March 2022
In this issue:
On Tuesday, April 12th, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries will be hosting their annual Read Across Oklahoma event to celebrate literacy and encourage reading in our youngest learners. This event for Pre-K through 2nd-grade students features Oklahoma author Dennis Mathew reading his book My Wild First Day of School and singing songs with the kids, as well as numerous activities and crafts for the children to enjoy.
Read Across Oklahoma will be both in-person and virtual this year, with all of the in-person activities taking place at the Oklahoma City Zoo. All activities at the zoo are free with regular admission, and the first 1,000 students through the gates at the zoo will also receive a free book.
This is a wonderful way for our youngest Oklahoma learners to celebrate reading! Go to libraries.ok.gov for all of the Read Across Oklahoma info or contact Leslie Gelders at Leslie.Gelders@libraries.ok.gov or 405-522-3242.
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To celebrate National Poetry Month and Oklahoma, the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry conducts an annual Oklahoma Poem contest with poems being judged in four categories: K-4th, 5th-8th, 9th-12th, and adult. Entering is simple: authors only need to write a creative poem that honors or celebrates Oklahoma in some way.
For contest guidelines and criteria, or to submit a poem, visit the Oklahoma Poem Contest page on the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry site. The deadline to submit is Monday, April 4th, 2022.
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There are numerous literacy-based learning opportunities happening in the next few weeks, and each of them features renowned speakers. My learning opportunity hack: Even if you can't attend the live event, register for access to the recording. That allows you to get great information at a time that works for you!
The Reading League Oklahoma- Orthographic Mapping and Word Forms: Wednesday, March 9th
AIM Institute's 10th Annual Research to Practice Symposium: Monday, March 14th
 Visit the event page for more information on symposium speakers and to register for free. A recording will be available to those who register if you are unable to attend the live virtual event.
Oklahoma Literacy Association's Annual Conference: Saturday, April 2nd at Rogers State University, Claremore
The Oklahoma Literacy Association's Annual Literacy Conference is in person this year! The event will take place at Rogers State University in Claremore, and will feature keynote speaker Dr. Tim Rasinski as well as several breakout sessions and vendor tables.
There is a registration fee, but that does cover a continental breakfast and boxed lunch. To register, visit the OLA Annual Conference page. For more details about the event and the keynote speaker, check out the OLA Facebook page.
Oregon Response to Instruction & Intervention's Annual Conference: Thursday & Friday, April 28th-29th
 In addition to the keynote speakers, each day of this virtual event will include breakout sessions by presenters including Kymyona Burk, Joan Sedita, Stephanie Stollar, and several more. Go to the Annual Conference Page for more information or to register.
Writing Prompt of the Month: Focus on Revision
Author Patricia MacLachlan celebrated her birthday on March 3. She is the author of numerous books, including two of my favorites: Sarah, Plain and Tall and All the Places to Love.
MacLachlan was interviewed by twowritingteachers.org and when asked what three things she wished someone had told her about writing when she was younger, she replied,
"What I didn't know then that I know now is that writers don't get a story right the first time. We write and rewrite over and over again. I write chapter 1 of a story three or four times before I go on to chapter 2. That takes a long time. Writers have to be very patient."
This month's writing prompt: Have your students really focus on revision with a section of their writing. Provide some examples of what kinds of revision can occur (e.g., adding, deleting, or moving words/phrases). Allow time to pass between revisions, and see how different the third or fourth version is from the first. Then have students choose the version they prefer.
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Reading Quote of the Month
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"Students need to read as a writer--slowly, carefully, sometimes enviously, always asking, "How did they do that?". The best "rules" we can learn are those we derive from reading authors we admire."
Tom Newkirk
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