The K-2 Reader
Vol. 3, March, 2016
The K-2 Reader
Happy Birthday Luncheon
Wednesday, Mar 9, 2016, 11:00 AM
La Calle Doce, West 12th Street, Dallas, TX, United States
Biggest Loser Contest Ends 3/11 and one dedicated person will win!
Face Your Reflection. An article in Women's Health Magazine reminds the reader to face the mirror's reflection rather than avoid it. A study in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that mirror-exposure therapy--staring at your body in the mirror and stifling the usual criticisms--can improve body image, which can help keep you committed to healthy eating. Try it: Speak to your reflection without using any negatively charged words. For example, instead of "I have a huge ___," say, "My waist looks smaller thanks to my curves."
K-2 Content Night Schedule
Tim Rasinski Spring Celebration & Event
What: We are looking forward to the Spring event honoring the 2015-16 Literacy Laureates with keynote speaker, Dr. Tim Rasinski.
Where: Dallas Children's Advocacy Center
5351 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX 75228
Celebrate Spring!
Spring Break - March 14 - 18
Good Friday/Inclement Weather Day - March 25
2016 Literacy Summit
Over the past 20 years, Dr. Cassidy and his colleagues surveyed and interviewed dozens of leading literacy experts. They asked the experts which literacy topics were currently "hot"--or garnering lots of attention and interest and which literacy topics "should be hot."
The keynote session on Friday afternoon featured literacy researchers, Dr. Cassidy, Dr. Stephanie Grote-Garcia, and Dr. Evan Ortlieb, who each discussed one topic that was deemed "hot" according to this year's survey. The highest scoring topic was Common Core Standards. The second and third "hottest" scoring topics were close reading/deep reading and disciplinary/content area literacy.
Next, there were presentations on which literacy topics should be hot and why. Dr. Victoria J. Risko discussed literacy coaching, Dr. Jill Lewis-Spector discussed teacher preparation, and Dr. Estanislado S. Barrera IV discussed English Language Learners. Finally, Dr. Linda B. Gambrell spoke about motivation to read. Dr. Gambrell challenged us to take time each year to weed out the older books from our classroom libraries so we can see the good stuff (much like how we go through our closets to get rid of old clothes that no longer fit.) The second day of the conference was devoted to other keynote sessions, workshops, roundtables, author signings, awards, and business meetings.
If you've never been to a state-level literacy conference, you are truly missing out on one of the best opportunities for professional development and networking. Consider attending the 2017 TALE Conference which will be held in February at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi. Better yet, consider proposing to present a workshop. Keep watching for details at texasreaders.org.
--Submitted by Dr. Jill Culmo