Reading specialists from the Snowflake Unified School District attended the International Reading Association Conference held July 18-20 in New Orleans, and Chris Ramsay, Jennifer Rose, Kari Lopez and Amber Reidhead reported on their experiences at the Oct. 9 district governing board meeting.
While at the conference, they met reading specialists and literary scholars from all over the country.
Ramsay noted that the common theme the authors relayed was that throughout their childhood they were not good readers, but they all had one good teacher who touched them and they are now well known authors.
Rose talked about the events they attended. She said that at the Authors Luncheon, each said that they struggled with reading and yet they became authors. She noted that the breakout sessions featured renowned authors who spoke and shared information.
“We picked examples of what we are already doing in our district,” Rose said. “We want to better support our teachers.
Lopez spoke about using guided reading so that no students are left behind. She said, “The conference was not just to help us grow, but to bring it to the teachers in the classroom…Yes, we’re doing these things, but we want to be even better,” adding that it will benefit faculty, because they will give classes to teachers and share what they have learned.
There were exhibits of products, services and resources available to help provide literacy educations.
They ended their presentation with photos of their activities, which included touring New Orleans, and gave the board members necklaces.
In other business, the board:
* Approved policy changes recommended by the Arizona School Boards Association.
Superintendent Hollis Merrell pointed out that the only change for the district would be that a rigorous computer science course would fulfill a mathematics course required for graduation from high school. He noted that the board was not approving going to 22 credits to graduate, the district will still require 24 credits, because it requires physical education and health, and one more elective than the state requires.
* Approved the annual Declaration of Curricular and Instructional Alignment to the Arizona Academic Standards, which must be submitted to the Arizona Department of Education to show that the district is aligned with the standards it is required to teach.
* Approved the qualified district evaluators, including Merrell, Cindy Peterson, Neil Westover, Brian Hoopes, Jody Bentz, Roy Owens, Ron Tenney, Larry Titus, Kevin Standerfer, Kay Solomon, Debbie Muder and Jeremy Hatch.
