Motivated, Inspired and Confirmed

Wow! I haven't blogged in a very long time. I guess life just got in the way!

I just have to write about my amazing experience today, though. I have been a member of the Dublin Literacy Conference committee for the last 6 years and every year, I am in awe of what a few determined teachers, administrators, students, and custodians can do as a team.

I read Readacide by Kelly Gallager on the plane on my way to visit my parents. Although I had much on my mind (my dad's health has been declining...), I was in the "FLOW" by page 2. I devoured the book and couldn't wait to share it with my friends at school. It motivated me to continue to put engaging books in kids hands. It also confirmed what I believe...that the testing is hurting kids. Kelly was the keynote speaker this year. He was calm, cool and collected. He delivered a message that we all needed to hear. It was AWESOME!

I had the pleasure of being professional author and teacher, Patrick Allen's hostess for the day as well. I attended his two powerful presentations on Conferring with kids. He reminded us all that conferring is about the reader, not the reading.

I also squeezed in a session with Mary Lee from A Year of Reading. When Mary Lee talks about books, I melt. I want to run out and purchase them all! I am always inspired by her wealth and depth of knowledge about children's literature.

I have to run! I have a dinner date with Kelly, Patrick, Mary Lee and many more! I feel blessed to live and teach in Dublin!

Ann Marie Corgill-Dublin Lit

Earlier Lisa blogged about Tim Tyson and how he rocked the house with his message.  My post is about  Ann Marie Corgill's sessions and her book Of Primary Importance.  Whenever I find a professional book that I identify and center my workshops around, the author becomes by Book BFF.  When I began teaching fourth grade, Aimee Buckner was my BFF with her book, Notebook Know-How.

Of Primary Importance author, Ann Marie Corgill is my new BFF. (I even told her that at the conference.  I'm a teacher paparazzi!!) I saw her at NCTE, and read her book afterwards.  I'm rereading it and marking it up with my own personal thoughts.  Her message is simple:  

Children and their work needs to be celebrated and honored daily.
 

Thoughts from the book:

She believes that students succeed when teachers possess the six A's:  

Analyze, Ask, Applaud, Assist, Assess, and Advocate.

The most important thing I learned is that being you, being unique, being the teacher you are while teaching what's expected and what's appropriate for children is what matters most.

If you know the why, you can invent the how to teach it.

Believe that less is more.  If you cover less, you'll uncover more with your students.

Her book isn't a how-to, but more like a GPS guide to keep you moving in the "write" (no pun intended) direction.

I love her message, and I hope there is an opportunity for me to see her again.  But, for now, she's my new BFF.