puzzle. Groups assemble the puzzle and answer the questions about maps (Ex. Where is the nearest school to...., How many parks are in the city of..., How far is it from...)
3. Dress up like Fancy Nancy and make fancy and plain word cards for students to match (Sample words: Limousine and Car)
4. Use a backpack to become the student from Sister Anne's Hands.
5. Make a photo album about myself (from birth to now) and pair it with That's Our Librarian to do a compare/contrast lesson at the beginning of the school year. (another option: collect baby pics from the teachers/staff and make a school book of then and now describing what kind of kid they were on one side and describe their job and duties at the school today).
6. Use seed packets with character names taped to them and match the character with the problem and solution cards, or setting cards with the book Muncha Muncha Muncha.
7. Brave Harriet by Marissa Moss. Create the English Channel using a large sheet of blue paper, provide paper and directions to make paper airplanes, fly the planes of the English Channel and provide prizes for the plane that goes the farthest.
8. Mr. Wiggle's Book. Fill a backpack with "good friends" and "bad friends" (Ex. Soda can, water bottle, soap, gum, candy, bookmark, etc.) Each child will hold a GOOD sign and a BAD sign to hold up when you pull an item out of the bag.
9. Skeleton Hiccups. Use physical props related to parts of the story for a sequencing lesson.
   
3. Give away free stuff! Everyone loves to pause for a free giveaway.
4. Have fun! Enough said.
   

ALA Preconference: Eating the Elephant 2.0 with Doug Johnson

Today I attended my first conference presentation by Doug Johnson called, Eating the Elephant 2.0 One Bite at a Time: Using the Read-Write Web in Classrooms and Libraries. I am one of those librarians who is determined to keep up with all of the free technology tools. I have so many things in my head that sometimes I think I might burst. It's inspiring to watch Doug present because he has taken some of the popular web 2.0 tools and presented them in a very accessible and non-threatening way. I was familiar with 90% of the tools he presented. Although I was familiar with the topic, I viewed it as an opportunity to learn.
I learned:

1. Introduce 1, 2, or 3 new web 2.0 tools to my staff per year. Don't overwhelm them with too much too soon.
2. Show teachers exactly how they can use these tools with the students.
3. Talk about responsibility and privacy issues with the staff as well as with the students before problems arise.
4. Use problems that arise as teachable moments. Learning from mistakes is a powerful metacognitive behavior.
   
5. Use videos, comics, and/or images as transition tools (ImageChef, Big HUGE Labs Motivator, Web Crash 2007 Video . He used a variety of Common Craft tools to introduce the concepts of blogging, wikis, social networking and RSS feeds.
6. People like to receive information in list format ;) ex: "Top 10 things you should know about... and 23 Things on a Stick (and the California Version)"
7. I can convince my teachers to create a Professional Learning Community on a small scale through the use of social bookmarking tools like del.icio.us, FURL, and Blinklist.
8. Use screensavers as a learning tool or to relay library and/or school news. (This one I came up with myself as the result of being hypnotized by his pre-conference "Doug's T-shirt says..." slideshow)
   

I have so much information inside me. When I look at Doug and think about Joyce Valenza and David Loertscher and I look at myself, I think...I need to step out of my comfort zone and start writing and presenting in front of adults.

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