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.










Complete Information on the WARC Fall Mini-Conference Featuring Peter Brown!

Hello everyone!

Please click on the link to access the Google Doc for the full Peter Brown conference flyer! Also, be sure to follow WARC on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/WARCouncil. We look forward to seeing you at our amazing event!

Peter Brown is Coming to Town!

        Mark your calendars for the 2nd Annual WARC Fall Mini-Conference! The keynote speaker will be author and illustrator Peter Brown. You won't want to miss this event! Stay tuned for additional details about the night via our Facebook page and the WARC blog.

The Year in Review

    The 2014-15 school year was an exciting one for the Williamsburg Area Reading Council! Here are the highlights of the year's events.

WARC Winners

    Members were eligible for several special opportunities during the year. At the October 2014 Fall Mini-Conference, membership drive winners were announced for WARC members. The grand prize of a school visit with Brian Floca went to member Ellen Picard of Stonehouse Elementary School in the WJCC Public School System. The First Prize of $200 money for literacy purposes went to member Melissa Butler, reading specialist at James River Elementary School of WJCC Public Schools. The Second Prize of a $30 Barnes and Noble gift card went to Deanna Guiseppi of WJCC's D.J. Montague Elementary School. 

 

Annual Author Visit 

      We had the 2014 Caldecott Winning Author and Illustrator Brian Floca visit us in October. He also made school visits at three different local schools. His presentations were engaging and insightful! We highly recommend him! 

Matthew Whaley Media Specialist and WARC Member, Mrs. Rachel Corliss, posed here with  Brian Floca after his presentation at the school in October.

One of the schools that Brian Floca presented at was Matthew Whaley Elementary in Williamsburg, VA.

Brian Floca shared more specific details about his Caldecott Award winning text Locomotion with Mrs. Katie Plum's third graders. Mrs. Plum is also a member of WARC.

Brian Floca stopped by the second grade classroom of WARC member Mrs. Charlotte Bush. He drew this drawing for her class in just a few minutes!

Brian visited the second graders in the classroom of WARC member Mrs. Susan Alis. They were having a Publishing Party that day, and Mr. Floca was the V.I.P. guest!

1st Annual WARC Mini-Conference

     The Williamsburg Area Reading Council branched out with its variety of events this past year! The 1st Annual WARC Mini-Conference took place in October at the College of William and Mary's School of Education in the Professional Development Center. It was a big hit with attendees! Two different times for mini-sessions occurred prior to the keynote presentation with Brian Floca. Attendees had a selection of two different choices for each of the two time frames, which allowed for attendees to choose the best option for their teaching niche. 

 Caldecott Award winning author Brian Floca served as the keynote speaker at the First Annual WARC Fall Mini-Conference.

   
     The four presenters who shared their expertise for the sessions were members of WARC. Mrs. Denise Trainor, a 1st grade teacher in York County, shared effective strategies for taking on Writer's Workshop in the elementary grades. Mrs. Kristy Haight, a librarian with York County Public Schools, presented on technology integration for nonfiction research. 

 Kristy Haight, a WARC member and York County Media Specialist, shared how to integrate kid-friendly technology into nonfiction reading and researching experiences. 

     Mrs. Lisa Smith, reading specialist at Norge Elementary, and Mrs. Wendy Lucy, reading specialist at Matthew Whaley Elementary, presented "sister" presentations on nonfiction mentor texts. Mrs. Lucy shared fresh mentor texts for science topics, and Mrs. Smith presented on mentor texts that supported social studies and history.

Mrs. Lisa Smith, WARC member and reading specialist for the WJCC Public Schools, presented on history and social studies nonfiction mentor texts. 

  The opportunity to meet Brian Floca and have him sign copies of books rounded out the evening. Attendees were also able to enjoy a boxed dinner from Jimmy John's while hearing the opening presentations, too. 

 WARC Member Susan Alis had a copy of the book Locomotive signed by Brian Floca. This book was donated by WARC to the Matthew Whaley Media Center in honor of her nomination for WARC Reading Teacher of the Year.

3rd Annual New Book Talk 

     The popular 3rd Annual New Book Talk took place in early December of 2014. Three WARC members presented on new books for elementary, middle school, and high school age students. The event was held at the Bruton Parish Center in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, which is also right next door to Barnes and Noble. Kelly Pratts, of Bethel Manor Elementary in York County, presented fresh picture books for the elementary crowd. Nellie Williams, from Grafton Middle School in York County, presented on chapter books that are popular with middle schoolers. Lee DeGroft, of Jamestown High School in Williamsburg, shared what was popular with a variety of high schoolers. A hot chocolate and biscotti bar was enjoyed by all as well!

