nErDcampNNE 2015

nErDcampNNE Committee: Mary Lou Schuster, Gigi McAllister, Natalie Stotz, Susan Dee, Jenn Chafin, Cathy Potter, Jenny Stahl (not pictured Chris Pirkl)

This past weekend I participated in my second nErDcamp Northern New England. I couldn’t imagine it being any better than the first, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. If you have never been to and ED camp, it is a type of ‘unconference’ in which people come together to share and learn in a collaborative, unscripted, spontaneous format. Our general focus was literacy, but the range of topics and ideas that people wanted to explore was quite diverse. There were technology sessions in iPads, iMovie Twitter and Google Classroom. There were reading sessions on title talks, motivating reluctant readers, interactive read alouds and differentiation. There were writing sessions on nonfiction craft and structure, mentor texts, reluctant writers and revision. There were also sessions on roles of literacy specialists and school librarians, ELL students, Genius Hour and connecting with authors. The hardest part was deciding which of these amazing sessions to attend.

Luckily there were notes and resources recorded on google docs for all sessions, so even if we couldn’t be in a session we have the a record of the conversation and sharing!

Authors Sarah Albee, Melissa Stewart, Megan Frazer, Joan Paquette, Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Julie Falatko share their process for writing.

Participants create the schedule and agenda for the day.

Authors share their expertise on writing.

The swag and give aways were unbelievable!

Sessions were facilitated by participants who shared ideas and expertise in a collaborative effort.

nErDy Author Night

The night before nErDcamp we were treated to a nErDy Author Night. There were authors and illustrators from all over New England who came to greet readers, sign books and talk about their craft. It was open to the public so there were children, parents, teachers and librarians all eager to meet their favorite author or illustrator.

We had Maria Padian, Lynn Plourde, Charlotte Agell, Jennifer Jacobson, Cynthia Lord, Tamra Wight, Megan Frazer, Amy MacDonald, Kate Egan, Joan Paquette, Hazel Mitchell, Lea Wait, Melissa Stewart, Matt Tavares, Russ Cox, Kevin Hawkes, Erin Dionne, Josh Alves, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Mary Cerullo and Sarah Albee. How much more talent can you pack into a cafeteria!!

A huge shout out goes to the nErDcamp NNE Committee. Thank you for bringing this amazing professional development opportunity to the educators of Maine. Oh, and did I happen to mention that was entirely FREE!!!!!

If you are in Maine, or close enough, there are two more opportunities for ED Camps on the near horizon.
EdCamp Western Maine on February 7, 2015.
https://sites.google.com/a/rsu10.net/edcampwme/

EdCamp Maine on March 7, 2015.
https://sites.google.com/a/waynflete.org/edcamp-maine/register-now

What’s On My Book Radar

There were so many amazing titles being shared this weekend. I was incredibly excited to see Jennifer Jacobson with her new book Paper Things. It isn’t technically OUT until February 10, but we were able to purchase copies that night! I had to get my hands on this one and it moved to the top of my TBR pile. Once I finish it, I’ll post it to my Facebook page (40 Book Challenge Photo Album). Hope your TBR pile is as rich and inviting as mine has become.