2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE October 20-21, 2023
2022 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE October 21-22, 2022
2021 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
October 22-23, 2021
2020 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
November 13-14, 2020
CRA Literacy Conference 2019
Highlights from the 52nd CRA Conference (2019): Reading in Wonderland
Photos by CRA Board and Text by Dr. Nancy Rogers-Zegarra, Editor
The CRA 2019 Conference attendees were treated to two powerful days of literacy learning at Reading in Wonderland: Rekindling the Wonder of Books held at the McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento on October 18-19, 2019. Early Friday morning, CRA Chapter Officers attended a Leadership Retreat, “Fishing for Leadership," where they rekindled their desire to be literacy advocates, planned engaging literacy activities for their members, and networked.
The” Wonder of Reading” was further highlighted on Friday by a tour of Barrett Ranch School, which featured a school culture focused on literacy, including reading lounges where students can curl up, read books and let their imaginations take them on magical journeys. The whimsical decorations at the Conference Center set the stage for our literacy adventure. A myriad of breakout sessions had participants wondering," Which road do I take?” but as the Cheshire Cat reminds us, “Every adventure requires a first step," and attendees were excited about the variety of sessions. Featured speaker Dr. Adria Klein inspired teachers with her talk on "Powerful Small Group Practices: Scaffolding All Students to Read Complex Texts by Teaching for Transfer."
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, on Friday afternoon, gathered a stellar group of ten outstanding authors who dazzled and delighted participants as they shared the wonder of their fiction and non-fiction books and activities taking us for an adventure in fantasy and reality.
On Saturday morning, we were entertained by singer/songwriter John Farrell followed by keynote speaker Lester Laminack who captivated the crowd with an uplifting speech entitled the “ Wonder of the Read Aloud." Lester modeled how to spark the interest for all children when doing a Read-Aloud followed by thirty-two informative breakout sessions on reading, writing, listening, and speaking, including a Reading Recovery and emergent literacy strand.
An emotional moment at the conference came after lunch when CRA honored the Paradise teachers with gift books bags. Lori Oczkus talked about the fire devastation and the strength of the community to rebuild. John Farrell’s enchanting song written for the Paradise teachers brought everyone to tears, as we passed a firefighter’s boot for more donations and sang our support for the Paradise fire victims.
Exhibits, books, and more books sponsored by the Publishers and authors enticed teachers to preview, buy, and have the authors sign their books. The CYRM/ Eureka celebration was graced with a fantastic talk by author Reyna Grande and also honored the Write On With Reading Award young authors who shared their work.
As Lewis Carroll noted," the best gift you could give (her) is a lifetime of adventure. The 2019 CRA Literacy Conference provided a literacy adventure of ideas, strategies, and books, ensuring all participants could return to school ready to share the Wonder of Literacy and the power to transform lives.
Photos by CRA Board and Text by Dr. Nancy Rogers-Zegarra, Editor
The CRA 2019 Conference attendees were treated to two powerful days of literacy learning at Reading in Wonderland: Rekindling the Wonder of Books held at the McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento on October 18-19, 2019. Early Friday morning, CRA Chapter Officers attended a Leadership Retreat, “Fishing for Leadership," where they rekindled their desire to be literacy advocates, planned engaging literacy activities for their members, and networked.
The” Wonder of Reading” was further highlighted on Friday by a tour of Barrett Ranch School, which featured a school culture focused on literacy, including reading lounges where students can curl up, read books and let their imaginations take them on magical journeys. The whimsical decorations at the Conference Center set the stage for our literacy adventure. A myriad of breakout sessions had participants wondering," Which road do I take?” but as the Cheshire Cat reminds us, “Every adventure requires a first step," and attendees were excited about the variety of sessions. Featured speaker Dr. Adria Klein inspired teachers with her talk on "Powerful Small Group Practices: Scaffolding All Students to Read Complex Texts by Teaching for Transfer."
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, on Friday afternoon, gathered a stellar group of ten outstanding authors who dazzled and delighted participants as they shared the wonder of their fiction and non-fiction books and activities taking us for an adventure in fantasy and reality.
