The Quill
Serving
Gloucester,
President’s Message
November - December 2009
Dear
Colleagues,
This
time of year, many of our thoughts turn to gift-giving.
Why not give the gift of reading by
purchasing a book for a gift? How many
of you have a book in your possession that you treasure?
Children love receiving a book that they can
call their own. Adults, as well, would
enjoy a good read for a gift, too. Our
students would appreciate and cherish a book given to them by their
teacher. I know I did!
So at this gift-giving time of year…consider
giving the gift of reading. It truly is
a gift that will last a lifetime!
.
Sherry
Edbauer
NNRC
President
2009-2010 NNRC Board
Sherry Edbauer – President
Beth Guthrie - Vice President
Kelly Cartwright – Secretary
Cathy Huemer – Treasurer
Pam Gaspard
- York County Membership Chair
Carmen Ellis - Newport News Membership Chair
Beverly Becker –
Historian
Marilyn Schempf - Legislative
Liaison
Newport News Reading
Council’s Fall Conference
On October 26, The Hampton
Reading Council and the Newport News Reading Council sponsored a joint
Fall Conference. The Conference was well attended and had many
workshops including topics on Motivation, “The Daily Five” book,
Writing Workshop, Poetry, Technology, and more. Vendors were
available to show their products and give away materials. There
were also many door prizes given away that were donated by the
vendors. All participants left with new gained knowledge to take
back to their schools and share!
Legislative News
Legislative Update By Marilyn Schempf
Based on an IRA update from Richard Long
Based on an IRA update from Richard Long
On November 6, 2009, the
LEARN Act (HR 4037) was introduced in Congress by the House Education
and Labor Committee. The bill is comprehensive in promoting
literacy from birth to 12th grade by supporting state and local
literacy initiatives that build reading and writing skills for success
in school and life.
The three main provisions of the bill include:
Federal support…
Enhance each State’s role in improving literacy instruction by:
The three main provisions of the bill include:
Federal support…
The bill authorizes $2.5
billion each year for state and local literacy initiatives. It
enables states to design comprehensive literacy plans and make
sub grants for early learning providers and initiatives that improve
the
reading and writing skills of all children, but especially targeting
high-need student populations. The funds are to be allocated as
follows:
15% for children birth
through kindergarten entry
40% for kindergarten through grade 5
40% for grades 6-12
The proposal requires a
rigorous national evaluation and stringent conflict of interest
restrictions for the program’s peer review process.40% for kindergarten through grade 5
40% for grades 6-12
Enhance each State’s role in improving literacy instruction by:
Formation of State Literacy
Leadership Team to develop a comprehensive literacy plan including a
needs assessment, capacity survey and implementation plan.
Providing technical assistance to early literacy providers
Reviewing pre-service coursework and State licensure and certification to improve training in high quality literacy instruction.
Support of Local
literacy initiatives that:Providing technical assistance to early literacy providers
Reviewing pre-service coursework and State licensure and certification to improve training in high quality literacy instruction.
Provide high quality
professional development
Provide high quality early literacy instruction
Utilize assessment systems to inform and improve instruction
Supports specific learning needs of English language learners, students with disabilities and struggling readers and writers
Provide high quality early literacy instruction
Utilize assessment systems to inform and improve instruction
Supports specific learning needs of English language learners, students with disabilities and struggling readers and writers
Community Project
Each year, the Council
sponsors a Community Literacy Project. This year, the project
involves purchasing a bookshelf and books for the Menchville House, a
complex for abused women and their children in Newport News.
Starting in January there will also be a monthly Story Hour, where
members of the Council will read to the children and direct activities
based on the books read. If any member is interested in helping
out in this worthwhile project, please contact Sherry Edbauer .
Newport News Reading Council’s
International Project
International Project
The International Project
selected for this year is the Central Asia Institute.
This non-profit organization was begun by Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, to promote education and literacy, especially for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Each $1 provides a month for one child’s education or a day of a teacher’s salary. A penny will provide a pencil for a child.
