Lee Ann Townsend
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June 23, 2015
Dear RALC Colleague,
It’s hard to believe we’re closing the gate of another successful year and on the path toward filling 2015-16 with great literacy opportunities for educators and community members of the Greater Monroe County area. We take our mission to provide quality professional development and community service opportunities to heart and work closely with many great people to make exciting things happen. RALC thanks everyone for your support, encouragement, and continued loyalty toward literacy. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” So enjoy your summer. Stop and smell the roses. Hug a tree. Read a book. Fish…or not! But by all means, do what it takes to recharge your batteries because we want you all revved-up and ready to join RALC for another exciting year!
Please check our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for further information or new future opportunities. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! We look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
So long, fare well… until September!
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
K-5 Literacy Specialist/Building RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
Cobbles Elementary School
[email protected]
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~Albert Einstein
Dear RALC Colleague,
It’s hard to believe we’re closing the gate of another successful year and on the path toward filling 2015-16 with great literacy opportunities for educators and community members of the Greater Monroe County area. We take our mission to provide quality professional development and community service opportunities to heart and work closely with many great people to make exciting things happen. RALC thanks everyone for your support, encouragement, and continued loyalty toward literacy. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” So enjoy your summer. Stop and smell the roses. Hug a tree. Read a book. Fish…or not! But by all means, do what it takes to recharge your batteries because we want you all revved-up and ready to join RALC for another exciting year!
- NEXT YEAR’s EVENTS: Attached is a flyer announcing our major events for next year including Dr. Maureen McLaughlin who will be returning as our guest speaker for our Launching Literacy Learning on Saturday, September 26! In addition, we have other prodigious speakers lined-up including Dr. Linda Gambrell on Thursday evening, October 29 and Dr. Timothy Shanahan on Saturday morning, March 19. Please mark your calendar for those dates and stay tuned for more information as each event approaches. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/coming-events-2015-16.html
- New York State Reading Association Fall 2015 Conference: This year’s conference is in Saratoga Springs on November 9-11 and features some phenomenal speakers such as Lucy Calkins, Richard Allington, Harvey Daniels, and Jan Richardson. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/nysra-2015-conference-flyer.html
- Executive Board RETREAT: Please feel free to attend our summer retreat meeting on Monday, July 13, 4:00-8:00. We would love to have you join us! It’s a relaxed way to get to know us and help plan for the coming year. We will meet at Maureen’s beautiful home on Irondequoit Bay. Please contact a board member or me for directions. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html
- Reminder: Membership registration is now available on-line! Next year’s membership registration will start soon and the early bird incentive will run through September 26th. Please see the attached flyer or our website for more information. (FYI-Membership is good through that school year, not from the date of registration.) http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/membership.html
Please check our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for further information or new future opportunities. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! We look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
So long, fare well… until September!
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
K-5 Literacy Specialist/Building RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
Cobbles Elementary School
[email protected]
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~Albert Einstein
May 26, 2015
Dear RALC Colleague,
It is hard to believe that spring is here and summer is right around the corner! Our Sail into Summer event on May 20 with Amy VanDerwater was a resounding success! We had over 50 attendees participate! Amy was very engaging as she wooed us with her awe-inspiring writing thoughts and ideas. Many participants left with the resolve that writing instruction continues to be an integral part of ELA instruction. Please continue reading for more exciting news from RALC:
Please check our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for further information or new future opportunities. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! We look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
[email protected]
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~Albert Einstein
Dear RALC Colleague,
It is hard to believe that spring is here and summer is right around the corner! Our Sail into Summer event on May 20 with Amy VanDerwater was a resounding success! We had over 50 attendees participate! Amy was very engaging as she wooed us with her awe-inspiring writing thoughts and ideas. Many participants left with the resolve that writing instruction continues to be an integral part of ELA instruction. Please continue reading for more exciting news from RALC:
- 2014-15 RALC Mini-Grant Winner Announced: Please congratulate Barbara Rose and her colleagues from Lima Primary School. They are constructing an outdoor classroom where teachers and children will be encouraged to go beyond the buildings and history of Lima. Students will be challenged “…to study and learn about the natural habitat surrounding Lima Primary. Using leveled non-fiction texts, Lucy Calkins resources, and local experts, children will be learning and writing about what they discover on our own patch of land. A local historian, gardening experts, wildlife experts, and nursery owners will be available to answer questions, show specimens, tour the habitat with children, and facilitate off site visits to help children dig into the world around them. Children will share their new knowledge daily with their peers. Books will be referenced, how to books written, expert books created, and presentations will evolve.” If you are interested in replicating this project or learning more about what they are trying to accomplish, please contact Lisa Moosebrugger, Principal of Lima Primary School.
