Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg - Reading Manitoba

The Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg (RCGW) has been dedicated to promoting literacy and developing lifelong readers since 1956. We have a proud history of being a literacy leader in Winnipeg and its surrounding area. We are a Special Area Group of Educators (SAGE) of the Manitoba Teachers' Society and a local council of the International Literacy Association.

RCGW provides professional development for educators, shares resources and ideas on our website, celebrates I Love to Read month, promotes literacy in the community, honours literacy leaders and up-and-coming teacher candidates, and supports literacy projects. Join RCGW today!

PD Incentive Fund Reflection

11/27/2022

Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg Members can access the PD Incentive Fund to help support costs associated with professional learning. The write-up below is Leslie Dickson's reflection of her learning after receiving support to attend an event. Members can apply for up to $500 to support professional learning. Application forms coming soon.

WRITTEN BY LESLIE DICKSON

For those of us who needed to transition from vacation to school mode, the Pembina Escarpment Reading Council's event Engaging Literacy Practices for Middle and Senior Years on August 30, 2022, in Carmen, MB, provided that opportunity. The day highlighted the daily practices of four dynamic teacher experts in literacy practices. It was filled with practical strategies to engage pre-teens and teens in reading and self-discovery.

Lori Emilson – A Picture Book Taught Me This
Lori, a newly-retired Literacy and Curriculum Support Teacher, guided participants through Lakeshore School Division’s “Book-a-Day” program. This program encourages teachers to read a quality picture book everyday to their students, to build diversity in libraries, and for students to read four new books every month. Lori highlighted favourite picture books that demonstrate diversity, teach theme, and illustrate beautiful language to students of all ages.

Tara McLauchlin – What to Read Next: A Guide for Diversifying the SY and MY Canon
Tara, a Literacy Coach in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division, advocated the use of choice reading in the English Language Arts classroom and adding diverse texts in both classroom libraries and teaching texts. Using an “if you like that, then you’ll love this” format, Tara shared ideas to supplement those “die hard” core texts that have traditionally been taught in ELA. She shared current books and graphic novels that pair nicely with the classics to add diversity and student voice in the class. Tara recommended two professional reads: the article "Got Diverse Texts? Now What?" by Dr. Tiffany M. Nyachae and the book Literacy is Liberation by Dr. Kimberly N. Parker.

Ellen Bees and Stacey Bradley – Engaging Students in Literacy
Ellen, a Middle Years Teacher, and Stacey, a high school Continuous Improvement Coach and teacher-librarian, both demonstrated their passion for literacy and shared a plethora of book titles. They also highlighted classroom strategies to engage students in literacy across all content areas. These strategies include selective varied texts, offering thematic book clubs, and using technology in the classroom to access podcasts, audio and digital books. Ellen and Stacey recommended several picture books, including I Sang You Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner (ill. by Michaele Goade), Pluto Gets the Call by Adam Rex (ill. by Laurie Keller), and If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie and Nahanni Shingoose.

About the Author – Leslie Dickson is in her 19th year of teaching Middle and Senior Years English Language Arts and Social Studies with the Winnipeg School Division. She is currently working in a teacher support role. She spends her time with her dogs, reading, watching movies, traveling, and spending time outside. She is also a Past President of the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg.

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

11/4/2022

Members of the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg are eligible for the member rates for the following professional development opportunities, hosted by our partner councils.

Kari Yates – Shifting the Balance

Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians is pleased to host author Kari Yates on the topic of the Science of Reading. Yates recently co-authored Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to bring the Science of Reading into a Balanced Literacy Classroom with Dr. Jan Burkins. Yates joins us via Zoom to look closely at the research, re-evaluate current practices, and embrace new possibilities. The event will be held January 19, 2023, 8:45-3:45, at the Norwood Hotel in Winnipeg.

MCRC is so excited to bring colleagues passionate about literacy together once again to investigate this important topic. Publishers will be on-site to share the most up-to-date resources and programs available to support our work. Early Bird Registration is only $100 and ends of December 22, 2023 so don’t delay – register today at www.mcrc-online.ca.

