Have a GREAT Summer!!!

Many of you are finishing out your school year this week. Jean Ann and I both hope you have a wonderful summer! We will be in and out most of the summer (between summer school and camp) so feel free to email us if you need to!

GAME NIGHT!!! Part III

Once again Jean Ann and I will be hosting our Award Winning GAME NIGHT!!!!  This time I can legitimately state we are award winning...I've got the certificate to prove it.

We will be meeting next Thursday the 18th from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. either in our office or in the GCSEC board room (depends on how many people will be attending)

Please RSVP by Wednesday the 18th!

Confession, I Stephanie Benson am...

an Author Stalker.

Yes, it's true. There is no 12 step program to help (not that I want it), and I've only been told once by an author that he was going to need more security with me around (I responded that until I see the restraining order he was going to have to deal with me).

For the last 11 years I have attending the Illinois Reading Conference (one of if not the best reading conference in the state) and twice have attended the International Reading Conference. Not only do the conferences fill you with fabulous ideas to use in the classroom and reinvigorate your teaching, they also provide countless opportunities to meet (and stalk) your favorite children's and young adult authors.

Here are a few of the authors I've stalked...um met.

Rosemary Wells

Marc Brown Author of the Arther books.

Laurie Lawlor

Brian Selznick

Jordan Sonnenblick "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie"

AVI

My personal favorite Patricia Polacco!!!!

Eric Rohmann (still haven't received his restraining order)

Richard Peck (he is AWESOME!!!)

Simone Eckeles
Confession #2 I LOVE romance novels...she writes great YA ones!

Jack Gantos...Rock Star!

Nick Bruel...Mr. Bad Kitty

Craig Pierce and his greyhound Honey

Marion Blumenthal Lazan

Now I could go on to state I've also met and had books autographed by Christopher Paul Curtis, Neal Shusterman, Steven Layne, Andrea Beatty, Tim Green, Katherine Patterson, Andrew Clements, Seymour Simon, Gary Paulson, Sharon Draper, R. L. Stine, Heather Brewer, Kristina Springer, Joan Bauer...and many others. Not to mention that I'm email buddies with Blue Balliett & Aaron Reynolds,  facebook friends with Matthew Cordell, and have Kat Falls' cell number....

yeah...I have a problem, but if it means I get to hug Henry Winkler...I don't care.

We need your help!

Jean Ann and I are busy planning Camp Math & Camp Read. Our Superhero theme is a fun one to work with. If you've seen any fun activities that you think would be appropriate we'd love to have you share them with us.  We are also looking for some old t-shirts (adult Large or bigger) with either a plain front or back to create capes for all our little super heroes.

Camp is open to all Grundy County kiddos with an active IEP who are completing Kindergarten - 7th grade. Scholarships are available! Help us spread the word! Parents can apply online here, or printable apps are available here!

Illinois Reading Conference--Literacy for Life

Jean Ann and I spent the last few days down in Springfield learning, presenting, and laughing! The Illinois Reading Conference is hands down one of the BEST conferences to attend in Illinois.  Jean Ann and I had fun presenting on...you guessed it... GAMES.  We had an awesome group! We ran out of room and handouts! If you missed it, or if you didn't get the handout, you can download the handouts here, and videos of the games we presented are below.

Stay tuned for more on the IRC conference later this week! Did you know that I am an Author Stalker? And I'm not alone....

Meaningful, Measurable, Manageable Goals Part II

Jean Ann and I would like to let you all know how much we've enjoyed going around the county and chatting with you about goal writing. We've had great conversations, fun presentations, and emailed questions that made us truly think! Keep the emails coming, and as always contact us with any questions!

Technology Blog!

Jean Ann and I have been getting a lot of questions lately about educational apps for classroom iPads.  While we have several that we LOVE, the best resource for this information is the technologically awesome Michelle George. She has a site Have You Tried Turning It Of and On Again??? that sorts not only iPad apps, but websites and other techno goodness into educational categories. There is also a search feature to speed up your browsing! So check it out!!!