Friday, October 7, 2016

Williamsburg Area Reading Council's Fall 2016 Mini-Conference

      This year's Fall Mini-Conference was a fantastic event! The members of the Williamsburg Area Reading Council were treated to wonderful presentations from WARC members Susan Alis and Savannah Weaver on writing instruction.


Dr. Lisa Eickholdt presenting ideas from her text Learning From Classmates (Heinemann, 2015).

      Susan Alis, who was WARC 2015's Reading Teacher of the Year, presented, "Revisiting Your Writing Block: Seamlessly Meshing Writers' Workshop, The Daily 5, and 6 + 1 Traits for Impactful Instruction" for primary grade levels. Savannah Weaver, who is the 2016 WARC Reading Teacher of Year, presented "Living Writerly Lives in the Writer's Notebook" for upper elementary grades.  



    The keynote speaker for the evening was Dr. Lisa Eickholdt, author of the professional text, Learning from Classmates: Using Students' Writing as Mentor Texts (Heinemann, 2015). Dr. Eickholdt shared fabulous examples of mentor texts for writing created by elementary student authors.

Dr. Lisa Eickholdt answers a question from WARC member Savannah Weaver.
Savannah Weaver is an elementary school teacher in the Gloucester County Public School System and 2016 WARC Reading Teacher of the Year. She presented on writer's notebooks and "writerly lives" for students in the upper elementary grade levels.  
Savannah Weaver being introduced by WARC Board Member, Laura Burton.
WARC member Susan Alis presenting on best practice in a primary Writing Workshop.
WARC members discussing ideas before the keynote from Dr. Eickholdt.
WARC member Savannah Weaver presenting to upper elementary teachers.
WARC member and presenter Susan Alis answering a question from a WARC member after her presentation.
WARC members enjoying Savannah Weaver's student work samples.
Dr. Lisa Eickholdt and WARC member Susan Alis follow up the next day at the Joy of Children's Literacy and Literature conference at the College of William and Mary's School of Education.