Cris Tovani – Removing the Masks of Disengagement

The Manitoba Reading Association is pleased to announce that Cris Tovani is coming to Winnipeg in 2023! The best reading strategy in the world won't work if students are disengaged. Now, more than ever before, students want authentic reasons to read, write, and discuss. Cris Tovani shares planning structures and literacy strategies that will help teachers anticipate and remove learning roadblocks.

The in-person registration rate is $150, with a virtual option for $100. The event will be held at the Victoria Inn Winnipeg on April 21, 2023, from 9:00-3:30. Coffee, snacks, and lunch are included. Registration is open now! Click here to register!

MTS PD Day 2022 with Donalyn Miller

8/16/2022

The Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg, a Special Area Group of Educators of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, proudly presents Donalyn Miller as part of MTS PD Day on October 21, 2022. Learn more below.

Why Join RCGW?

We are proud to offer our members numerous benefits, including:

Member pricing at Manitoba Reading Association events, such as the Adolescent Literacy Summit and other professional learning events hosted by MRA-affiliated councils
Literacy grants for literacy-related projects (up to $500)
PD Incentive fund to help pay for costs of professional learning events
NEW! Author visit bursaries to bring local authors to your schools and classrooms
Annual awards and scholarship opportunities
Numerous book giveaways throughout the year
Regular updates through our monthly newsletter

Notice of Annual General Meeting

The Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg's annual general meeting will follow the MTS PD Day event, Friday, October 21, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at Canad Inns Fort Garry, and we invite all members to participate. Learn how you can get involved and volunteer with RCGW by hearing about our impact and electing the Executive. The reviewed financial statements will also be presented for consideration. The agenda will be shared in advance with current members.

In Memoriam of Dr. Beverley Zakaluk

6/1/2022

It is with great sadness that the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg learned that Past President Dr. Zakaluk, Professor Emerita, passed away on May 17, 2022. Bev was an inspiration to many people in Manitoba. She was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. We are very sorry for the family’s loss.

Bev faced the inevitable challenges in life with grace, dignity, and hard work. She obtained her first three degrees, B.A. B. Ed., and her M.Ed., from the University of Manitoba. Bev loved teaching and completed her training at The Provincial Normal School in 1951. She first taught as an elementary classroom teacher in Bisset, Manitoba. There she met a middle school educator who was to become her devoted husband, Bernard Zakaluk. She later taught at Woodhaven Elementary School. After completing her master’s degree in education, Bev became a Reading Clinician at the Child Guidance Clinic in Winnipeg School Division, where she worked in multiple schools.

Dr. Zakaluk later completed her doctorate at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Bev was a doctoral student of Dr. Jay Samuels, and together they published a helpful book called Readability: Its Past, Present, and Future. For years, their book was often quoted in the literature. Later in her career, Dr. Zakaluk self-published Family Literacy Programs: The Bookmates Experience. She also had several articles published about her other initiatives as a contributor to Reading Manitoba, the former journal of the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg, as well as other journals.

Manitobans were very happy that Dr. Zakaluk returned to Manitoba after her doctoral studies. For over 25 years, she taught many university courses at all levels, including certification, post-baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral courses. Many teachers and reading clinicians speak very positively of Bev as an insightful mentor and supportive academic advisor. As a professor, she was demanding and rigorous. She also knew how to inspire and patiently nurture emerging potential. As a colleague, Bev modelled collaboration as she engaged in school-based research and numerous projects with other professors and school personnel. Upon her retirement, Dr. Zakaluk was honoured by being designated as Professor Emerita by the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Zakaluk strongly recommended that her students join the International Reading Association (which later became the International Literacy Association). She urged students to read the journals and maximize the use of teaching and learning resources published by the IRA. She encouraged attendance at the annual IRA conferences and took great pleasure in introducing her graduate students to the distinguished international literacy leaders who came to speak in Manitoba.

Bev was a role model as a Manitoba literacy leader, becoming president of the local council of the IRA, the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg. She planned enriching professional learning sessions and conferences with her teams. Bev was an innovative person who began the development of “I Love to Read Day” in the eighties. Her vision expanded with many projects in Manitoba. Her idea of “I Love to Read Day” eventually led to the annual, provincial celebration of a whole month of literacy activities in February. Bev was deeply honoured to become a lifetime member of the RCGW.

