by Lara Deloza

If you’ve seen one conference “survival guide,” you’ve seen them all. Standard chestnuts include
• dress in layers
• wear comfortable shoes
• pack extra business cards

But whether you’re contemplating attending your first IRA Annual Convention, or are a multi-year vet who hasn’t missed a meeting in the last two decades, the simple fact remains: you don’t go to these things to “survive.” You go to thrive. To that end, here are some tips to help you make your trip to San Antonio a flourishing success!

Get Your Game Plan Going

It’s never too early to start crafting an Annual Convention strategy. There are the obvious items on that to-do list, such as registering for the event, securing a hotel room, and making other travel arrangements. But that only gets you to San Antonio. What are you going to do once you arrive? No, we’re not talking about a tour of the Alamo—though to be fair, the popular (and free!) attraction is a mere seven-minute walk from the Convention Center. We’re talking about your personal conference schedule. Which panels and presentations do you consider can’t-miss? Are there any workshops or events you simply have to attend? Sure, you’ll get a full program on-site, but smart conference-goers know to skip the paper and do it digitally. Start by trying out IRA’s interactive online itinerary planner by going to www.reading.org/iplanner and creating a new username and password. (See the iPlanner how-to article for more info.) Then, search for sessions by speaker, date, category, and keyword. As you plan, try to pick two or even three options per time slot. That way, if your first choice gets too crowded, you’re not scrambling to find a backup. You’ll also want to be prepared for the possibility of last minute room changes, especially if you’re someone who maps his or her route based on proximity. Once you’ve created your itinerary, send it to yourself via e-mail. It’s also a good idea to print a PDF copy to take with you, since reviewing the hard copy doesn’t require a Wi-Fi connection. If you’re able to arrive before the convention begins, it’s always a good idea to give that itinerary a test run. Rooms that look close together on a never-drawn-to-scale map may, in reality, be a lengthy jog apart. Gathering this “intel” before the Opening General Session allows you to adjust your plans accordingly—and helps alleviate any last-minute stress.

A Little Meal Planning Goes a Long Way, Too

Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, but when it comes to attending a large conference, its lunch you have to look out for. Aim to eat at off-peak hours: before 11 or after 2. Also, stock your suitcase with a solid array of shelf-stable items like nuts, granola bars, and beef jerky so you can snack before you go to the convention center. If packing space is at a premium, head to one of the drugstores or minimarts within a half-mile walk of the Convention Center to forage for food once you get into town. There, you can stock up on bottled water and plenty of convenient grab-and-go fare. And, since nearly all of the convention hotels offer in-room refrigerators (some by request only—call ahead to confirm which category your hotel falls into), you may also opt for items that need to be kept cold, such as Greek yogurt and low fat string cheese. Does all of this seem like a little too much work? Consider purchasing tickets to an author luncheon. Not only will you get to listen to amazing speakers, you’ll also get a hot, tasty meal. Delivered to you. At a table. With linens.

Portable Power for the Win!

It’s 2013, so odds are you’ll be bringing some sort of electric device to the conference. You definitely want to bring your chargers with you, but don’t feel like you need to leave them in your hotel room. Consider stashing a power strip in your backpack. That way, if you find an occupied plug, you can offer to share. Then, you’re not only charging your own devices, but strangers will consider you a genius and a hero. Another option is to purchase an emergency charger. These external sources run on batteries and plug into your device, typically offering 10 to 20 extra hours of usage. So if you need to re-juice mid-afternoon, you can do it without having to make a trip back to your hotel.

Don’t Drop It, Ship It

When it comes to large convention centers, wheeled carts come in handy. But they are absolutely, 100-percent not allowed into the Exhibit Hall. Ditto for strollers, luggage, and duffel bags—pretty much anything with wheels needs to be parked far from the Exhibit Hall floor. Then how, pray tell, are you supposed to lug around twenty extra pounds of books, merch, and swag, let alone squish it all into an airline approved carry-on? If you don’t have arms of steel (and, let’s face it, how many of us do?), you’ll want to visit the on-site UPS center (www.theupsstorelocal.com/4180/). The cost for Ground shipping depends on the weight and size of the package, as well as the distance of the destination. But, for some, the added cost is worth the convenience.

