The IRC's Day of Reading (DOR) Conference!

This was the 37th Day of Reading Conference!

This past weekend, I attended my very FIRST Day of Reading Conference held by the Illinois Reading Council! Yes, it was extremely tough placing my trust (yet again) in another substitute teacher and leaving my kids for all of Friday, but both my students and I have really gained SO MUCH from my attendance at this conference. Click here to view information about it.

I spent two amazing day filled with information sessions presented by professionals, authors, teachers, librarians, and simple community people alike! From the second I arrived, I was welcomed by fellow lovers of reading - I found a place where I belonged. Joining the Illinois Reading Council (IRC) was the best gift I could have given myself as a first-year-of-teaching gift. As a part of both the Northern Illinois Reading Council and the Secondary Reading League, I feel that I have access to all the reasources I'll ever need in order to be a dedicated and successful educator.

After spending a bit more money than I had any right to, LOOK WHAT I WENT HOME WITH (not to mention endless packets, brochures, resources, etc.):

BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS!

Yes, ahh, books! Tons and tons of books. Of course, I received these books with only my students' needs in mind... (NOT!)! I will absolutely share, but I also get to read a ton of new novels with my students! One of the presenters at the conference had TONS of her previous and current students' comments on all sorts of things to share. So I got this idea: Each time a students borrows one of my books to read, they have to fill out a "comment card" about their reaction to the book. I know what you're thinking - more work for the kids to do. And I would agree. Too often, students dislike reading simply because they view it as work! Whenever they are assigned to read something, they feel that their stinkin' teachers are going to require some sort of work from this. Unfortunately, this is true. Part of my teaching beliefs deal with getting students to read for pleasure, enjoyment, FUN! But rather than viewing my "comment cards" as work, it is my goal that by filling out a comment card (a 1-2 sentence reaction to the book), my current students will be sharing the gift of reading with future students. When I go to a book store, I really love reading testimony about books. I love seeing Staff Picks or "If you liked this, then try this..." recommendations. I could have no clue what a book may be about, but if I see that someone else has taken a second to share his or her reaction and testimony with me, I will almost ALWAYS pick up that book that I know has reached someone else. Anyway... "comment cards" are my next big movement in my world of reading. :)