Join the NFRC Professional Development Book Club
The NFRC 1st Annual Professional Book Club: 2013-2014
NFRC Professional Book Discussion Group: A Recap of Year One
The NFRC Professional Book Discussion Group, a Professional Development service and benefit for members of the Niagara Frontier Reading Council that launched at the 2013 Fall Mini-Conference, met four times this school year to discuss in depth, Great Habits, Great Readers. Members received this professional text/practical guide written by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo, Aja Settles, and Juliana Worrell (Jossey-Bass, 2013) as part of their 2013-14 membership package.
The first year of the Professional Book Discussion Group met with great success as evidenced by the enthusiastic feedback of members who participated in the discussions. An average of 23 members attended each of the four meetings. Discussions of specific portions of the book were announced via NFRC communications and led by Carol Bush, Patty Oliphant, Kathleen Montesanti, Mary Beth Scumaci, and Judy Bradbury. The NFRC thanks all those who volunteered their time and efforts to prepare and assist with leading the book discussion group meetings. Thanks also go to member Lisa Insalaco for securing a location at which to hold two of the book discussion group meetings free of charge.
As we look forward to Year Two, the NFRC PBDG committee is requesting your feedback. We are considering holding a “one-off” meeting in the fall at which time members would bring favorite benchmark texts to share with the group. Following the meeting, a list of the books discussed would be disseminated to the group. Also being considered is the possibility of conducting book discussions online in addition to holding periodic face-to-face meetings. Finally, the committee is searching for books or articles that might be of interest to discuss in-depth.
If you have suggestions, thoughts, or comments, please send them along. The PBDG committee will meet in early summer. Care to join us? Members are always welcome. Contact me at judyreads@bluefrog.com.
Judy Bradbury
Professional Development Chair
*Please note: You must be a member of NFRC to participate in the Professional Book Discussion Group.
For Professional Development news, information, and resources compiled by Judy Bradbury for the NFRC, please visit the Professional Development page on the NFRC website at www.thenfrc.org. Contact Judy at judyreads@bluefrog.com with professional news you’d like to share with colleagues in our organization.
The first year of the Professional Book Discussion Group met with great success as evidenced by the enthusiastic feedback of members who participated in the discussions. An average of 23 members attended each of the four meetings. Discussions of specific portions of the book were announced via NFRC communications and led by Carol Bush, Patty Oliphant, Kathleen Montesanti, Mary Beth Scumaci, and Judy Bradbury. The NFRC thanks all those who volunteered their time and efforts to prepare and assist with leading the book discussion group meetings. Thanks also go to member Lisa Insalaco for securing a location at which to hold two of the book discussion group meetings free of charge.
As we look forward to Year Two, the NFRC PBDG committee is requesting your feedback. We are considering holding a “one-off” meeting in the fall at which time members would bring favorite benchmark texts to share with the group. Following the meeting, a list of the books discussed would be disseminated to the group. Also being considered is the possibility of conducting book discussions online in addition to holding periodic face-to-face meetings. Finally, the committee is searching for books or articles that might be of interest to discuss in-depth.
If you have suggestions, thoughts, or comments, please send them along. The PBDG committee will meet in early summer. Care to join us? Members are always welcome. Contact me at judyreads@bluefrog.com.
Judy Bradbury
Professional Development Chair
*Please note: You must be a member of NFRC to participate in the Professional Book Discussion Group.
For Professional Development news, information, and resources compiled by Judy Bradbury for the NFRC, please visit the Professional Development page on the NFRC website at www.thenfrc.org. Contact Judy at judyreads@bluefrog.com with professional news you’d like to share with colleagues in our organization.
NFRC Professional Book Discussion Group Update
Dear NFRC Members,
Our next Professional Book Discussion Group meeting will take place immediately following the NFRC Spring Brunch on Saturday, April 5. It will be co-led by Mary Beth Scumaci and me and will last one hour. We will discuss “Part 4: Lead by Habit” (pp. 261-308). This will be our final PBDG meeting for this school year. Invite your colleagues to join our organization and participate in the discussion! A few copies of Great Habits, Great Readers are still available for $23.00—it’s not too late to grab a copy and learn from this highly acclaimed book!
Please take a moment to click the link below and let us know if you're planning to attend the PBDG meeting. This will help with planning for handouts and seating.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bx3MSSlePF5LXlqlrK5HhJQB4cI3vNjlLsiErSSAEGc/viewform
If you have suggestions for future selections for the PBDG, please bring information on the book to the meeting or send it to me at judyreads@bluefrog.com. The PBDG committee will be reviewing suggestions in late Spring.
Finally, please remember donations for the NFRC Nicaragua Mission Project will be accepted at all NFRC events. School supplies, both new and used, are welcome and appreciated!
**Please note: You must be a member of NFRC to participate in the Professional Book Discussion Group. You may join at any time to take advantage of member benefits.**
Thanks!