- NEXT YEAR’s EVENTS: Attached is a flyer announcing our major events for next year including Dr. Maureen McLaughlin who will be returning as our guest speaker for our Launching Literacy Learning on Saturday, September 26! In addition, we have other prodigious speakers lined-up including Dr. Linda Gambrell on Thursday evening, October 29 and Dr. Timothy Shanahan on Saturday morning, March 19. Please mark your calendar for those dates and stay tuned for more information as each event approaches.
- RALC 2015-16 Executive Board: Please share in my enthusiasm as I present to you the 2015-16 slate of candidates for RALC’s Executive Board! Each candidate ran unopposed and will be taking over soon.
- New York State Reading Association Fall 2015 Conference: This year’s conference is in Saratoga Springs on November 9-11 and features some phenomenal speakers such as Lucy Calkins, Richard Allington, Harvey Daniels, and Jan Richardson.
- Executive Board Meetings: Please feel free to attend our meetings! Every member is welcome! NOTE MEETING LOCATION Our final meeting of the year is June 8th at Jan Marchetti’s house in West Irondequoit. Please contact a board member or me for directions. In addition, we will be hosting a “summer retreat” to further plan for the coming year and would love to have more members participate. If you are interested in attending, please contact one of us for more information about date/location.
- Reminder: Membership registration is now available on-line! Next year’s membership registration will start soon and the early bird incentive will run through September 26th. Please see the attached flyer or our website for more information. (FYI-Membership is good through that the school year, not from the date of registration to the same date the following year.) http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/membership.html
Please check our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for further information or new future opportunities. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! We look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
[email protected]
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~Albert Einstein
April 20, 2015
Dear RALC Colleague,
As a member of RALC, you understand the importance of literacy learning in schools; after all, literacy is at the heart of education. Its importance across content areas is undisputable, yet our message still falls short of our task. We want literacy recognized as the underlying fulcrum that cements every unit, lesson, and learning experience for all students, and we want to support every teacher in achieving this goal. RALC is committed to advancing literacy in schools, homes, and communities! It is through our shared mission, that we will move literacy forward and influence the lives of children. Here are ways you can grow and move forward with us…
· Speaker Event, Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: It’s still not too late to join us on Friday, April 24 to hear Maureen speak at St. John Fisher College, Cleary Hall. Please quickly email your registration to Karen at [email protected]. We need a head count ASAP!
FLYER: http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html
· SPECIAL NOTE: McGraw-Hill would like to show their appreciation for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week by purchasing every teacher who comes into Starbucks a beverage. YES! A FREE TASTY BEVERAGE - Just show your school ID! This will take place only at specific Starbucks on May 4-8 from 6:30-8:30 a.m. (Monday-Webster, Hard Rd.; Tuesday-Henrietta Plaza; Wednesday-Westgate Plaza, Chili Ave.; Thursday-Greece West Ridge @ Center Place; and Friday-Twelve Corners, Brighton. ) Thanks, McGraw-Hill!
· RALC 2015-16 Executive Board: Please share in my enthusiasm as I present to you the 2015-16 slate of candidates for RALC’s Executive Board! Each candidate is running unopposed, and as a result, the RALC Secretary will cast the unanimous vote during our April 24 event. FLYER: http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-board-nominees-2015-16.html
· Sail into Summer with Amy VanDerwater, Wednesday, May 20: We invited author Amy VanDerwater to present on writing in a fun and engaging way. This should be a relaxing, yet informative evening-a perfect way to end the year. This event is at the Rochester Yacht Club. FLYER: http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/sail-into-summer---may-20.html
· New York State Reading Association Fall 2015 Conference: This year’s conference is in Saratoga Springs on November 9-11 and features some phenomenal speakers such as Lucy Calkins, Richard Allington, Harvey Daniels, and Jan Richardson. The event flyer is attached or go to http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/nysra-2015-conference-flyer.html
· Professional Development in your own backyard! Next year’s flyer is COMING OUT SOON! We are in the process of finalizing our events and opportunities for next year! (Shhh, Here’s a sneak peak...) We are very excited to be brining Dr. Linda Gambrell in the fall and Dr. Timothy Shanahan in the spring to Rochester just to talk to us! Additionally, we will continue to provide our stand-by favorites such as the Publishing Project, Writing Day, Live Local Literacy Conference and more.
· Executive Board Meetings: Please feel free to attend our meetings! Every member is welcome! Our meetings are at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, and our next meeting is on Monday, May 11 at 5:30. Our dates are listed on our website at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html .