You may want to take advantage of the Order Express option at the IRA Bookstore as well. It allows you to purchase any of IRA’s regularly priced books and have them shipped to your school or home for free. Bonus: with Order Express, you won’t have to spring for sales tax, either!

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

In a large, unfamiliar place, it’s easy to get lost. Make sure you scout out the “Ask Me” guides throughout the Convention Center. You’ll be able to identify them by their bright yellow shirts and caps. The “Ask Me” guides can help you find everything from that UPS Center to the nearest restroom. And if for some reason they don’t have the answer to your question, they’ll direct you to someone who will. As for the standard advice mentioned earlier, the truth is you probably should dress in layers, as the average late-April temps in San Antonio run in the low-80s, and conference centers rarely skimp on the A/C. Comfy shoes? They’ll definitely come in handy, especially when you’re sprinting from session to session. Ditto for the extra business cards. How else are you going to keep in touch with all of those amazing colleagues you’ll undoubtedly meet?

The IRA 58th Annual Convention runs from April 19 to 22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit www.iraconvention.org and the iPlanner Program Grid and Event Search for details. 

Lara Deloza is the senior writer at the International Reading Association.

This article was originally published in the February/March 2013 issue of Reading Today.

by Amanda Lister

One of the most anticipated events of the International Reading Association Annual Convention is the assembly of esteemed, popular authors who attend. Below is a selection of just some of the hundreds of authors who will participate in sessions, luncheons, panels, and more in San Antonio.

Saturday, April 20

Rick Riordan


Jane O'Connor


Joan Bauer


Mo Willems


Chris Soentpiet

Saturday’s First General Session: Reading Myths and the Myths of Reading features Rick Riordan, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. In 2011, he received the Children’s Choice Book Award for Author of the Year. Riordan is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller.

Join Michael Buckley, bestselling children’s book author of The Sisters Grimmand the N.E.R.D.S. book series, for the first author panel called The Serious Business of Writing Humor: The Importance of Funny Fiction in the Classroom on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

Jane O’Connor, New York Times bestselling author, will speak at the Saturday Book and Author Luncheon. O’Connor is the writer of more than thirty books for children, including the immensely popular Fancy Nancy books. The first book in the series, Fancy Nancy, won the Quill Award for Best Picture Book in 2007 and remained on the New York Times picture book list for ninety-eight weeks.

The author panel entitled Celebrating 75 Years of the Caldecott Medal on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. features David Ezra Stein, author of Interrupting Chicken, Leaves, and Monster Hug!

Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Speak and Chains, will speak on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Read It, Talk About It, Make a Difference with Young Adult Literature.

Sunday, April 21

At 9:00 a.m., Steve Sheinkin, author of Bomb and The Notorious Benedict Arnold, speaks at Making a Difference: Presenting Authors Whose Nonfiction Books and Biographies Inform, Engage, and Inspire Students for a Lifetime of Reading and Learning.

The Cyber Connection: Multi-Platform Texts to Engage All Readers on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. features Matt de la Pena, author of I Will Save You, A Nation’s Hope, and Mexican White Boy. Also at this time is the author panel entitled National Ambassadors for Young People’s Literature that features Katherine Paterson, author of The Flint Heart and The Same Stuff as Stars, Jon Scieszka, writer of SPHDZ 4 Life, Guys Read: the Sports Page, and Knucklehead, and Walter Dean Myers, author of Monster and Bad Boy: A Memoir.

Sunday’s Book and Author Luncheon features Joan Bauer, a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and songwriter. She has won many awards including the Newbery Honor Medal, two Christopher Awards, the LA Times Book Prize, and the New England Booksellers Award, among many. Bauer has touched the lives of her readers with humor and hope in her eleven novels, including Rules of the Road, which was chosen as one of the top young adult books of the quarter century by the American Library Association.

