S L R C • V o l u m e 1 3 • I s s u e 5 • M a y 2 0 1 6

President Barbara Townsend

Vice President Wendy Ellsworth

Secretary Nancy Haak

Treasurer Linda Frankenberg

Legislative Liaison Linda Frankenberg

Membership Nancy Haak

Newsletter Barbara Townsend

SOUTHERN LAKES READING COUNCIL

N e w s l e t t e r Anchors away! Sailing along together teaching others to read!

Celebrate!

There are exactly as manycelebrations in life

as we choose to celebrate. ~Robert Brault, Author

Spring has finally arrived and for me, this has always been a time of year for glorious celebrations. Simply stated, there is much to celebrate!

First (and most importantly), the growth of students. Not all made equal gains, but all made progress. Unfortunately, it is not always measured via MAP scores (frustrating!), but these are still important strides. Social and emotional growth can also be considered for students, and let’s face it—sometimes that is a crucial piece for success.

Next, consider personal growth. There are always changes in the teaching world. Perhaps you found yourself in a new grade level, faced with a new text adoption, or had some other expectation added to your responsibilities. Maybe you marked your first year “flying solo” in your very first classroom or

(for some) have chartered your plane for retirement—whatever the case, there is reason

to look back, realizing accomplishments that took place along the way and celebrate.

Whatever your reasons, make sure you take time and choose to celebrate but, more importantly, enjoy the celebration!

Barb

S L R C • V o l u m e 1 3 • I s s u e 5 • M a y 2 0 1 6

SOUTHERN LAKES PAGE 2

• Teaching Text Structure Through Guided Reading with Dr. Karen Blake Ruffner (9-24-2015)

• Interactive Lessons for Personalized Learning with Keith Schroeder (11-4-2015)

• Classroom Catalysts: Key Insights & Practical Ideas with Dr. Michael Ford (2-29-2016)

• Collaborative Conversations with Kathy Galvin (4-9-2016)

• Wendy Ellsworth, Vice-President • Nancy Haak, Secretary • Linda Frankenberg, Treasurer

These were our officers for 2015-16!

As President, I’d like to thank them for service! BT

Speaking of celebrations… Here is our year in review! Great presentations!

Special welcome to… Cathy Pomaranski, our newly elected secretary for the coming year!

S L R C • V o l u m e 1 3 • I s s u e 5 • M a y 2 0 1 6

SOUTHERN LAKES PAGE 3

Surfin’ the Web International Literacy Day ILA has already provided a resource link to for the annual September occurrence. Sign up today and be ready next fall when it arrives. http://literacyworldwide.org/about-us/news-events/international-literacy-day Text Level Indicators This site, with information from Fountas and Pinnell’s Continuum of Literacy Learning, includes student reading behaviors as well as text examples for guided reading levels A-Z. http://futureworldleadersof224.weebly.com/uploads/1/8/0/0/18007365/text_level_indicators.pdf The Nonfiction Minute Nonfiction offers many great opportunities for us in the classroom. Let this site help to get more nonfiction going in your classroom. Interesting NF recordings here! http://www.nonfictionminute.com

Literature Possibilities Ease anxiety, deal with death, or combat bullying—books can help! http://www.adventuresinliteracyland.com/2016/02/using-literature-to-ease-anxiety-deal.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AdventuresInLiteracyLand+%28Adventures+in+Literacy+Land%29

Humor in the Classroom MiddleWeb shares some great sources to add humor to your day, allowing for students to make a connection between HAHA and AHA. From cartoons to silly songs to fractured fairy tales, there are many additional links listed here. While not all of them connected successfully, there is much from which to choose. http://www.middleweb.com/5053/humor-in-the-classroom/

The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies As Kathy Galvin pointed out in her recent SLRC presentation, speaking and listening are necessities for valuable student academic discourse. Find 15 formats structuring class discussions, making it “more engaging, more organized, more equitable, and more academically challenging”! http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/

Listen Innovation Inc. Listen Current Engage your students by having them listen to great nonfiction stories from public radio. Find FREE podcasts for ELA, social studies, and science at this link. https://listencurrent.com/lessons?utm_source=smartbrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=0216-sparks

