December Meeting–Dec. 2

COMING SOON:  The titles that were discussed at this wonderful evening!

Best Books of 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

4:30-6:00

The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, 1475 Western Avenue  Albany, NY

Panel discussion of great books featuring:

Expert teacher Dr. Sherry Guice,

Author and illustrator Matthew McElligott,

Book House expert Maggie Skinner,

NYSRA Charlotte Award committee members Mary Beth Farr and Liz Yanoff

Join local readers to hear about the best books of 2009 for both children and adults.  Enjoy tea and browse books as we celebrate another year of great reading.

Sponsored by

Albany City Area Reading Council and the Book House.

Free and open to the public.  Professional development certificate provided.  As always, educators receive a 20% discount with books they will use with students!

October Meeting Minutes

First meeting of the 2009-10 ACARC had a great start with twenty in attendance, three leaders (Susan Moose, Josephine Sorensen & Liz Yanoff), and two guest speakers (Anne Schiano & Erik Sweet from State Ed). Since it was the first meeting with many new faces, we started with a “Get to Know You” match-up. Everyone was given a colored sticker when they arrived, and found someone with the same color to ask three questions, and then introduce that person to everyone. It was a fun way to start our year.

Susan Moose, President, had a call to business taking a vote for new by-laws that were distributed to everyone at the meeting. The by-laws were accepted, and we moved on to another “fun” event of drawing for two prizes (a basket of goodies and a gift card to Staples). Rita Melander won the GC for bringing a friend and Mary Beth Farr won the goody bag.

Liz Yanoff, Treasurer ACARC & Charlotte Award committee member, distributed a copy of Skribblers Magazine to everyone, gave everyone a free book, and asked if anyone was interested in signing up for 2010 book loans for the Charlotte Book Awards.

Anne and Erik discussed how literacy is not isolated and is related to all disciplines with the 25 fastest-growing professions having far greater literacy demands. The idea of a national set of standards is being looked at so that transient learners would not be affected as much. A one day (3 hour) English regents will be in effect 2011.

Kitty Verbeck, professor CSR, gave an invitation for new teachers to attend The College of St. Rose on 11/17/09 from 6:30 – 8 p.m.  ACARC will have a table set up there with information.

Thanks to Barbara Kling for preparing a mini feast of fall edible goodies for everyone.

J. Sorensen, Vice President

Albany_City_Reading_Council_2009[1]

October Meeting Update

Thank to Anne Schiano and Eric Sweet from NYSED for a thoughtful presentation on the NY and national standards for ELA.  ACARC members are urged to continue conversations with NYSED as the state considers its new standards and how they will correlate with the Common Core  Standards.  Also please visit http://www.corestandards.org/ to comment on the draft college and career readiness standards by Oct. 21.

We hope to see ACARC members and friends at our December 2 meeting at the Little  Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza.  We’ll be discussing our favorite books of 2009 with local experts.  Don’t forget the early bird deadline for the NYSRA conference is Dec. 1.

October Meeting

Standards & Testing:

The Latest News from the NY State Education Department

Anne Schiano, Assistant Director,

Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Instructional Technology

Erik Sweet, Associate in the English Language Arts

New York State Education Department

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
4:30-6:00
Campus Center at Sage Albany Campus

Room 347 (upstairs from our usual space)

Speakers from the NY State Education Department will share the current news about state testing and standards as well as answer your questions.  The meeting is free for Albany City Area Reading Council members.  $10.00 for guests.

Also, we have two raffles: a  gift card to Staples for anyone who brings a non-member and a bag of goodies from NYSRA for anyone who pays or has paid their dues!

Other business:

1.  By-laws voting

2.  Call for volunteers:

We need people to :

* bring food to meetings (all costs are reimbursed)

*put together the ACARC basket for the NYSRA silent auction in March

*create a display board about ACARC for the March conference

Please let us know if you can help in any way!  E-mail:  acarcny@gmail.com

Membership for 2009-2010

Past members will receive a membership brochure in the mail as the new school year begins.  Everyone can download the brochure from the website now (check under the membership tab).

Based on feedback from NYSRA and members we’ve changed 2 things for the 2009-2010 membership year:

1.  The membership year will now run from October-October (instead of the past May-May membership year).  You will need to renew your membership every fall to maintain your ACARC & NYSRA membership privileges.   Membership isn’t determined by when you become a member.  For example, if you join in December 2009, you will still need to renew in October 2010.  Changing to a fall membership renewal makes sense because our programs start then.  Keeping with the NYSRA tradition of a 1 year membership allows for more manageable bookkeeping for our membership chair.

2.  NYSRA is offering free membership for first year teachers so we will as well.  Spread the word to new teachers that they can join ACARC & NYSRA for free!  The membership brochure has a section for new teachers.  Full time students also get a discount paying only $13.

If you have questions about this please contact us at acarcny@gmail.com

2009-10 Calendar of Events posted

The Calendar of Events page has been updated with the 2009-2010 events.

Standards & Testing: The Latest News from the NY State Education Department

Anne Schiano, Assistant Director, Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Instructional Technology & Erik Sweet, Associate in the English Language Arts

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
4:30-6:00
Campus Center at Sage Albany Campus

Speakers from the NY State Education Department will share with us the current news about state testing and standards as well as answer your questions.

Best Books of 2009
Panelists will include expert teacher Dr. Sherry Guice, author Matthew McElligott, Book House expert Susan Taylor, and NYSRA Charlotte Award committee members
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
4:30-6:00
Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany

Join local readers to hear about the best books of 2009 for both children and adults.  Enjoy tea and browse books as we celebrate another year of great reading.

Writing Instruction that Improves Reading Comprehension
Dr. Irene Rosenthal
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
4:30-6:00
The College of St. Rose, Thelma P. Lally School of Education

Research reveals that good writing instruction has a positive effect on reading comprehension.  Come and learn more about writing lessons that help students become more strategic readers.

NYSRA Annual Conference
On Track with Literacy
March 7-9, 2010
Saratoga Springs

See the New York State Reading Association website for more information on the annual conference.

Teaching to the Male and Female Brain
Tracy Morrell
Thursday, March 25, 2010
4:30-6:00
The College of St. Rose, Student Center, Standish Room #3

We are aware of the differences between males and females and there is research to prove that we physically develop differently.  So why is it that we teach to both genders the same?  Come a discover the differences in our students and how to teach to their strengths.

Rose Marie Kent

Thursday, May 14, 2009

4:30 – 6:00

Guilderland Public Library, Helderberg Room

A Conversation with Rose Marie Kent

Author of Kimchee and Calamari

Local author Rose Marie Kent will share her writing process and inspire us with her words of wisdom.  Interested members are encouraged to join us after the talk for dinner and planning for another great year of ACARC. 

Underground Railroad in Albany

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Sage College, Albany Campus on New Scotland Ave.,

Kahl Campus Center

http://www.sage.edu/aboutsage/location/albany/index.php

Underground Railroad in Albany

Mary Elizabeth Steware, Underground History Project of the Capital Region

Mary Elizabeth Stewart will speak about recent developments in her project to uncover Albany’s rich history as a terminus in the underground railroad.  She will offer suggestions for integrating this into the curriculum at various grade levels.