2009-2011

Local Reading Council Earns International and State Recognition

In the 2009-10 school year, GWRC increased its membership by eight percent. It provided $4500 in grants to its members for professional development, community outreach, and Teachers as Readers (groups of teachers reading and discussing the same book). GWRC provided funding for three international outreach projects to encourage literacy efforts in other countries. Locally, GWRC offers a very large conference each year for its members at the Waterford at Fair Oaks. Last year, Kylene Beers and Rob Probst were the selected speakers for the conference and prior to last year, Katie Wood Ray and Regie Routman were presenters. This year, Linda Hoyt will present Reaching New Heights with Nonfiction Writing (K-8) at our November 4, 2010 conference. GWRC also works to provide free After-School Specials for its members. In the past, Fred Bowen (author of All Star Sports Series) and Peter Edwards (author of Literacy Techniques) have been invited to speak to us. GWRC members work diligently to provide and complete reading projects in their local school divisions; they may coordinate Read Across America Days, provide Parent Literacy Nights, or develop home-school literacy connections. Members also keep abreast of legislative issues in literacy in the Virginia General Assembly. Finally, GWRC publishes its own professional journal highlighting the outstanding, professional writing and works of its members.