New York Times bestselling author of About David and The Last Survivors series, Susan Beth Pfeffer, will speak on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Author Panel - The Future's So Dark: Why Readers Can't Get Enough of Dystopian Fiction.
Making a Difference: Texas Authors, Texas Teachers, and Texas Literacy Organizations Focus on Critical Reading and Thinking Around Nonfiction Texts on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. features Don Tate, award-winning author and illustrator for many books including, It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw.

Monday, April 22

#1 New York Times Bestseller Mo Willems will speak at Monday’s General Session. His work in children’s books, animation, television, and theater has earned him three Caldecott Honors, two Geisel Medals, three Geisel Honors, and six Emmy Awards. Willems is best known for the Elephant and Piggie books, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, and Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale.

On Monday at 9:00 a.m., Tom Angleberger, author of The Origami Yodaseries, will speak at Who Are You Calling “Unconventional”? Middle-Grade Authors Discuss the Popularity of “Unconventional” Books. He will also speak at the Author Panel - And Then What Happens?! The Enduring Appeal of Series Fiction at 10:30 a.m.

Also at Monday at 9:00 a.m. is Multiple Literacies: Facilitating the Exploration of Pathways to a Socially Responsible World, featuring Sharon Draper, author of Out of My Mind, and Sharon Flake, writer of Pinned. Engaged Reading/Cultural Rewards: Inviting Students to Read Mexican American Children’s and Young Adult Literature from Texas is at 9:00 a.m. on Monday as well, featuring René Saldaña, Jr., author of The Jumping Tree: A Novel and Finding Our Way: Stories. Kirby Larson, author of Hattie Ever After and Hattie Big Sky, will also speak at this time at IRA Teachers' Choices Committee Presents: Making a Difference for Readers, Writers, and Artists by Connecting them with Authors and Illustrators who Create Books that Inspire, Motivate, and Delight.

On Monday, Chris Soentpiet speaks at the Book and Author Luncheon. Soentpiet is a passionate author and illustrator who creates books that reflect his interest in people, history, and culture. He has won many awards for his work including the NAACP Image Award: Outstanding Literacy Work 2004, the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal Award, the Parent’s Choice Gold Award, and the International Reading Award: Children Book of the Year in 1996, 2000, and 2002.

These are but a few of the beloved authors at the IRA 58th Annual Convention, which runs from April 19 to 22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit www.iraconvention.org and the iPlanner Program Grid and Event Search for details.

Amanda Lister is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.

Reading Today asked International Reading Association members which sessions they were planning to attend at the IRA 58th Annual Convention in San Antonio from April 19-22, 2013. Alexandra Panos, Chicago middle grades language arts teacher and Reading Today Online TILE-SIG contributor, says she's looking forward to these professional development opportunities:

Infusing Close Reading into Small Group Instruction: Helping Students to Think Critically
"I am looking forward to this workshop on close readings of texts. Although I’ve been through my fair share of Common Core PD, I have found that close reading is one of the biggest changes for most of the teachers at my school. I believe that the differences between close reading and guided reading require careful consideration as we move forward. I look forward to sharing what I learn with my colleagues back home."

Examining the Middle Grades Canon
"As an ardent enthusiast for middle grades literature, those elusive texts that hover between upper elementary and YA lit, I look forward to finding out what the presenters have to say about what the current 'canon' has to offer. I’m hoping to see lots of diverse perspectives, complex plots and high interest topics!"

Becoming a Teacher Researcher: Exploring IRA's Teacher as Researcher Grant
"It is my firm belief that teacher researchers do the most good for their students. The approach we take in design, reflection and response is integral to powerful teaching outcomes. I did not know there was a grant! I look forward to learning more about the types of action research previously conducted and how the IRA supports teacher researchers."

Digital Literacy and Technology Lessons and Projects that Make a Difference: Improving Teaching and Learning
"My students, co-workers and I are extraordinarily fortunate in our ease of access to digital technologies. I love learning more ways to employ quality projects and lessons into our integrated language arts and technology classroom. The fact that the presenters are also taking the time to explore differentiation in these contexts truly excites my interest."