Please check our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for further information or new future opportunities. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
[email protected]
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~Albert Einstein
Dear RALC Colleague,
As a member of RALC, you understand the importance of literacy learning in schools; after all, literacy is at the heart of education. Its importance across content areas is undisputable, yet our message still falls short of our task. We want literacy recognized as the underlying fulcrum that cements every unit, lesson, and learning experience for all students, and we want to support every teacher in achieving this goal. RALC is committed to advancing literacy in schools, homes, and communities! It is through our shared mission, that we will move literacy forward and influence the lives of children. Here are ways you can grow and move forward with us…
· Speaker Event, Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: It’s still not too late to join us on Friday, April 24 to hear Maureen speak at St. John Fisher College, Cleary Hall. Please quickly email your registration to Karen at [email protected]. We need a head count ASAP!
FLYER: http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html
· SPECIAL NOTE: McGraw-Hill would like to show their appreciation for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week by purchasing every teacher who comes into Starbucks a beverage. YES! A FREE TASTY BEVERAGE - Just show your school ID! This will take place only at specific Starbucks on May 4-8 from 6:30-8:30 a.m. (Monday-Webster, Hard Rd.; Tuesday-Henrietta Plaza; Wednesday-Westgate Plaza, Chili Ave.; Thursday-Greece West Ridge @ Center Place; and Friday-Twelve Corners, Brighton. ) Thanks, McGraw-Hill!
· RALC 2015-16 Executive Board: Please share in my enthusiasm as I present to you the 2015-16 slate of candidates for RALC’s Executive Board! Each candidate is running unopposed, and as a result, the RALC Secretary will cast the unanimous vote during our April 24 event. FLYER: http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-board-nominees-2015-16.html
· Sail into Summer with Amy VanDerwater, Wednesday, May 20: We invited author Amy VanDerwater to present on writing in a fun and engaging way. This should be a relaxing, yet informative evening-a perfect way to end the year. This event is at the Rochester Yacht Club. FLYER: http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/sail-into-summer---may-20.html
· New York State Reading Association Fall 2015 Conference: This year’s conference is in Saratoga Springs on November 9-11 and features some phenomenal speakers such as Lucy Calkins, Richard Allington, Harvey Daniels, and Jan Richardson. The event flyer is attached or go to http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/nysra-2015-conference-flyer.html
· Professional Development in your own backyard! Next year’s flyer is COMING OUT SOON! We are in the process of finalizing our events and opportunities for next year! (Shhh, Here’s a sneak peak...) We are very excited to be brining Dr. Linda Gambrell in the fall and Dr. Timothy Shanahan in the spring to Rochester just to talk to us! Additionally, we will continue to provide our stand-by favorites such as the Publishing Project, Writing Day, Live Local Literacy Conference and more.
· Executive Board Meetings: Please feel free to attend our meetings! Every member is welcome! Our meetings are at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, and our next meeting is on Monday, May 11 at 5:30. Our dates are listed on our website at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html .
Please check our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for further information or new future opportunities. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
[email protected]
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~Albert Einstein
March 16, 2015
Dear RALC Colleague,
Spring is in the air and with it, comes thoughts of rejuvenation such as renewal of commitments, replenishment of body and spirit, and rekindling of professional passions! RALC continues to grow and flourish because of dedicated educators like you. I am very excited about the future of our organization and the wonderful events coming soon!
Please share in my enthusiasm as I present to you the 2015-16 slate of candidates for RALC’s Executive Board! I am delighted to reveal a couple new faces as well as exemplary returning candidates! As per our bylaws policy, the candidates must be presented to our membership before March 31st, so please take a moment to review the attached document. Each candidate is running unopposed. As a result, the RALC Secretary will cast the unanimous vote during our business meeting at the beginning of our April 24th event. Please go to the Executive Board tab above or click on the following link to view the document listing our nominees http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-board-nominees-2015-16.html .
MORE important information from RALC…
· It’s not too late to attend “ALL of RALC Reads” on March 18 at Brighton Memorial Library: If you are interested in attending, please send a quick email to [email protected]. This event is FREE, but we would like to know how many people plan on attending. Our “All of RALC Reads” initiative will focus on the two books recently published by Maureen through IRA – Common Core: Teaching K-5 to Meet the Reading Standards and the exact same text, but for 6-12 teachers. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/all-of-ralc-reads.html
· Speaker Event, Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: We are excited to announce that our spring speaker this year will be Dr. Maureen McLaughlin, past president of IRA. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, April 24, 2015 at St. John Fisher College’s Cleary Hall. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html
· Publishing Project, DUE MARCH 20 – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students or simply know children who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication and the deadline is approaching fast. Please see the attachment AND our website for more information. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/publishing-project-flyer---due-march-20-2015.html
· SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, May 20 - SAIL into SUMMER! This event will be held at the Rochester Yacht Club. We are working on a panel of educational experts to discuss the state of writing in today’s schools and how to close the gaps to align with CCLS. More information to come!