Bev joined the Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians (MCRC) and continued to teach graduate courses to prepare reading clinicians for service in Manitoba. She also mentored clinicians in the field to develop a rich repertoire of assessment tools and encouraged creative programming linked to Manitoba curricula. She urged new clinicians to be active in the MCRC’s activities and she attended as often as she could. She became an Honourary Life Member of MCRC and delighted in attending council events well into her eighties.

Dr. Zakaluk was a firm believer in the power of parental involvement in literacy development. In 1984, she was one of the founders of Bookmates, Inc., which continues as a not-for-profit organization in Winnipeg. She maintained her devotion to the Bookmates’ mission to inspire families and communities to grow together through the shared joy of literacy learning. Bev remained an avid promoter of public libraries for families. Later in her career, she wrote a book, Family Literacy Programs: The Bookmates Experience to make the larger community aware of the importance of Winnipeg’s model parental involvement program to enhance literacy.

Over the decades, Bev was acknowledged for her many contributions and became an award-winning educator. She was honoured for her indefatigable dedication to education and literacy by many organizations. Her well-deserved, prestigious awards include the Lieutenant-Governor's Medal for Literacy; the YMCA-YWCA 2002 Women of Distinction Award for Education, Training, and Development; the Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for excellence in teaching and later the Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching; the UMFA Faculty of Education Merit Award; and the University of Manitoba Outreach Award.

Bev’s devoted leadership and service to our community was also recognized nationally and internationally. She was awarded a national volunteer award for Canadian educators, the International Reading Association Celebrate Literacy Award, and a Certificate of Merit from the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg. As a member of Manitoba Reading Association, she continued to follow the literacy initiatives of each of the reading councils with enthusiasm.

We are truly grateful for the vision, dedication, inspiration, emotional and academic support that Dr. Zakaluk demonstrated in her long and meaningful life, as a distinguished Manitoba educator, reading clinician and professor. She will be deeply missed by many former students and colleagues. May Bev’s memory continue to inspire her family, colleagues, friends, and former students. We are grateful for her years of dedication to the development of literacy at all levels in Manitoba. She truly enhanced the literacy landscape of our province in all her endeavours.

This tribute was also published on the MCRC website. Please also see Dr. Zakaluk's obituary.

Congratulations to RCGW Awards and Scholarship Winners

5/26/2022

The Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg honoured dedicated educators and innovative university students during its annual Awards & Scholarship Ceremony last Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Niakwa Country Club.

Held in partnership with the Manitoba Reading Association, the evening included the presentation of four RCGW scholarships, in honour of its 65th anniversary, along with four certificates of merit and an honorary membership. Over fifty guests attended to celebrate the winners' accomplishments.

Congratulations to the RCGW 65th Anniversary Scholarship winners Katia St. Vincent, Julie-Anne Delaquis, Morgan Pisni-Ray, and Zunaira Sattar. Congratulations to Krista Wilcox, Jackie Bailey, Ruth Jones, and Val Allan, recipients of the RCGW's Certificate of Merit, awarded for outstanding achievement in reading in the areas of research, classroom teaching, or teacher education.

Several Manitoba Reading Association awards were also presented. The MRA Crocus Award for Literacy: Advocacy was presented to Joel Simkin and Fatima Ramjiawan, and the MRA Crocus Award for Literacy: Administrators was presented to Lucy Schnaider and Rex Ferguson-Baird. Finally, the International Literacy Association's Celebrate Literacy Award was bestowed upon Rosa Messina, the first ever educational assistant to earn this prestigious international award.

Congratulations to all the deserving winners! Please check back for photographs in the coming weeks.

Join Us for our Awards & Anniversary Celebration

4/24/2022

News from the Manitoba Reading Association

4/9/2022

The Manitoba Reading Association invites you to join their Board of Directors and to nominate school leaders and literacy advocates for the Crocus Literacy Awards. See below for more information.

mra_crocus_-_admin.pdf
File Size:	64 kb
File Type:	pdf

mra_crocus_-_advocacy.pdf
File Size:	62 kb
File Type:	pdf

Literacy Grant Applications Open

2/13/2022

Applications for this year's Literacy Grants are now being accepted from Current RCGW Members! Please apply by April 8, 2022. For more information, see the poster and application form below.

Download the application form below (docx format).

rcgw_literacy_grants_application_form.docx
File Size:	414 kb
File Type:	docx