Participating in an international project is one of the International Reading Association’s requirements to receive Honor Council status. Last year our council made a donation to the Central Asia Institute from the general fund. This year the Board thought some of our members would like to participate by personally contributing to the project. Therefore, at each of the meetings, we’ll provide a jar for your donations. Bring your pennies, dimes and dollars to help build peace through education.
This non-profit organization was begun by Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, to promote education and literacy, especially for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Each $1 provides a month for one child’s education or a day of a teacher’s salary. A penny will provide a pencil for a child.
Participating in an international project is one of the International Reading Association’s requirements to receive Honor Council status. Last year our council made a donation to the Central Asia Institute from the general fund. This year the Board thought some of our members would like to participate by personally contributing to the project. Therefore, at each of the meetings, we’ll provide a jar for your donations. Bring your pennies, dimes and dollars to help build peace through education.
SAVE
THE DATE NOTICE!!
The Newport News Reading Council
will be sponsoring a winter literacy conference. Our conference
will be held on Monday, February 22, from 4:00 – 6:30. We will
have a variety of presenters, vendors, and door prizes. Location
to be announced.
Gift the Gift of Reading – Give a
Book
As teachers we should
encourage all families to continue reading during this month.
December is a great month for family reads such as the following:
Encourage your students to visit their local library or bookstore, grab a few to curl up on the couch, read and discuss with their families!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by
Seuss
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Cooney
Morris’s Disappearing Bag by Wells
Christmas on Exeter Street by Hendry
Angel Mae by Hughes
Polar Express by Van Allsburg
Santa’s Book of Names by McPhail
Santa Calls by Joyce
Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Robinson
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Lynch
Some of the Kinder Planets by Wynne-Jones
Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season by Rylant
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Cooney
Morris’s Disappearing Bag by Wells
Christmas on Exeter Street by Hendry
Angel Mae by Hughes
Polar Express by Van Allsburg
Santa’s Book of Names by McPhail
Santa Calls by Joyce
Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Robinson
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Lynch
Some of the Kinder Planets by Wynne-Jones
Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season by Rylant
Encourage your students to visit their local library or bookstore, grab a few to curl up on the couch, read and discuss with their families!
Newport News Reading Council
Membership
Do you need a gift idea for a fellow teacher? Why not consider a gift of a membership to the Council? It is a gift that will last for the school year and include other great benefits as well. Council events are free to attend; there are numerous free publications that are sent to members, scholarship opportunities, and more. Membership in the council automatically enrolls you into the VSRA and with the upcoming VSRA Conference in Virginia Beach; members receive a discount on their registration fee. Lots of perks and a year-long gift!
Professional Book Review
The Daily 5:
Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades
By Gail Boushey and Joan Moser “the sisters”
By Gail Boushey and Joan Moser “the sisters”
Have you ever wondered how to structure your reading block so you can teach up to five small reading groups every day? Would you like to ensure that every child is working independently while you are teaching these groups?
The two sisters are coming to your rescue. Together these two have written a book that demonstrates in detail how to structure the time you have in the most productive way. They show you how to foster independence and stamina for students as young as kindergarten age. The structure they have created works for all levels in the elementary school and it can be adapted to a language arts block of any length.
They use the latest brain and educational research to make the most of the language arts block. The sisters explain that brain research proves that whole group instruction should not last longer than the age of the student. If it is any longer, students stop paying attention. So in the elementary setting, whole group lessons are kept very short.
Basically, they teach a whole group focus lesson, and then they have a small reading group while the rest of the class works independently on either reading or writing. After the small group lesson, the sisters check individually on two or three students. Then they pull everyone together to repeat the process. With the primary grades the process can repeat five times in one day for a “Daily 5”. With older students who have more stamina, the process may only repeat twice.
Read this book to find out precisely how to create the “Daily 5” for your classroom. Read this book to find out how to specifically teach children to take ownership of their reading and writing. For more information, visit their websites:
Reviewed by
Susan Kappesser
Don't forget the Textbook Scholarship.
At $25, membership in the NNRC and VSRA is a bargain. Here
are some of the benefits of membership:
This fall we are offering two incentives to join the Reading
Council:
NNRC is an organization that offers an opportunity for professional growth to the individual and the profession as a whole. Join today.