· New Registration Option: We are presently upgrading our registration process by adding this feature to our website. Right now, any new member may register on-line rather than through snail mail. Presently, new registrants still need to submit their membership fee using snail mail, but we are working on adding this capability to our website by this summer.
· Executive Board Meetings: Please feel free to attend our meetings! Every member is welcome! Our meetings are held at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, and our next meeting is on Monday, April 13 at 5:30. Our dates are listed on our website at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html .
Please check our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for further information or future opportunities. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/ltownsend/
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear RALC Colleague,
Spring is in the air and with it, comes thoughts of rejuvenation such as renewal of commitments, replenishment of body and spirit, and rekindling of professional passions! RALC continues to grow and flourish because of dedicated educators like you. I am very excited about the future of our organization and the wonderful events coming soon!
Please share in my enthusiasm as I present to you the 2015-16 slate of candidates for RALC’s Executive Board! I am delighted to reveal a couple new faces as well as exemplary returning candidates! As per our bylaws policy, the candidates must be presented to our membership before March 31st, so please take a moment to review the attached document. Each candidate is running unopposed. As a result, the RALC Secretary will cast the unanimous vote during our business meeting at the beginning of our April 24th event. Please go to the Executive Board tab above or click on the following link to view the document listing our nominees http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-board-nominees-2015-16.html .
MORE important information from RALC…
· It’s not too late to attend “ALL of RALC Reads” on March 18 at Brighton Memorial Library: If you are interested in attending, please send a quick email to [email protected]. This event is FREE, but we would like to know how many people plan on attending. Our “All of RALC Reads” initiative will focus on the two books recently published by Maureen through IRA – Common Core: Teaching K-5 to Meet the Reading Standards and the exact same text, but for 6-12 teachers. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/all-of-ralc-reads.html
· Speaker Event, Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: We are excited to announce that our spring speaker this year will be Dr. Maureen McLaughlin, past president of IRA. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, April 24, 2015 at St. John Fisher College’s Cleary Hall. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html
· Publishing Project, DUE MARCH 20 – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students or simply know children who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication and the deadline is approaching fast. Please see the attachment AND our website for more information. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/publishing-project-flyer---due-march-20-2015.html
· SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, May 20 - SAIL into SUMMER! This event will be held at the Rochester Yacht Club. We are working on a panel of educational experts to discuss the state of writing in today’s schools and how to close the gaps to align with CCLS. More information to come!
· New Registration Option: We are presently upgrading our registration process by adding this feature to our website. Right now, any new member may register on-line rather than through snail mail. Presently, new registrants still need to submit their membership fee using snail mail, but we are working on adding this capability to our website by this summer.
· Executive Board Meetings: Please feel free to attend our meetings! Every member is welcome! Our meetings are held at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, and our next meeting is on Monday, April 13 at 5:30. Our dates are listed on our website at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html .
Please check our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for further information or future opportunities. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/ltownsend/
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
February 25, 2015
Dear RALC Colleague:
As an organization, we could not do what we do without your support, encouragement, and participation! This year has been no different. We are thriving! It is only fitting that I take this opportunity to remind you of a few very important upcoming events. Please browse through the bullets or go to our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for more information. And don’t forget to attend our Executive Board meetings. Every member is welcome! Our meetings are held at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, and our next meeting is on Monday, March 9 at 5:30. Please join us! All of our meeting dates are listed on our website at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html
Read-on for some more important events with RALC…
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/ltownsend/
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear RALC Colleague:
As an organization, we could not do what we do without your support, encouragement, and participation! This year has been no different. We are thriving! It is only fitting that I take this opportunity to remind you of a few very important upcoming events. Please browse through the bullets or go to our website at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org for more information. And don’t forget to attend our Executive Board meetings. Every member is welcome! Our meetings are held at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, and our next meeting is on Monday, March 9 at 5:30. Please join us! All of our meeting dates are listed on our website at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html
Read-on for some more important events with RALC…
- ALL of RALC Reads with Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: We are excited to announce that our spring speaker this year will be Dr. Maureen McLaughlin, past president of IRA. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, April 24, 2015 at St. John Fisher College’s Cleary Hall. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html Our “All of RALC Reads” initiative will focus on the two books recently published by Maureen through IRA – Common Core: Teaching K-5 to Meet the Reading Standards and the exact same text, but for 6-12 teachers. It’s time to order your book and START reading! We are planning a social/informal book sharing on Wednesday, March 18 at Brighton Memorial Library on Elmwood Ave. from 4:30-6:00. Attached is the registration flyer or check our website for the flyer, too. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/all-of-ralc-reads.html
- Publishing Project, DUE MARCH 20 – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication and the deadline is approaching fast. Please see the attachment AND our website for more information. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/publishing-project-flyer---due-march-20-2015.html
- Mini-Grants: DUE FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 (If you are really interested & need a few extra days, please let me know.)- Do you have burning idea yet no funds to implement it? Then this mini-grant opportunity is for you! Simply go to the following link on our website to learn how RALC can help fund your great idea, but hurry! Time is running out. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/teacher-mini-grant-award.html
- NEW REGISTRATION OPTION – We are presently upgrading our registration process by adding this feature to our website. Right now, any new member may register on-line rather than through snail mail, but new registrants still need to submit their membership fee using snail mail. We are working on adding this capability to our website by this summer.
