Reading Power is a collaboration between the Afterschool Leadership Circle (ALC) and the Office of Library Information Services (OLIS) to provide continuing education opportunities to afterschool professionals and youth services librarians centered on the goals of the Rhode Island Reads campaign.
Rhode Island Reads is the statewide campaign to double the number of 3rd graders reading at grade-level by 2025. Led by the United Way of Rhode Island and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Rhode Island Reads focuses on four key areas: school readiness, summer learning, chronic absence, and learning to read. Learn more about Rhode Island Reads at http://www.rireads.org
Afterschool Leadership Circle (ALC) is a statewide network of Rhode Islanders who support quality afterschool and summer learning opportunities for young people. ALC is one of 50 Statewide Afterschool Networks, supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. ALC develops partnerships, informs policies, and shapes practices that sustain and increase the number of quality programs across Rhode Island. ALC members come together to develop systems that support the academic, social, emotional, and physical outcomes for youth. Learn more about ALC.
The Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) is the state library agency for Rhode Island. It is responsible for developing a statewide plan for library development, interlibrary cooperation, and resource sharing to serve the library and information needs of all Rhode Islanders. OLIS strengthens, connects and empowers libraries to advance knowledge, connect communities and enrich the lives of all Rhode Islanders. Learn more about OLIS.
Wednesday, April 4th
8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Barrington Public Library
281 County Rd, Barrington, RI
Pre-registration Required by April 2nd
Registration limited to 3 people per organization/library.
Join us for the first Reading Power mini-conference, sponsored by the Afterschool Leadership Circle and the Office of Library and Information Services. Reading Power is a day-long professional development event bringing together afterschool professionals and youth services librarians to address the literacy and learning needs of children in grades K through 5.
Reading Power 2018 includes workshops that not only integrate literacy with topics such as STEM, social justice, social emotional learning, but that also tackle broader learning issues, such as school partnerships, stress management, and challenging behaviors. We are also very pleased to have 2016 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year Tracy LaFreniere as our speaker for the morning's plenary session!
Pre-registration is required and will be open February 28th through April 2nd. When registering, you will be asked to indicate your workshop preferences for both the morning and afternoon session. This event is free and open to all afterschool and youth services staff. Please note that registration is limited to 3 people per organization/library.
Next Generation Reading Instruction: A Peek into Balanced Literacy in the Elementary Classroom
presented by Tracy Lafreniere
This session will introduce what balanced literacy instruction looks like in today’s classrooms and also explore the top challenges teachers face when teaching literacy. Librarians and afterschool professionals will learn strategies and practices that can support the work teachers are doing in classrooms.
When registering for the Reading Power mini-conference, please indicate the the morning workshop session you wish to attend. For full workshop descriptions, please select the corresponding tab.
Morning Workshop Sessions
A. Big Ideas with Little People: Teaching #BlackLivesMatter with Young Children
Presented by Victoria Restler, Assistant Professor of Educational Studies & Director of the Youth Development Master’s Program, Rhode Island College
Grades K – 5
B. Relationship Advice: How to Connect with Your Local School
Presented by Emily Brown, Youth Services Coordinator, Cranston Public Library
Grades K – 5
C. Service Learning: Linking Literacy and Community
Presented by Maryclaire Knight, Consultant for Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative
Grades K – 5
D. Sharing and Caring: Promoting Healthy Social and Emotional Development in Children
Presented by Anne Kilkenny M. Ed., Early Childhood Coordinator/Children’s Librarian, Providence Public Library
Grades K-2
A. Big Ideas with Little People: Teaching #BlackLivesMatter with Young Children
Presented by Victoria Restler, Assistant Professor of Educational Studies & Director of the Youth Development Master’s Program, Rhode Island College
Grades K – 5
Black Lives Matter (BLM) began as a hashtag and has grown into a movement made up of people who want to make sure that everyone is treated fairly, regardless of the color of their skin. While some aspects of BLM are not appropriate for young children, the language of injustice and racial inequality is accessible and relevant even for kindergartners. In this workshop, we will engage art, media and picture books to explore the history of the Black Lives Matter Movement and pertinent themes of racial identity, fairness, and activism. As we think about discussing big ideas with children ages 5-11, we will consider age-appropriate language so that our students can grasp the concepts we’re introducing and incorporate these ideas into their own thinking and conversation.