On Saturday morning, we were entertained by singer/songwriter John Farrell followed by keynote speaker Lester Laminack who captivated the crowd with an uplifting speech entitled the “ Wonder of the Read Aloud." Lester modeled how to spark the interest for all children when doing a Read-Aloud followed by thirty-two informative breakout sessions on reading, writing, listening, and speaking, including a Reading Recovery and emergent literacy strand.
An emotional moment at the conference came after lunch when CRA honored the Paradise teachers with gift books bags. Lori Oczkus talked about the fire devastation and the strength of the community to rebuild. John Farrell’s enchanting song written for the Paradise teachers brought everyone to tears, as we passed a firefighter’s boot for more donations and sang our support for the Paradise fire victims.
Exhibits, books, and more books sponsored by the Publishers and authors enticed teachers to preview, buy, and have the authors sign their books. The CYRM/ Eureka celebration was graced with a fantastic talk by author Reyna Grande and also honored the Write On With Reading Award young authors who shared their work.
As Lewis Carroll noted," the best gift you could give (her) is a lifetime of adventure. The 2019 CRA Literacy Conference provided a literacy adventure of ideas, strategies, and books, ensuring all participants could return to school ready to share the Wonder of Literacy and the power to transform lives.
CRA Professional Development Institute 2018
by Nancy Rogers-Zegarra, Ph.D. , Editor
Photos by Terry Rogers
CRA Team Literacy headed by quarterbacks, Dr. Erica Bowers and Tawnya Shaw PDI co-chairs, kicked off this year’s CRA PDI at the Riverside Convention Center on Friday night with a huge tailgate party complete with good food, fabulous cheers, a fantastic football toss contest, pong, a dazzling dance competition and goodie book bags for all new teachers.
The CRA Board, “Coaching Staff “at the 50 yard, line decked out in their 2018 CRA Literacy Team Jerseys, kept the CRA Team Literacy party spirit alive throughout the night. On Saturday morning Erica continued the “Team Literacy” theme by starting the morning with a rousing game of Football and Literacy Trivia Kahoot (a first) followed by the CRA Past Presidents’ Pom Pom Parade.
Keynoter Dr. Adria Klein, addressed teachers, administrators and librarians from around the state of California at the first general session with her inspirational speech” Powerful Small Group Practices: Scaffolding All Students to Read Complex Texts by Teaching for Transfer” which tied in perfectly with the PDI theme “Balancing Literacy- Increasing Access”. Dr. Steven Layne wowed us with his Read Alouds and Dr. Danny Brassell gave us a stimulating literacy pep talk, The Three Secrets to Reading Better. As promised, 2018 PDI participants were once again inspired, empowered, and energized by the ideas and strategies shared by an array of literacy experts, school leaders and noted authors. At the end of the PDI, attendees were motivated to return to their schools and students ready to continue the critical work of Advancing Literacy for All!
Photos by Terry Rogers
CRA Team Literacy headed by quarterbacks, Dr. Erica Bowers and Tawnya Shaw PDI co-chairs, kicked off this year’s CRA PDI at the Riverside Convention Center on Friday night with a huge tailgate party complete with good food, fabulous cheers, a fantastic football toss contest, pong, a dazzling dance competition and goodie book bags for all new teachers.
The CRA Board, “Coaching Staff “at the 50 yard, line decked out in their 2018 CRA Literacy Team Jerseys, kept the CRA Team Literacy party spirit alive throughout the night. On Saturday morning Erica continued the “Team Literacy” theme by starting the morning with a rousing game of Football and Literacy Trivia Kahoot (a first) followed by the CRA Past Presidents’ Pom Pom Parade.
Keynoter Dr. Adria Klein, addressed teachers, administrators and librarians from around the state of California at the first general session with her inspirational speech” Powerful Small Group Practices: Scaffolding All Students to Read Complex Texts by Teaching for Transfer” which tied in perfectly with the PDI theme “Balancing Literacy- Increasing Access”. Dr. Steven Layne wowed us with his Read Alouds and Dr. Danny Brassell gave us a stimulating literacy pep talk, The Three Secrets to Reading Better. As promised, 2018 PDI participants were once again inspired, empowered, and energized by the ideas and strategies shared by an array of literacy experts, school leaders and noted authors. At the end of the PDI, attendees were motivated to return to their schools and students ready to continue the critical work of Advancing Literacy for All!