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/ltownsend/
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
January
20, 2015
Dear RALC Colleague,
Happy mid-year everyone! Is winter getting you down? Feeling a little cabin-feverish? Well then, it’s time to spice-up your life with some literacy - Rochester style! RALC would like to extend an invitation to our Saturday, February 7th event – Live, Local, Literacy! Simply check out the flyer on our website, pick a couple of sessions of interest, and send in your registration. It’s that simple to turn a blah Saturday into an engaging and professionally stimulating morning!
Why not stay on a roll and check out more fun with RALC at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org, or come and check-out our Executive Board meetings? Every member is welcome! Our meetings are held at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, and our next meeting is on Monday, February 9 at 5:30. Please join us! All of our meeting dates are listed on our website at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html .
Read-on for some more important events with RALC…
· ALL of RALC Reads with Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: We are excited to announce that our spring speaker this year will be Dr. Maureen McLaughlin, past president of IRA. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, April 24, 2015 at St. John Fisher College’s Cleary Hall. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html Our “All of RALC Reads” initiative will focus on the two books recently published by Maureen through IRA – Common Core: Teaching K-5 to Meet the Reading Standards and the exact same text, but for 6-12 teachers. It’s time to order your book and START reading! We are planning a social/informal book sharing on Wednesday, March 18 at the Brighton Memorial Library on Elmwood Avenue from 4:30-6:00.
· Publishing Project – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication. Please see our website for more information. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/publishing-procect---due-march-20-2015.html
· Mini-Grants: Do you have burning idea yet no funds to implement it? Then this mini-grant opportunity is for you! Simply go to the following link on our website to learn how RALC can help fund your great idea! http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/teacher-mini-grant-award.html
Please continue to check our website for further information about each item listed above or new opportunities that occur in the future. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear RALC Colleague,
Happy mid-year everyone! Is winter getting you down? Feeling a little cabin-feverish? Well then, it’s time to spice-up your life with some literacy - Rochester style! RALC would like to extend an invitation to our Saturday, February 7th event – Live, Local, Literacy! Simply check out the flyer on our website, pick a couple of sessions of interest, and send in your registration. It’s that simple to turn a blah Saturday into an engaging and professionally stimulating morning!
Why not stay on a roll and check out more fun with RALC at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org, or come and check-out our Executive Board meetings? Every member is welcome! Our meetings are held at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, and our next meeting is on Monday, February 9 at 5:30. Please join us! All of our meeting dates are listed on our website at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html .
Read-on for some more important events with RALC…
· ALL of RALC Reads with Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: We are excited to announce that our spring speaker this year will be Dr. Maureen McLaughlin, past president of IRA. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, April 24, 2015 at St. John Fisher College’s Cleary Hall. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html Our “All of RALC Reads” initiative will focus on the two books recently published by Maureen through IRA – Common Core: Teaching K-5 to Meet the Reading Standards and the exact same text, but for 6-12 teachers. It’s time to order your book and START reading! We are planning a social/informal book sharing on Wednesday, March 18 at the Brighton Memorial Library on Elmwood Avenue from 4:30-6:00.
· Publishing Project – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication. Please see our website for more information. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/publishing-procect---due-march-20-2015.html
· Mini-Grants: Do you have burning idea yet no funds to implement it? Then this mini-grant opportunity is for you! Simply go to the following link on our website to learn how RALC can help fund your great idea! http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/teacher-mini-grant-award.html
Please continue to check our website for further information about each item listed above or new opportunities that occur in the future. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
November
13, 2014
Dear RALC Colleague,
November is upon us and with it comes thoughts – or nightmares –of the impending holidays and snowy weather. But do not fear! RALC is offering you great opportunities to build your pedagogical practices and avoid the stresses of the season.
RALC continues to move forward with exciting events. Just take a quick peek at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org, or come and check out our Executive Board meetings. Every member is welcome! While most of our board meetings will be held at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, our next meeting is our special holiday dinner gathering at Next Door Grill in Pittsford on Monday, December 8 at 5:30. Please join us for some holiday cheer in between conducting RALC business.
