The Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg will welcome Ellin Oliver Keene to Winnipeg for MTS PD Day, Friday, October 25, 2024. We return to the Caboto Centre for a day of professional learning packed with strategies and ideas. 

Ellin will present "Integrating Reading and Writing for Engaged Learning," a day-long presentation geared toward Grade 3-9 teachers. 

Teachers are all too familiar with the complex issues in teaching reading and writing; how do we teach standards effectively; how do we differentiate meaningfully; how do we engender deeper thinking in students? Perhaps our greatest challenge in literacy instruction, though, is the tyranny of time. We struggle to find time for students to read and write independently, time to confer with individuals and meet with small groups, and time to provide meaningful, in-depth instruction when there are so many standards and curriculum objectives. 

Most of us learned to read and write as separate subjects making it difficult to craft instruction that integrates reading and writing but when we do make integration work, the impact on students is enormous. We find that students are far more engaged and their learning more permanent when they understand how the same objective or standard impacts them as readers and writers. We can help students craft more potent written pieces and comprehend more deeply if we integrate instruction. Let’s talk about the nitty gritty of launching a Literacy Studio in your classroom.

As with last year, lunch will be included in the registration fee! More information and registration information will be posted in the summer. 

The Manitoba Reading Association and the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg are teaming up to honour educators. The hard work of educators needs to be celebrated. Please read below for information on how to nominate a Literacy Leader near you.
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Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg (RCGW) – Promoting literacy through professional development and community outreach
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The RCGW would like to celebrate all the teachers and community leaders who have advanced literacy throughout our province. Is there someone in your school division or community who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding work in the field of literacy? Perhaps you know a teacher who has done some remarkable things in the areas of classroom teaching, teacher education, or research. Maybe you’re aware of a member of the RCGW who is retiring or moving away from Manitoba who should be honoured for their accomplishments here, or a community member who has raised awareness about the importance of reading.  You may work with or know about a colleague who has made significant literary contributions at the local or provincial level.

We would love to help you honour these individuals with our Annual Awards Evening! Please see the PDF poster below and fill-in form on how to nominate the teacher or community member you think should be recognized. Nominations are due Tuesday, April 30th, 2024.
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Manitoba Reading Association – “Every Manitoban a Literate Manitoban”
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The Manitoba Reading Association would like to honour those who support literacy initiatives across the province. Perhaps you know an administrator that has gone the extra mile to support literacy within your school or division. Or maybe you know a community member who volunteers their time to implement literacy initiatives in your area. Please see the PDF poster below on how to nominate a literacy leader in Manitoba. Nominations are due April 30th, 2024.

​To All Schools,

“I Love to Read Month” is a month long celebration that is held each year to encourage reading, writing, and sharing in the joy of literacy. This year’s theme is “Our Voices are Unique”. This theme is meant to help readers recognize the importance of being their true selves and sharing their stories. We can develop a deeper understanding of different perspectives by sharing our own stories and by listening to others’ stories.

On behalf of the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg (RCGW), I have prepared the attached idea calendar. The RCGW is a group of dedicated educators who meet monthly to share and work to promote knowledge and awareness of lifelong literacy and learning. Please share the idea calendar with teachers, students and their families. It would make a great addition to your school newsletter. Activities are included for students of all ages to have them explore different ways of engaging with literacy. I hope that both teachers and students will have fun with the suggested activities and that they will challenge the students to learn something new. I also hope that families will be able to share the excitement of reading and writing together.

​In addition to the idea calendar, the RCGW will be making a book and monetary donation to the Cancer Care Unit at the Children’s Hospital, so that the staff can continue to update their children’s and teen’s libraries and magazine subscriptions. This provides children, teens, as well as parents with reading materials that are appealing and entertaining, as well as supportive.

​The RCGW thanks you for sharing this idea calendar with teachers and families. By doing so, you are helping to empower our students to change the world.

Sincerely,
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Brittany Bell
Representative of the I Love to Read Committee
Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg

The Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg invites you to learn more about Structured Literacy in K-3 from three Manitoban educators. Join us for a virtual webinar on Zoom, Monday, December 4, 2023 from 6-8 PM.

Britney Morrish, speech-language pathologist and founder of Language and Literacy Clinic of Manitoba, will share, “Do Speech Sounds Really Matter for Literacy?” Then, Kristen McDowell, English and French Immersion school and classroom support teacher, and Jacqueline Hanson, Grade 1/2 teacher, will share how structured literacy looks in practice with students in their classrooms.

Registration Cost for RCGW Members & Non-Members: $20.00
We encourage for participants to attend LIVE in order to ask questions. The webinar will be recorded and available for all registrants (including those who were unable to make it to the live session) until January 31, 2024. Given this, no refunds are available.

Register online now! 

The Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg is happy to share our updated member benefits for this school year! Take a look at the poster below to see how your membership dues can help support literacy in your school or community.

​All current members (i.e., people who have paid their 2023/2024 membership dues as part of MTS PD Day or separately) are eligible to apply.

Our colleagues at the Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians have an exciting learning opportunity coming up on Thursday, January 25, 2024. 

8:00-8:50 a.m. – Registration (Coffee and light refreshments provided)
8:50-9:15 a.m. – Welcome and Introductions

9:15-10:10 a.m. – Teaching Tough Topics in Challenging Times – Larry will demonstrate how to lead students to become caring citizens as they read and respond to quality children’s literature. It will focus on topics that can be challenging or sensitive, yet are significant in order to build understanding of social justice, diversity, and equity. Racism, Homophobia, Bullying, Religious Intolerance, Poverty, and Physical and Mental Challenges are just some of the themes that will be explored. Larry promotes the belief that by using picture books, novels, poetry, and nonfiction, teachers can enrich learning with compassion and empathy as students make connections to texts, to others, and to the world.

10:10-10:30 a.m. – Break

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – Making Reading and Writing Connections (You Can’t Have One Without the Other) – In this session, Larry will offer participants a range of practical strategies and lessons intended to help teachers and students discover and investigate the reading / writing connection. He will provide an overview of The Functions of Writing, consider the essentials of a writing program, and provide as an overview of 65+ ready-to-use lessons to enrich the literacy program. Recent examples of children’s literature will be featured in order to encourage the use of mentor texts as models and springboards for student writing.

12:00-1:00 p.m. – Sorrento’s Buffet Lunch (Included in Registration) 

1:00-2:00 p.m. – Stop the Hate for Goodness Sake – In this practical session, Larry will provide an overview of why? what? and how? classroom teachers can disrupt discrimination, promote hope, foster healing, and inspire joyful learning.  A series of lessons will be introduced to encourage discussion and reflection through various response modes. Children’s literature will be shared as resources to support classroom experiences of discussing the issue of hate and discrimination and consider suggested ways for teachers and students to take action.

2:00-2:15 p.m. – Break
2:15-2:45 p.m. – Session Continues
2:45-3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks and Book Draws (Winners must be in attendance)