We just finished the first day of our Spring Institute and it was a huge success! Thank you to all the wonderful educators who joined as at the lovely Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA! We learned all about teaching real-life reading and connecting it to the state test in grades 3-6. The teachers here are SO enthusiastic, and I loved every minute of being with them.
A special thanks to my husband, Tom, who set up this conference and is traveling with me here in Richmond. We are really enjoying this amazing city! Also, Gretchen Childs, my associate, and Kelly Simmons, my assistant, are making our conference a special time for everyone involved. They have all done tons behind the scenes, and I am grateful to be surrounded by such great people.
We LOVE Richmond! What an historic, lovely city! After the training today, we all went to Carytown, a great neighborhood. What fun! We went shopping at my new favorite store, Ruth & Ollie, and then to dinner at Mom’s Siam for Thai food.
Two more days here. Can’t wait!
Lots of upper-grade teachers join us at the Jefferson Hotel
Signing books in Richmond
Gretchen and Kelly at Ruth & Ollie
Ruth & Ollie storefront
Dinner al fresco with Tom, Gretchen, and Kelly
It was awesome! We’re all so glad we came!!
Hi Deb: thanks for the kind words about Ruth & Ollie. We are lucky to have met you and your team. It was so fun talking with y’all. Maybe we should open Ruth & Ollie – Houston…that way we could get the tex-mex we are craving.
food for thought…literally!
Enjoy the rest of your stay in Richmond and have a safe trip home
And Virginia loves you!! We had the best time at your conference and left feeling inspired and reenergized! You gave such meaningful, purposeful ideas about how we can prepare our readers for the state tests, I couldn’t wait to go back and give it a go! I immediately tried the shared reading lesson you demonstrated with some reading about the explorers we need to cover for social studies. In one shot, I taught a meaningful reading strategy lesson, prepared them for the state reading test and exposed them to social studies concepts. The students were involved and engaged the entire way through. I raved about your confererence and we need you to come back and give 3-5 teachers more! Please consider a return trip with soon! Thanks for the great day!
Dear Debbie and all….
I just attended the last two days of your institute here in Richmond (I was the one who asked about the dreaded scripted programs). I just wanted to thank you for the great experience. You certainly recharged my batteries for the coming nine weeks — and especially for next year! You answered the biggest question that has plagued me for the last few years — why can’t small groups stay engaged at stations? The concept of using pairs is pure genius! I don’t know that I can fully makeover my classroom for the last nine weeks, but I will be busy over the summer for sure!
So glad you enjoyed Richmond! I think I can speak for everyone when I say, we sure enjoyed what you brought to us!
Thanks so very much! Safe travels….