   WARC Reading Teacher of the Year

 

Mrs. Susan Alis found out about her WARC Reading Teacher of the Year honor during a guest read aloud visit from Dr. Constantino on Read Across America Day. Dr. Constantino is the Superintendent of the Williamsburg-James City County Public School Division. 

      February was the due date for the WARC Reading Teacher of the Year nominations. This year, the WARC Board Members selected Mrs. Susan Alis, second grade teacher at Matthew Whaley Elementary in Williamsburg, VA. All applications for TOY are judged based on the grading rubric provided by the Virginia State Reading Association, as well as letters of recommendation and a review of each applicant's philosophy of reading instruction. Mrs. Alis will represent WARC at the state level in this upcoming year's VSRA State Reading Teacher of the Year. We are proud to have Susan represent the passion and principles of our organization! Be thinking of who you would like to nominate for the WARC RTOY for the 2015-16 school year! It is a special accomplishment to add to your resume and portfolio. Winners receive an engraved pewter award plate, as well as a $250 dollar award at a reception held in April! Also, a picture book is donated to the winner's Media Center with a special book plate to honor their award.

 WARC member Susan Alis was the 2015 Williamsburg Area Reading Council's Reading Teacher of the Year. She was honored at a reception attended by WARC members. In the photo above, from left to right, Peggy Constantino, WARC President Dr. Denise Johnson, WARC RTOY Susan Alis, and WARC Board Member Sarah Lichtel.

 In the photo above, from left to right, Matthew Whaley Principal and WARC member Robin Ford, 2015 WARC RTOY Susan Alis, and WARC Board Member Sarah Lichtel.

 Building Reps Happy Hour

     An annual Happy Hour for WARC Building Representatives and WARC Board Members was held at Carrabba's in early June. The board shared thoughts for the upcoming school year, and got feedback from building representatives as well. The Happy Hour is WARC's way of thanking the building representatives for their advocacy of WARC at their respective schools. 




 

Williamsburg Area Reading Council's Fall Mini-Conference!

How One Lucky Local School Could Win an Author's Visit from Brian Floca!

     Current and future members of WARC, there is a wonderful opportunity for your school to possibly win a visit from author and illustrator Brian Floca! 

     Please click on this link to download the PDF flier with all the details from Google Docs. Building representatives and members of WARC, you can save the document and email it to your colleagues. You can also print out a copy and share it with your fellow teachers at your school in August. Let everyone know about this wonderful opportunity, and the dream may become a reality at your own school!

Save the Date for Fall 2014!

An Evening with Lester Laminack

     The Williamsburg Area Reading Council enjoyed a fantastic event with author extraordinaire Lester Laminack on the evening of September 24th! Lester had a busy day while he was in Williamsburg, Virginia for his visit. The students of Bethel Manor Elementary in York County enjoyed a visit from Lester in the morning.  In the afternoon, Lester visited York County's Waller Mill Elementary School. This particular school was the school that won the author visit from WARC for having the most memberships this year! 

    
      In the evening, Lester Laminack spoke to a large crowd of local educators at the School of Education's Professional Development Center at the College of William and Mary. He inspired the crowd with words of empowerment and motivation. Lester reminded the attendees that they should constantly have the mindset of an "internal professional development model." If you are open to always learning and improving, "you have nothing to lose but your inhibitions."

      Lester shared about his current writing project, which is a picture book that has beekeeping as a component of the story. He shared a variety of bee nonfiction and fiction books that he has been reading in order to research honeybees and collect topic specific vocabulary. Lester recommended reading 12-15 nonfiction books in order to gather enough content to create a realistic fiction story. He also discussed the many ways learning can be cross-curricular. Lester gave examples using this topic of bees and how it could be tied in science, math, history, writing, and reading. 

     Lester shared several techniques on how to empower students to become authorities on what they write. Lester wrapped up the evening by generously signing the books that the attendees owned or purchased that evening. His most recent book, The Writing Teacher's Troubleshooting Guide, was available as well. You can learn more about this clever guide via Heinemann's website.

      Here is a neat side story! A teacher's young daughter attended the evening teacher event with her mom. The girl knew of Lester Laminack's work thanks to her second and third grade teachers using his books as mentor texts in their classrooms. She asked Lester if he would give her some writer's advice as part of a special homework assignment. Lester was so kind to sit down with her and write a thoughtful reply! Her current teacher hung up this special advice in a place of honor near the featured mentor text bookshelf in her classroom! :) Isn't that so special?

