Visit with Authors at Wednesday Night's Reception

November 16 (Wednesday evening)

Registration:  4:30 - 8:00 - Rotunda

Reception:  5:00-6:30 (free refreshments)

Sleeping Bear Press authors Zak Pullen, Trinka Hakes-Noble, and Michael Shoulders will be on hand to autograph their books and chat informally during the opening reception held in the Statehouse Rotunda.

If you reside in or near Little Rock, you might consider registering Wednesday evening. Registration will open from 4:30 - 8:00 in the Rotunda (avoid the Thursday morning rush).  

Session Previews - What Great Choices!

Final updates are being made to the program, but conference chair Debbie Hardwick-Smith has released titles so you can see the variety of sessions available to those attending the conference.  

A conference program will be available at least two weeks before the conference, so keep watching for it! 

Assessment?  Instruction?  Common Core?  What great options to choose from - there's truly something for everyone! Here are just some examples of session titles: 

Book Trailers: Intice Readers, Encourage Comprehension and Use Technology

Secondary Developmental Reading

1st Grade Takes a Test or Not: Balancing Accountability with Appropriateness!

Informational Text: Arkansas History Resources and Common Core

Oral Language Development and Creative Resources for the Classroom

Words of Excitement: Developing a passion for literacy and discipline-focused story telling

Literature Circles: Routines and Strategies to Promote Reader Response

Connecting Economics to the Common Core Curriculum Through Children's Literature

Implementing the Common Core in English/Language Arts While Building Knowledge on the Subject

Making Grammar Multisensory

6 Traits of Writing and the Common Core State Standards

Work Smarter with Embedded PD

It's Not Just About the Words: Support Young Readers

Found Poetry: Turning Prose to Poetry

S.O.S. "Save Our Spelling"

Choosing Texts to Meet the Common Core

Understanding Text Complexity One Story at a Time

The Art of Making Text Explicit

Literature Circles: Routines and Strategies to Promote Reader Response

Creating "Sea Horse, Run!" How to write, illustrate, and publish an award-winning picture book

So, You Want to be a National Board Certified Teacher?

Connecting To Nature/Art In Writing

Common Core State Standards in Arkansas

Debunking the Myths of Dyslexia

Forgotten Arkansas Stories and Songs

Great Graphics for Getting Guys

Using Graphic Novel with Students in Grades 4 Through 8

Literacy Jigsaw:  Assemble the Critical Pieces

Advocacy Webinars Address Core Standards and Legislative Issues

Rich Long hosts Webinars October 3, October 20 & 21

IRA Government Relations Director Rich Long will host an advocacy webinar on October 3. He will give an update on the core standards, the assessments, and the plans on implementation.

Click here to sign up for the webinar, hosted by the International Reading Association.

Rich will also present sessions at our conference in November, addressing such topics as advocacy, legislative updates, and core standards.

A Virtual Legislative Workshop will be held  October 20 and 21.  

Thursday October 20, 2011, 12 Noon to 4 PM EST and Virtual Reception (Yes!) 6:00 to 7:00 PM EST Friday October 21, 2011, 12 Noon to 4 PM EST Presenters: Rich Long, IRA Director of Government Relations and Guest Speakers.

Issues impacting state education agencies and IRA state councils and how to cope with these issues: · Common Core Standards · Funding Cuts · NCLB Waivers · Teacher Evaluations

DARCY PATTISON

Arkansas author Darcy Pattison, who writes picture books, novels, and 'how-to's' on writing instruction, will be speaking at the ARA Conference.

Her latest book is Prairie Storms, illustrated by Kathleen Rietz.  She will use this book to present a session, Science and Literacy: Prairie Storms.

Darcy's will also present Book Trailers: Intice Readers, Encourage Comprehension and Use Technology.

Click here to link to Darcy's Amazon page and find out more about her and her many publications!

IRA Coordinator's Corner:

The countdown is ON!  November will be here before we know it. 

Please share this newsletter with others who may want to take advantage of attending our conference.  Help us spread the word about the wonderful and varied offerings to choose from.

A big thanks to presenters from the Arkansas Department of Education who will address the topic of Common Core.  

Attending the conference will provide you with new tools to help build your students' literacy skills.  That's what ARA is all about -

Hope to see you there! 

Tanna Clark

IRA Coordinator, Arkansas Reading Association