Encountering International Literature: "Reading the World" to Move Toward Critical Literacy
"In my classroom, I employ critical literacy frameworks on a daily basis and have great admiration for the role diverse literature plays in the complex work my students conduct as part of their studies. I sincerely cannot wait to learn more about the international literature reviewed and the exciting discussion of student generated questioning of these exciting texts."

Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms: Academic Success with Intention!
"Empowering students takes so many forms, but I believe intentionality in all areas of teaching is the key to success. The presenters’ focus on the idea of intentionally designing and empowering teachers to create culturally responsive classrooms has caught my attention. Our classrooms should respond to their changing dynamics and makeups. I can’t wait to attend."

The IRA 58th Annual Convention runs from April 19 to 22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit www.iraconvention.org and the iPlanner Program Grid and Event Search for details.

April IRA Member of the Month Kimberley Reznicek shared her IRA Annual Convention picks in the February/March issue of Reading Today, and now this San Antonio native offers out-of-town attendees ideas for things to do on their visit.

I was born and raised in San Antonio and might have some ideas for restaurants and events that are a bit off the beaten path as well as commercial tourist areas. 

Tours and Shopping

River Walk


River Walk at night


Boudro's


Chart House 


Fiesta river parade 

A barge ride along the River Walk is always a must when you come to San Antonio. A tour of the San Antonio Missions and the Alamo is a nice dose of history. El Mercado and La Villita are two great places to shop for souvenirs. The old Pearl Brewery has been converted into an area filled with trendy shops and restaurants worth walking through.

Restaurants

A great Mexican restaurant that is slightly off the beaten path is Mexican Manhattan. Ask to sit outside for a river view and order the chili con queso as an appetizer. Chris Madrid’s has the best burger in town in my opinion. Lulu’s Café has giant cinnamon rolls and excellent chicken fried steak. Blanco Café is my favorite Mexican restaurant for enchiladas and breakfast tacos. Boudro’s is a bit pricier but excellent. I would suggest the Guacamole salad prepared at the table. Eat dinner at the top of the Tower of the Americas in the Chart House for a rotating view of the entire city of San Antonio at night.

Fiesta

The IRA Convention will take place during the first weekend of Fiesta, a 10-day celebration in remembrance of the Battle of the Alamo and San Jacinto. Some of the following events are worth considering:

• Institute of Texas Cultures Fiesta Medal Mania
  April 18-22, 10:00am-5:00pm
  Institute of Texan Cultures, HemisFair Park
  801 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd
• Witte Museum Annual Fiesta Exhibition
  April 18-22, 10:00am-5:00pm
  Witte Museum
  3801 Broadway
• Fiesta Fiesta at the Alamo
  April 18, 5:00pm-9:00pm
  Alamo Plaza
• Exhibition Fiesta, Fête, Festival
  April 19-22, 10:00am-4:00pm
  McNay Art Museum
  6000 N. New Braunfels Avenue
• Fiesta Oyster Bake
  April 19, 5:00pm-11:00pm
  April 20, 11:00am-11:00pm
  St. Mary's University Campus
  One Camino Santa Maria
• Fiesta Pops (Symphony)
  April 19-21, 8:00pm-10:00pm
  Majestic Theater
  224 E. Houston St.
• Fiesta Arts Fair
  April 19-21, 10:00am-6:00pm
  Southwest School of Art
  300 Augusta
• Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square
  April 19-22, 10:00am-01:00am
  Market Square 514 West Commerce St
  514 West Commerce St.
• Viva Botánica!
  April 20, 10:00am-2:00pm
  San Antonio Botanical Garden
  555 Funston Place
• Tejano Explosion
  April 19-21, 5:30pm-2:00am
  Cattleman's Square
  corner of W. Houston & N. Frio Streets
• A Taste of New Orleans
  April 21, 12:00pm-11:00pm
  Sunken Garden Theater
  Brackenridge Park
• Texas Cavaliers River Parade
  April 22, 7:00pm-9:30pm
  San Antonio River Walk

This website gives a full list of Fiesta events: http://www.fiesta-sa.org/events/date/#Mar-09.