Speaking of RALC business, I would like to share our most recent successes and upcoming events as follows:
· Writing Day: This inaugural event was a huge success with close to 30 children attending from grades 2 – 9; two local authors led the keynote session; and many different activities were available for students to develop the craft of a writer. Please check out the pictures at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/writing-day---october-18-2014.html .
· Speaker Event Nance Steineke: Nancy presented wonderful ideas on engaging students in text on Nov 5. Once we receive her materials from the presentation, we will post them off our website. One of my favorites was her “Point of View Annotation Technique.” This is where the reader reads a selection through the lens of someone else. For example, using an article about children working through piles of old computers to find recyclable metals, the reader pretends to be a child labor law advocate or the CEO of Apple or the child and makes comments (annotations) in reference to parts of the text. Then you read what you underlined and annotated to a partner and they have to guess which role you assumed. Finally, write a letter to someone (to the CEO of Apple) from the point of view of your role (child labor law advocate or the child).
· Children’s Book Festival: This day is always packed with activities, presentations, and opportunities to meet authors and illustrators of books for children. This year’s festival is Saturday, November 15th at 10:00-4:00 p.m. at MCC. Please grab some kids or come alone, but do come! Make sure you stop by the RALC table to say hello. Go to http://www.rochesterchildrensbookfestival.com
· LIVE – LOCAL – LITERACY EVENT: Call for Proposals! RALC is looking for area educators willing to share their literacy teaching expertise with colleagues. Presenters can chose to present at one or both of our hour-ish long sessions the morning of February 7th, or they may choose to submit and present two separate sessions. Educators who attend this event will select two different sessions to attend. Please consider submitting a proposal to present at this annual event! Proposal forms are due by December 20 and can be found on our website at http://www.weebly.com/weebly/main.php
· ALL of RALC Reads with Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: We are excited to announce that our spring speaker this year will be Dr. Maureen McLaughlin, past president of IRA. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, April 24, 2015. Our “All of RALC Reads” initiative will focus on the two books recently published by Maureen through IRA – Common Core: Teaching K-5 to Meet the Reading Standards and the exact same text, but for 6-12 teachers. We are looking at starting this after the first of the year, so stay tuned and check our website! http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html
· Publishing Project – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication. Please see the attachment or our website for more information. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html
· Meeting Dates/Times/Location: The RALC Executive Board WELCOMES YOU to all of our meetings. We will be meeting at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield at 5:30 p.m - 7:30 p.m on the following days: Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, April 13, May 11, and June 8. Please consider joining us!
http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html
Please continue to check our website for further information about each item listed above or new opportunities that occur in the future. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Lee Ann Townsend
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/ltownsend/
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear RALC Colleague,
November is upon us and with it comes thoughts – or nightmares –of the impending holidays and snowy weather. But do not fear! RALC is offering you great opportunities to build your pedagogical practices and avoid the stresses of the season.
RALC continues to move forward with exciting events. Just take a quick peek at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org, or come and check out our Executive Board meetings. Every member is welcome! While most of our board meetings will be held at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield from 5:30-7:30, our next meeting is our special holiday dinner gathering at Next Door Grill in Pittsford on Monday, December 8 at 5:30. Please join us for some holiday cheer in between conducting RALC business.
Speaking of RALC business, I would like to share our most recent successes and upcoming events as follows:
· Writing Day: This inaugural event was a huge success with close to 30 children attending from grades 2 – 9; two local authors led the keynote session; and many different activities were available for students to develop the craft of a writer. Please check out the pictures at http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/writing-day---october-18-2014.html .
· Speaker Event Nance Steineke: Nancy presented wonderful ideas on engaging students in text on Nov 5. Once we receive her materials from the presentation, we will post them off our website. One of my favorites was her “Point of View Annotation Technique.” This is where the reader reads a selection through the lens of someone else. For example, using an article about children working through piles of old computers to find recyclable metals, the reader pretends to be a child labor law advocate or the CEO of Apple or the child and makes comments (annotations) in reference to parts of the text. Then you read what you underlined and annotated to a partner and they have to guess which role you assumed. Finally, write a letter to someone (to the CEO of Apple) from the point of view of your role (child labor law advocate or the child).