The Value of Our Time Donalyn Miller weighs in on Pinterest and “cutsey” while underscoring the need for teachers to be very familiar with the material our students might be reading. By spending our time reading those titles, we are able to promote books to hook, thus building the reading habit for our students. Summer is coming—what better time to get reading so we can engage our young readers! http://www.txla.org/pinterest-isnt-pedagogy?ct=t%28Not+Enough+Time+in+a+Day%29

S L R C • V o l u m e 1 3 • I s s u e 5 • M a y 2 0 1 6

SOUTHERN LAKES PAGE 4

Best Apps, Tools, and Games Hopefully summer affords you the time to check some of these out for use next fall!

• Classroom Library Apps http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2016/02/09/best-of-teacher-helpline!-what-are-the-best-classroom-library-apps?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Check%20out%20the%20suggestions%20right%20here%20on%20our

• Parent Engagement via LivingTree App http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2016/02/10/6-ways-the-livingtree-app-increases-parent-engagement

• Games to Teach Life Skills https://www.graphite.org/top-picks/great-games-that-teach-life-skills?utm_source=DigCit_Tips_2016_7&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

• Games to Teach Empathy https://www.graphite.org/top-picks/top-games-that-teach-empathy?utm_source=DigCit_Tips_2016_2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

• Online Discussion Tools for Student Engagement https://www.graphite.org/blog/5-online-discussion-tools-to-fuel-student-engagement?utm_source=What%27s_New_on_Graphite_2016_11&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

• Best Infographic Design Apps and Websites https://www.graphite.org/top-picks/best-infographic-design-apps-and-websites?utm_source=What%27s_New_on_Graphite_2016_11&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

• Presentation Tools https://www.graphite.org/users/egstout/collections/presentation-tools?utm_source=What%27s_New_on_Graphite_2016_11&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

• Chrome Extensions for Classrooms https://www.graphite.org/blog/3-must-have-chrome-extensions-for-classrooms?utm_source=What%27s_New_on_Graphite_2016_16&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

• Videos for Your Classroom (Multi Subject, STEM, Social Studies, and ELA) https://www.graphite.org/top-picks/great-videos-for-your-classroom?utm_source=What%27s_New_on_Graphite_2016_16&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

• Best Apps for Kids with Autism https://www.graphite.org/top-picks/best-apps-for-kids-with-autism?utm_source=What%27s_New_on_Graphite_2016_14_TipsVid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

• Best Interactive Video Apps and Websites https://www.graphite.org/top-picks/best-interactive-video-apps-and-websites?utm_source=DigCit_Tips_2016_6&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

S L R C • V o l u m e 1 3 • I s s u e 5 • M a y 2 0 1 6

SOUTHERN LAKES PAGE 5

Wisconsin State Reading Association WSRA… providing leadership, advocacy, and expertise

www.wsra.org

SOUTHERN LAKES READING COUNCIL --We are dedicated to improving reading instruction and promoting literacy.

--We enjoy networking with others who are also dedicated to excellence in literacy from Walworth, Western Racine, & Western Kenosha counties.

--We benefit from hearing top-notch speakers at our meetings who present on best practices in the field of education.

--We believe it is important to stay current and informed.

--We publish newsletters with information on professional development opportunities, and current trends or practices in reading and writing.

--AND, if you’re a first year teacher or undergrad student, we’ll waive meeting fees!

Come join us! You’ll be glad you did!

Hopefully you are one of the teachers who doesn’t live at school! Enjoy

the summer months and watch for SLRC in September—we’ll be back! BT

S L R C • V o l u m e 1 3 • I s s u e 5 • M a y 2 0 1 6

SOUTHERN LAKES PAGE 6

Wisconsin Literacy Dates to

Celebrate!

May • National Book Month• May 1 Mother Goose Day• May 2 - 8 Teacher Appreciation

Week• May 4 National Teacher Day• May 4 - 10 Reading Is Fun Week• May 12 Limerick Day