Kimberly Reznicek is a reading specialist at Timberwilde Elementary School and an adjunct professor at St. Mary's University. Read her Member of the Month interview on Reading Today Online.

The IRA 58th Annual Convention runs from April 19 to 22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit www.iraconvention.org and the iPlanner Program Grid and Event Search for details. Visit the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau website for more information about the city. 

April Member of the Month Kimberly Reznicek is a board member of the Texas Association for Literacy Educators (TALE), an International Reading Association (IRA) state council, and an elementary reading specialist in San Antonio, the location of the IRA 58th Annual Convention. She is also an adjunct professor in the Teacher Education department at St. Mary’s University. As a part of the Reading Cadre for Staff Development, she collaboratively provides literacy related professional development to teachers within her district. Kimberly earned an Ed., MA from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in the Language and Literacy Program and a BA in Interdisciplinary Reading from St. Mary’s University. She has written items and research materials for ETS, CompassLearning, and the Center for Applied Linguistics. Her professional interests include adult dyslexia, vocabulary intervention programs, and Response to Intervention (RTI). In this interview, Reznicek shares more about her various roles, must-see San Antonio attractions, and kickball.

When did you know you wanted to become a teacher?

When I was a junior in high school I participated in a volunteer program that allowed us to read with students in elementary schools. I worked in a second grade classroom at Brackenridge Elementary, a Title I school, with two students who struggled with reading. After working with them and seeing the light in their eyes when suddenly they understood a concept or read a word correctly, I knew that this was the career for me. School was always a positive experience for me, and now I want my students to have the same positive experiences.

As a literacy educator how do you motivate students, especially students who are struggling, to want to read?

Reading specialists have different roles and thus different relationships with students than do classroom teachers. Classroom teachers have much more time with their students to get to know them and form relationships. When I first became a specialist I missed those relationships. As a specialist I have 30- to 45-minute sessions with each small group, and then I move on to the next group. However, I discovered that my different role can be positive in the way of student-teacher interaction. Sometimes as a classroom teacher you feel like a parent to your students, including times when you have to discipline students and require them to do things they may not want to do. As a specialist I feel like the “fun aunt” that gets to spend time with my students letting them “play” and take a break from their routine. While my students are really learning, they feel like they are playing because I believe novelty keeps the experience interesting. I always have new and different “toys” for them to use to extend their reading learning. My students think it is a real treat when they get to write on the table with dry erase markers or use magna doodle boards, magnetic letters, pipe cleaner, and various other materials that keep students engaged.

Using engaging texts or setting the stage to make texts seem engaging is another way I try to keep students interested. I start every year by reading Stephen Parlato’s The World That Loved Books. Its beautiful collages illustrate how reading envelopes you into other worlds. The students love the illustrations and see from the start that reading can take you places. I treat each book we read in our group with this attitude and hope that my students develop a similar appreciation for the joy and practicality that reading can bring.

Beyond the materials I use, I feel that having quality relationships with students is important. When students enter my classroom they can have a new identity apart from that of in their classroom or at home. They are encouraged to share their stories to make connections to the texts. They are encouraged to help each other by teaching other the reading skills and strategies they know. They are recognized for their accomplishments by earning the status of Reader of the Week. If they are chosen as Reader of the Week they get to sit in our special Reader’s Chair, wear their safari hat, and help with various tasks I might request. My students strive for this honor and focus their efforts toward being the Reader of the Week. Since beginning this process, my students are noticeably working together to use their strategies. They ask their reading partners “Does that make sense?” or “What sound does that letter make?” It has been a great way of encouraging the use of effective reading strategies as well as positive behaviors in my room.

Beyond recognition I also want my room to be a safe place for students. If they are having a bad day, are nervous about a test, or want to share details of their lives, my students come to me and talk freely. I think they know that they can trust me and the students in our group because we have formed a different bond that may not have been able to be formed in a larger group setting.