B. Relationship Advice: How to Connect with Your Local School
Presented by Emily Brown, Youth Services Coordinator, Cranston Public Library
Grades K – 5
Schools are complex organizations, and working with them has great benefits if you can find a way to communicate. This program will help you identify school partners, understand organizational needs, develop communication strategies, and avoid dead ends. Get ready to test your knowledge of school lingo and find your perfect match!
C. Service Learning: Linking Literacy and Community
Presented by Maryclaire Knight, Consultant for Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative
Grades K – 5
Service learning engages children to think of themselves as problem solvers focused on their community and how to make it a better place for everyone. Engaging children to think about communities and addressing a need; connects reading and writing as part of a real world context while having fun! This workshop focuses on the process associated with looking at community and selecting a project. We will build from the place that each participant is beginning and develop doable projects.
D. Sharing and Caring: Promoting Healthy Social and Emotional Development in Children
Presented by Anne Kilkenny M. Ed., Early Childhood Coordinator/Children’s Librarian, Providence Public Library
Grades K-2
Librarians and other out-of-school-time professionals will explore current research on healthy social and emotional development in the early elementary years. Participants will then share ideas about ways to support this development in their own settings.
When registering for the Reading Power mini-conference, please indicate the the afternoon workshop session you wish to attend. For full workshop descriptions, please select the corresponding tab.
Afternoon Workshop Sessions
A. Hands-On Combination of Science, Art and Literacy
Presented by Bonnie Epstein, Executive Diretor Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art
Grades 3-5
B. Summer Reading: It Takes a Village
Presented by Cheryl Space, Assistant Director Providence Community Library
Grades K-5
C.Teaching Children Stress Management Skills Through Play
Presented by Lorraine Kaul MA, MPA, Education and Nonprofit Consultant
Grades K – 5
D. Understanding Challenging Behaviors as Group Diversity - CANCELED
This workshop has been canceled.
A. Hands-On Combination of Science, Art and Literacy
Presented by Bonnie Epstein, Executive Director Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art
Grades 3-5
The Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA) will lead a hands-on “sound effects” workshop to enhance both story-telling and story-creation.
B. Summer Reading: It Takes a Village
Presented by Cheryl Space, Assistant Director Providence Community Library
Grades K-5
Learn how Providence has created a partnership among libraries, recreation centers, community organizations, schools, and the Mayor’s Office to bring summer reading out to the entire K-5 community. All aspects of the partnership will be shared, including the citywide Passport to Summer Learning, data sharing, outreach activities, and program outcomes. Leave with a plan for creating a summer reading “village” in your community to support students with fun and enriching activities all summer long.
C. Teaching Children Stress Management Skills Through Play
Presented by Lorraine Kaul MA, MPA, Education and Nonprofit Consultant
Grades K – 5
This workshop will provide an overview of child stress and different stress responses styles. Participants will learn fun ways to teach children stress management skills through play. The workshop will be informative, interactive and fun!
Tracy Lafreniere has been teaching striving readers for 19 years as a Reading Specialist in North Smithfield, RI. She is passionate about early literacy and about focusing on joy in reading intervention. She is also an adjunct professor for the Providence College Graduate Literacy Program. As the 2016 RI State Teacher of the Year, she formed the RI Literacy Cohort, a group of literacy professionals who lend their voice to policy making and issues surrounding research based literacy instruction. She lives with her husband, two young boys, and rescue pets in North Smithfield, RI.
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration and Refreshments
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Plenary Session
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Morning Workshop Session
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Lunch
You may bring a bagged lunch to enjoy at the library or you may purchase lunch at one of the many restaurants near the library.
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Afternoon Workshop Session
Reading Power will take place in the Barrington Public Library's second floor meeting spaces. The Barrington Public Library is located at 281 County Rd. If you are attending with multiple people from your organization, please consider carpooling to maximize the library's available parking. There is a Park and Ride at 461 County Street in Barrington that is a short drive from the library and is available to facilitate carpooling.
Directions to the Barrington Public Library:
Joseph Morra
United Way of Rhode Island, Afterschool Leadership Circle
Senior Project Manager, Expanded Learning
401-444-0615
joseph.morra@uwri.org
