Book Geeks

This weekend, Mickey and I went to the Michigan Reading Association conference. It was held in Detroit this year. Last year, it was held in Grand Rapids, and it was the first time we attended.

We're book geeks. And we're not afraid to admit it. We stalk authors, get starstruck when we see reading researchers, and spend a lot of money on books for ourselves and our classrooms. Going to the MRA conference just helps feed our obsession.

The conference is attended by teachers from all parts of Michigan, and is one of the biggest reading conferences in the country. There are some really famous authors and illustrators who are invited to speak, and some prominent researchers who are invited to teach. Last year we spent a lot of time listening to authors and illustrators, but this year it was all about the research. We stalked one of the most prominent reading researchers when we attended two of his sessions, then attended two sessions of a sister-team who taught some pretty innovative teaching techniques.

Mickey and I are in similar new situations this year, especially now that I am doing the long-term sub thing. This year, she moved from special ed to general ed, and is finding her way in her 2nd grade classroom. She obviously has a lot more teaching experience than I do, and she is such a great resource for me. It was really fun going to the conference with her this year, because we could bounce ideas off each other, brainstorm how things could work in each other's classrooms, and laugh at our geekiness. And of course, anytime Mickey and I are together, there is pretty much incessant conversation happening. We catch up, we reminisce, we plan.

The problem with these kinds of conferences is that you want to start using all the new techniques in your classroom on Monday. Totally unrealistic, but totally tempting. This conference pumps you up, and the camaraderie is contagious. Everyone there believes in and breathes reading. You can't help but think that you can do it all. Tomorrow.

I think I'll start with adding a read-aloud of poetry tomorrow. One day at a time, eh?