See you at the brunch,
Judy Bradbury
NFRC Professional Development Chair
Dear NFRC Members,
Our next Professional Book Discussion Group meeting will take place immediately following the NFRC Spring Brunch on Saturday, April 5. It will be co-led by Mary Beth Scumaci and me and will last one hour. We will discuss “Part 4: Lead by Habit” (pp. 261-308). This will be our final PBDG meeting for this school year. Invite your colleagues to join our organization and participate in the discussion! A few copies of Great Habits, Great Readers are still available for $23.00—it’s not too late to grab a copy and learn from this highly acclaimed book!
Please take a moment to click the link below and let us know if you're planning to attend the PBDG meeting. This will help with planning for handouts and seating.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bx3MSSlePF5LXlqlrK5HhJQB4cI3vNjlLsiErSSAEGc/viewform
If you have suggestions for future selections for the PBDG, please bring information on the book to the meeting or send it to me at judyreads@bluefrog.com. The PBDG committee will be reviewing suggestions in late Spring.
Finally, please remember donations for the NFRC Nicaragua Mission Project will be accepted at all NFRC events. School supplies, both new and used, are welcome and appreciated!
**Please note: You must be a member of NFRC to participate in the Professional Book Discussion Group. You may join at any time to take advantage of member benefits.**
Thanks!
See you at the brunch,
Judy Bradbury
NFRC Professional Development Chair
Introducing a NEW Professional Book Club for Educators in WNY:
The Niagara Frontier Reading Council Professional Book Discussion Group launches at the Fall Mini-Conference!
Be sure to save the date and plan to attend the NFRC’s Fall Mini-Conference on October 5, at which we have plenty planned! One part of the exciting morning program is the distribution of the first pick for the NFRC Professional Book Discussion Group! Sign up for the Fall Mini-Conference and receive a copy of the book at no charge!
Great Habits Great Readers is Paul Bambrick-Santoyo’s latest publication. You may be familiar with this leading author in the field from reading his highly acclaimed previous books, Driven by Data and Leverage Leadership. After reviewing several possible resources, we chose Great Habits Great Readers because it offers practical tips for building competent reading habits in our students. Written in an accessible style, the format of the book lends itself well to discussion among professionals in the field. A DVD is also included.
From the back cover: “Great Habits Great Readers is about the choices…literacy instructors can make to teach every one of our students the habits of skillful reading. It outlines those strategies, systems, and lesson types that bring the habits of reading to life…one of the most complex skills humans can learn.”
At the Fall Mini-Conference we plan to launch the NFRC Professional Book Discussion Group by giving you an overview of the book’s content, familiarizing you with its structure, and focusing on a strategy the author outlines early in the book. You’ll get a taste of the book discussion group. But this is your group! We will survey members as to preferences in time of day, day of the week, length of meetings, and preferred locations. We’ll collate the results and work to tailor the group’s structure to satisfy the preferences of the majority of participating members. We’ll also ask you for input in choosing titles for future selections for discussion by the group.
As we progress, let us know if the NFRC Professional Book Discussion Group is meeting your professional needs and offer suggestions on how we can make it better! You can contact me anytime at judyreads@bluefrog.com. Place NFRC PD in the subject line, please.
Judy Bradbury is the Professional Development Chair for the Niagara Frontier Reading Council (www.thenfrc.org).
Great Habits Great Readers is Paul Bambrick-Santoyo’s latest publication. You may be familiar with this leading author in the field from reading his highly acclaimed previous books, Driven by Data and Leverage Leadership. After reviewing several possible resources, we chose Great Habits Great Readers because it offers practical tips for building competent reading habits in our students. Written in an accessible style, the format of the book lends itself well to discussion among professionals in the field. A DVD is also included.
From the back cover: “Great Habits Great Readers is about the choices…literacy instructors can make to teach every one of our students the habits of skillful reading. It outlines those strategies, systems, and lesson types that bring the habits of reading to life…one of the most complex skills humans can learn.”
At the Fall Mini-Conference we plan to launch the NFRC Professional Book Discussion Group by giving you an overview of the book’s content, familiarizing you with its structure, and focusing on a strategy the author outlines early in the book. You’ll get a taste of the book discussion group. But this is your group! We will survey members as to preferences in time of day, day of the week, length of meetings, and preferred locations. We’ll collate the results and work to tailor the group’s structure to satisfy the preferences of the majority of participating members. We’ll also ask you for input in choosing titles for future selections for discussion by the group.
As we progress, let us know if the NFRC Professional Book Discussion Group is meeting your professional needs and offer suggestions on how we can make it better! You can contact me anytime at judyreads@bluefrog.com. Place NFRC PD in the subject line, please.
Judy Bradbury is the Professional Development Chair for the Niagara Frontier Reading Council (www.thenfrc.org).