· Children’s Book Festival: This day is always packed with activities, presentations, and opportunities to meet authors and illustrators of books for children. This year’s festival is Saturday, November 15th at 10:00-4:00 p.m. at MCC. Please grab some kids or come alone, but do come! Make sure you stop by the RALC table to say hello. Go to http://www.rochesterchildrensbookfestival.com
· LIVE – LOCAL – LITERACY EVENT: Call for Proposals! RALC is looking for area educators willing to share their literacy teaching expertise with colleagues. Presenters can chose to present at one or both of our hour-ish long sessions the morning of February 7th, or they may choose to submit and present two separate sessions. Educators who attend this event will select two different sessions to attend. Please consider submitting a proposal to present at this annual event! Proposal forms are due by December 20 and can be found on our website at http://www.weebly.com/weebly/main.php
· ALL of RALC Reads with Dr. Maureen McLaughlin: We are excited to announce that our spring speaker this year will be Dr. Maureen McLaughlin, past president of IRA. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, April 24, 2015. Our “All of RALC Reads” initiative will focus on the two books recently published by Maureen through IRA – Common Core: Teaching K-5 to Meet the Reading Standards and the exact same text, but for 6-12 teachers. We are looking at starting this after the first of the year, so stay tuned and check our website! http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html
· Publishing Project – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication. Please see the attachment or our website for more information. http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/speaker-event---maureen-mclaughlin-april-24-2015.html
· Meeting Dates/Times/Location: The RALC Executive Board WELCOMES YOU to all of our meetings. We will be meeting at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield at 5:30 p.m - 7:30 p.m on the following days: Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, April 13, May 11, and June 8. Please consider joining us!
http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/executive-boards-meeting-dates-2014-15.html
Please continue to check our website for further information about each item listed above or new opportunities that occur in the future. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Lee Ann Townsend
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/ltownsend/
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
October
10, 2014
Dear RALC Colleague,
As a valued member of our organization, it is my pleasure to bring to you a menu of exciting events and activities RALC is planning for the 2014-15 year. After perusing the list below, you will most likely agree that it’s been a very busy and productive fall for the RALC board. Take a moment and decide how RALC can help meet your professional needs this year or how you can get more involved in our organization. As always, we are looking for colleagues willing to serve in a greater capacity. If this sounds interesting to you, I encourage you to attend our next Executive Board meeting on November 3rd from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Cobbles Elementary School or contact a board member with your inquires and interests. Please check out our new website for frequent updates and the latest information relative to RALC events and activities at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org.
· Launching Literacy Learning: We hosted another successful Launching Literacy Learning with keynote speaker and author Vivian Vande Velde. In addition to Vivian, two local librarians, Lisa Osur from Holley CSD and Susan Sullivan from Greece CSD, led engaging sessions focusing on what’s hot in children’s literature. Please go to our website and check-out the resources shared by our presenters at
http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/resources-from-lisa-osur-holley-mshs-librarian.html
· NYSRA Assembly of Delegates Meeting: Two RALC board members attended this meeting the last weekend in September. They act as representatives of RALC and return with great ideas and pertinent information NYSRA shares relative to our council.
· Writing Day: RALC is preparing a special workshop for children interested in writing and/or illustrating on Saturday, Oct. 18th. If you know any children who might be interested, please share the attached flyer with them. If you would like to help facilitate writing/illustrating, please contact Christine Treasure at [email protected]
· November 5th Speaker Event: Nancy Steineke, educational author and collaborator with Harvey Daniels, will be delivering an engaging presentation focusing on bridging k-12 nonfiction text with visual images and alternative viewpoints. Please consider joining us on November 5th at SUNY Brockport from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
· NYSRA Conference - Literacy within Disciplines: This year’s New York State Reading Teacher’s Association Conference is a “must see” event. The conference features renowned educational speakers such as Doug Fisher and Tim Rasinski as well as area professionals. It will be held on November 9-11 at the Holiday Inn, Syracuse/Liverpool. For more information, go to http://www.nysreading.org/Conference/2014
· NYSRA Conference Fellowship Award: RALC is pleased to announce Marcy Hart as our 2014 NYSRA Conference Fellowship Awardee. Marcy will attend NYSRA on a $500 scholarship, and share her experiences with RALC at our February 7th event, Live Local Literacy.
· Children’s Book Festival: Each year, RALC hosts a table at the Children’s Book Festival of Rochester and interacts with the many visitors this event draws. The day is always packed with activities, presentations, and opportunities to meet authors and illustrators of books for children, tweens and teens. This year’s festival is Saturday, November 15th at 10:00-4:00 p.m. at MCC. Please grab some kids or come alone, but do come! Make sure you stop by the RALC table to say hello or stay awhile to help share the message of RALC. For more information, go to http://www.rochesterchildrensbookfestival.com
· ALL of RALC Reads – The power of collective knowledge: We are in the planning stages of connecting our spring speaker with our membership by having a giant book club around a text recently published by this speaker. We are working on securing the speaker and determining the book, so stay tuned and check our website!
