Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Manitoba Reading Association Report


MRA began the year with a weekend retreat providing a time to reflect on our core values and to consider our journey for the coming year and the future. We had a very successful professional development day in April with Tanny McGregor and our local council @RCGW hosted the MTSPD Day in October with Donalyn Miller.


President Sandi Shaw-Lyons and the team led MRA to ILA’s  Award of Excellence Angie Burdette and Lisa Carlson provided an  I Love to Read initiative on Critical Literacy. You can find more information on our website http://www.readingmanitoba.org.  MRA will be hosting our 4th Adolescent Reading Summit April 12-13, 2017, chaired by our new President Susan Hayward. Save the Date as we have confirmed Pernille Ripp, John Schumacher, Linda Christensen, and Richard Van Camp as keynote speakers and have many other speakers joining us for the summit.  We will also be featuring an author’s panel and a student panel.


Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg also hosted a local clinician, Monica Wiebe, for a successful day program. Pembina Escarpment Reading Council hosted a successful workshop with Sally Bender. MRA Crocus Awards were combined with the RCGW Awards for a pilot and the evening was a lovely celebration for literacy leaders.


A highlight of the year was our increased social media presence.  Our website was updated more frequently and we have created a presence on Twitter.  Tanny McGregor co-hosted a twitter chat with us in January prior to her presentation on Reading Comprehension. Our local board members Susan Hayward and Lisa Carlson hosted a twitter chat in May for #mbedchat. You can find us on Twitter @mra_mb and our local councils @RCGWinnipeg @PercReads and @MCRConline.


Future PD in Manitoba-


Laurie Elish-Piper is coming to Manitoba Oct. 6-7 hosted by the Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians 

The Two Sisters are coming for the RCGW MTS-PD event in October and the event is already filled to capacity. RCGW is also celebrating their 60th anniversary as it was one of the first councils formed after IRA in 1956.


CSIG-L

Our Elmwood team from WSD are representing Manitoba at the CSIG-L presentation on Saturdayat ILA16. MRA Crocus Administrator of the year 2015 Award Winner Mike Babb, Leslie Dickson RCGW Certificate of Merit Award Winner and Joanne Sabourin presented on their School-Wide Literacy Plan. 


A number of our board members are attending #ILA16 in Boston! We are also working with our local Manitoba ASCD affiliate to be aware of speakers coming to Manitoba. Penny Kittle is an upcoming ASCD speaker in the spring of 2017.


We tip our hats to Carol Hryniuk-Adamov who has served as Provincial ILA co-ordinator for many years. She has brought so many of us to MRA and local councils and we sincerely appreciate her contributions and continued mentorship.  Appreciation is also sent to Louise Duncan, our outgoing past-president who has helped to guide MRA for the past number of years.


We will continue to work towards Every Manitoban, a literate Manitoban.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Apples With Many Seeds: Picture book Top 10 on the 10th - The World needs more Canada

Apples With Many Seeds: Picture book Top 10 on the 10th - The World needs more Canada

I am always looking for Canadian authors and Canadian picture books. Look at this gem! The blog mentions some of my favourite authors and characters: Stella and Sam from Marie-Louise Gay and Chester and Scaredy Squirrel from Melanie Watt. I like to have Watt's books in both English and French in my collection as I think it is a great way to promote reading in another language. (Also Dr Seuss books in French to promote reading!)

 I listened to Roy Henry Vickers speak in Winnipeg many years ago and have followed his art work since that time. I am going to add the Tomson Highway suggestions to my collection.

I can think of lots of opportunities to use O Canada by Ted Harrison and also his Sam McGee and Dan McGrew. I recall one of my ELA 40S students reciting Sam McGee. Having the picture book would have been a great addition to our experience.

What are your favourite Canadian picture books and authors?

Check out the #pb10for10 hashtag on Twitter.