Using engaging texts and materials, recognizing students’ efforts, and maintaining positive relationships with and among students helps struggling readers to improve their skills and to be motivated to read within our groups.

You tutored with Each One Teach One (EOTO), a non-profit organization serving low-level adult learners seeking basic literacy or GED certification. How has your volunteer work affected your career?

I tutored with Each One Teach One for a year and continue to maintain a relationship with the organization. Working with these adult students helped me to focus my work at the elementary level. Many of the adults I worked with shared their stories of not learning how to read in elementary school or moving around frequently as a child creating educational gaps. Some even suspect they have unidentified learning disabilities. While each adult student I have worked with is incredibly driven to succeed in life and gain the skills necessary, they have explained the struggles they have faced along the way. One student described the shame he felt in being unable to help his own children with their homework. One student took time off from work and a significant pay cut to be able to focus on his work with EOTO. One woman explained her struggles with substance abuse as an escape because she felt she had no other options. While each student is now furthering their education, I know there are plenty of other adults with similar situations who may not have the means or knowledge of the resources available to obtain the help they need.

As an elementary educator, these stories are a reminder to me how important it is to prevent our young students from ending up in situations like those of the adults. If we, as educators, can set our children up for academic success at an early age, by teaching them to read, think, and problem-solve, then those children will not face as many difficulties later in life. If we can identify any potential struggles they might have like learning disabilities, then we can provide early intervention enabling students to cope with and adjust to their different ways of learning. Working with Each One Teach One was an invaluable experience to me as an educator. I would encourage anyone, educator or otherwise, to consider working with the organization. It helps you to focus on the purpose of the work you do and to understand others in their specific life situations. It promotes compassion and empathy for the people with which you work. You understand the similarities that we all have in life regardless of our situational differences.

You're part of the Reading Cadre for Staff Development. How is that group structured, and what kinds of projects do you do?

The NISD Elementary Reading Cadre is a group of elementary reading specialists that creates and presents staff development and trainings on reading topics. Trainings are presented in multiple formats including campus staff development sessions, district-wide invitations like Elementary Institute and Fall into Literacy, as well as webinars presented online throughout the district. We are led by Susan Smeby, the Reading Instructional Support Teacher, and overseen by Carolyn Denny, the Elementary Reading Instructional Specialist. The cadre meets once a month to continue our current book study of Lucy Calkins’ The Art of Teaching Reading as well as our breakout groups working on various staff development topics. I recently completed working on a webinar focusing on summarization strategies. While the district benefits from the work we do, I feel that I receive a lot of the benefits, too. Every month I look forward to the discussions we have about literacy and the camaraderie among the specialists. I feel that every district should have some sort of structure working toward similar purposes.

How has professional development changed in recent years, and where do you see it going in the future?

In NISD the biggest change I have seen is the use of technology. Webinars are used much more frequently and make staff development more accessible to larger groups of people. In the future I think online training will be much more frequent, but improved technology will allow for even more interaction and higher quality training.

What’s the most valuable advice you can give to someone entering the literacy education field?

The best advice I can give to anyone entering the education field in general is to remember why you entered into it. There can be a lot of distractions from all sides that might cause frustration or even displacement of one’s goals. However if you remember the reason you are there, the distractions will not deter you from your purpose.

What do you consider to be your proudest career moment?

I was recently named a finalist for the HEB Excellence in Education Rising Star Award. I do not typically look to awards to feel fulfilled as an educator but it was nice to be recognized for the work I have done and the work we all do with our students. It was really a recognition of my students’ accomplishments and the accomplishments of the people I have the privilege of working with and for on a daily basis. My students work so hard at becoming great readers. My colleagues and bosses are such fantastic educators and together we all work to ensure that our students are succeeding in school and in life. It was a nice celebration of what we all strive to do in schools.

What do you like to do when you’re not wearing your educator hat?

I like to spend time with my large extended family. I paint when I can find the time. I also play kickball in a social sports league with some of my friends who are also teachers. We don’t play enough kickball at recess.

Kimberly also shared her favorite San Antonio restaurants, shopping spots, and Fiesta events with Reading Today Online.