     Be sure to follow the Williamsburg Area Reading Council on Facebook! Invite your colleagues and teacher friends to keep up to date on WARC on Facebook and this blog as well. We hope that you were able to attend this wonderful evening and left full of inspiration!

Lester Laminack

    Are you interested in learning more about Lester Laminack? Here's a post on Lester's accomplishments as an author and literacy expert. 

    Lester is an author of well-respected professional texts, articles, and children’s books. Lester served as the co-editor of Primary Voices for three years, as well as the editor of the children’s book reviews for the publication Language Arts from 2003-2006.

      Crafting children's books is one of Lester’s many talents. They are favorites with teachers for reading and writing mini-lessons. They are published by Peachtree Publishers and include titles such as :

• The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins (1998)
• Trevor's Wiggly-Wobbly Tooth (2002)
• Saturdays and Teacakes (2004)
• Jake's 100th Day of School (2008)
• Snow Day! (2010)
• Three Hens and a Peacock (2011)

      Not only is Mr. Laminack an accomplished author of children’s books, but he is a skilled writer of professional texts as well. One of the professional titles Mr. Laminack has written and collaborated on is The Writing Workshop: Working Through the Hard Parts (And They're All Hard Parts) This was written in collaboration with Katie Wood Ray and published by NCTE in 2001.

       Titles which were published by Heinemann include Reading Aloud Across the Curriculum and Learning Under the Influence of Language and Literature. These texts are both written in collaboration with Reba Wadsworth.  Mr. Laminack collaborated with Georgia Heard on a study of the crafting of poetry writing in Climb Inside a Poem: Reading and Writing Poetry Across the Year.

       One of Lester’s professional titles published by Scholastic include Cracking Open the Author's Craft: Teaching the Art of Writing. It is not only a teacher guide for how to examine his mentor text Saturdays and Teacakes but it also explains how to apply various studies of audible and visual author’s craft with other mentor texts.  The follow-up title is entitled Unwrapping the Read Aloud: Making Every Read Aloud Intentional and Instructional. In this text, Lester highlights the intensity, tone, pace, and mood of quality read alouds.

·      
            Mr. Laminack's most recent professional text is a collaboration with Reba Wadsworth and is also published by Heinemann. It is entitled Bullying Hurts: Teaching Kindness Through Read Alouds and Guided Conversations.
 

·       Lester also co-wrote with Reba Wadsworth The Classroom Library Book for the Classroom Library Company.  You can view a sample of the text through the Classroom Library’s app for the iPad and iPhone.

   

     He is steadfast in his beliefs that reading aloud to children is powerful and life changing, and that it is critical to the growth and development of children into skillful students. Lester highly promotes the use of great picture books for instruction as this fosters the idea of providing real mentors for children.  He talks with students as if they are fellow authors standing side by side in the journey of composing writing.   Lester is a master of reaching the reader and pulling them right into his books.

      As a presenter and author, he mentors fellow educators and children alike. Whether you have had the great fortune of hearing Lester speak before or if this is your first time, you will undoubtedly find what he has to say to be compelling. Lester is genuine in his compassion for others and respects every adult and child for what makes them unique as a person.

   
     If you have ever had the great fortune of hearing Lester speak in person, you are well aware of how captivating he is. He can touch your heart as you connect to his loving memories of his grandmother as he discusses his inspiration for Saturdays and Teacakes. Lester can invigorate your sense of advocacy as he shares stories that served as motivation for Bullying Hurts. His sense of humor and comedic timing engages you and gives you laughter that warms your soul.
  
    What to learn more about Lester's works?  You can enjoy listening to Lester read aloud from Saturdays and Teacakes from this link from Scholastic. Also, be sure to click on the titles of the picture books and professional titles to learn more about the books and to read samples of the texts.

An Evening with Lester Laminack

    The Williamsburg Area Reading Council presents…

 An Evening with Lester Laminack

                 September 24, 2013 at 6:30 

 School of Education, William & Mary

The first meeting of WARC will feature children’s author and literacy expert extraordinaire Lester Laminack! Lester’s presentations are renowned for inspiring, motivating, and deepening teachers’ knowledge base of best literacy practices. You don’t want to miss this special PD opportunity!

Win a school visit from Lester!

The Williamsburg area school with the highest percentage of WARC members will win a school visit from Lester! Go to: www.warcira.blogspot.com for membership information or contact membership chair Robin Ford at fordr@wjcc.k12.va.us and join now.

The deadline for memberships to count for the school visit is September 9th.

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity!

Join WARC now and we hope to see you on September 24