· Publishing Project – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication. Please see the attachment or our website for more information.
· Meeting Dates/Times/Location: The RALC Executive Board WELCOMES YOU to all of our meetings. We will be meeting at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield at 5:30 p.m - 7:30 p.m on the following days: Nov. 3, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, April 13, May 11, and June 8. Please consider joining us!
Please continue to check our website for further information about each item listed above or new opportunities that occur in the future. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Lee Ann Townsend
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/ltownsend/
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear RALC Colleague,
As a valued member of our organization, it is my pleasure to bring to you a menu of exciting events and activities RALC is planning for the 2014-15 year. After perusing the list below, you will most likely agree that it’s been a very busy and productive fall for the RALC board. Take a moment and decide how RALC can help meet your professional needs this year or how you can get more involved in our organization. As always, we are looking for colleagues willing to serve in a greater capacity. If this sounds interesting to you, I encourage you to attend our next Executive Board meeting on November 3rd from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Cobbles Elementary School or contact a board member with your inquires and interests. Please check out our new website for frequent updates and the latest information relative to RALC events and activities at www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org.
· Launching Literacy Learning: We hosted another successful Launching Literacy Learning with keynote speaker and author Vivian Vande Velde. In addition to Vivian, two local librarians, Lisa Osur from Holley CSD and Susan Sullivan from Greece CSD, led engaging sessions focusing on what’s hot in children’s literature. Please go to our website and check-out the resources shared by our presenters at
http://www.rochesterarealiteracycouncil.org/resources-from-lisa-osur-holley-mshs-librarian.html
· NYSRA Assembly of Delegates Meeting: Two RALC board members attended this meeting the last weekend in September. They act as representatives of RALC and return with great ideas and pertinent information NYSRA shares relative to our council.
· Writing Day: RALC is preparing a special workshop for children interested in writing and/or illustrating on Saturday, Oct. 18th. If you know any children who might be interested, please share the attached flyer with them. If you would like to help facilitate writing/illustrating, please contact Christine Treasure at [email protected]
· November 5th Speaker Event: Nancy Steineke, educational author and collaborator with Harvey Daniels, will be delivering an engaging presentation focusing on bridging k-12 nonfiction text with visual images and alternative viewpoints. Please consider joining us on November 5th at SUNY Brockport from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
· NYSRA Conference - Literacy within Disciplines: This year’s New York State Reading Teacher’s Association Conference is a “must see” event. The conference features renowned educational speakers such as Doug Fisher and Tim Rasinski as well as area professionals. It will be held on November 9-11 at the Holiday Inn, Syracuse/Liverpool. For more information, go to http://www.nysreading.org/Conference/2014
· NYSRA Conference Fellowship Award: RALC is pleased to announce Marcy Hart as our 2014 NYSRA Conference Fellowship Awardee. Marcy will attend NYSRA on a $500 scholarship, and share her experiences with RALC at our February 7th event, Live Local Literacy.
· Children’s Book Festival: Each year, RALC hosts a table at the Children’s Book Festival of Rochester and interacts with the many visitors this event draws. The day is always packed with activities, presentations, and opportunities to meet authors and illustrators of books for children, tweens and teens. This year’s festival is Saturday, November 15th at 10:00-4:00 p.m. at MCC. Please grab some kids or come alone, but do come! Make sure you stop by the RALC table to say hello or stay awhile to help share the message of RALC. For more information, go to http://www.rochesterchildrensbookfestival.com
· ALL of RALC Reads – The power of collective knowledge: We are in the planning stages of connecting our spring speaker with our membership by having a giant book club around a text recently published by this speaker. We are working on securing the speaker and determining the book, so stay tuned and check our website!
· Publishing Project – Imagine, Discover, Create: Do you have students who love to write and/or illustrate and would like to be published? Then this opportunity is for them! Please encourage these students to consider submitting their work to be placed in this year’s publication. Please see the attachment or our website for more information.
· Meeting Dates/Times/Location: The RALC Executive Board WELCOMES YOU to all of our meetings. We will be meeting at Cobbles Elementary School in Penfield at 5:30 p.m - 7:30 p.m on the following days: Nov. 3, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, April 13, May 11, and June 8. Please consider joining us!
Please continue to check our website for further information about each item listed above or new opportunities that occur in the future. Thank you for your time and commitment to RALC! I look forward to connecting with you in the near future!
Sincerely,
Lee Ann Townsend
President, Rochester Area Literacy Council
Lee Ann Townsend
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Brockport
Rdg Specialist/K-5 ELA RtI Coordinator
Penfield Central School District
585-249-6500, ext 8536
[email protected]
http://www.penfield.edu/webpages/ltownsend/
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
