In her "Ode to David Letterman" Linda Gambrell (president of IRA) presented these as her top 10 reasons for pleasure reading in her keynote address:10. Reading exercises the brain.9. Reading helps you become fluent in a second language- text language. 8. The more you read the smarter you get. (Anne Cunningham and Keith Stanovich)7. Reading… Continue reading IRA-2008- Part 2
Tag: IRA
IRA, 2008- Part One
Even for a writer, it is hard to describe the energy and enthusiasm of 20,000 reading teachers, principals, and literacy coaches who came together to learn the latest methods to teach reading and writing. The World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. was packed this week with educators to whom "Reading Matters"- as the pin, which… Continue reading IRA, 2008- Part One
Blogging Benefits Teen Writers
A recent report featured in E-School News, indicated that teens who blog write more frequently both online and offline, according to a study by Pew Internet and American Life Project with support from the College Board and its National Commission on Writing.In fact, "Forty-seven percent of teen bloggers write outside of school for personal reasons… Continue reading Blogging Benefits Teen Writers
Who reads for pleasure anymore?
According to International Reading Association president Linda Gambrell in a her recent column in Reading Today, the number of teens and young adults who are reading just for fun is decreasing. Citing data from a National Endowment for the Arts report released in November 2007, Gambrell recounted these unsettling statistics:Nearly half of all Americans ages… Continue reading Who reads for pleasure anymore?
Things that make a writer excited- part 2
This has been a fantastic day! I just received word that my proposal, "Learn from the Masters: How Creating a Fictional Character Enhances Reading Instruction" was accepted for the 2008 IRA convention in Atlanta, next May. This is quite an honor, particularly for a new author like me. On top of that, my article "Show,… Continue reading Things that make a writer excited- part 2
Learning from Literature
As I'm writing my second IRA proposal on "Show Don't Tell: How Creating a Genre Setting Enhances Reading Instruction" I am once again thinking about how I have learned to be a writer because I am a life-long reader. Lots of time writers give the same advice as I do, "If you want to write,… Continue reading Learning from Literature
Does Fiction Writing Help Students Write Nonfiction?
I think it does!I've been thinking about this topic as I've prepared a proposal for the IRA (International Reading Association) 2008 conference. My main idea is that there are many crossover skills between fiction and nonfiction such as focus, organization, including appropriate details, and practicing writing mechanics. On top of that, writing a short story… Continue reading Does Fiction Writing Help Students Write Nonfiction?