Discovering and playing and building in this little corner of the world to document my writing life. I'm glad you're here. {If you want to receive updates via email, sign up below.}

Sign up to receive updates via email.

i speak




The more opportunities I have to speak, the more I realize how much I love it. My style is warm and friendly, with a touch of humor. I'm constantly advocating to empower people to teach writers even better than the day before. In order to do this, we must determine our motives and philosophy about teaching writers and then couple it with practical and meaningful strategies. I strive to offer both philosophy and strategies when working alongside teachers.

 If you’re interested in having me speak at your school or conference, then please contact Chandra Lowe at Stenhouse Publishers (clowe@stenhouse.com) for information regarding professional development or speaking engagements. You may also contact me directly at raayres1{at}gmail{dot}com. If you don't receive a response from me within three days, please contact Chandra.




All Write Workshops, Foundations of Writing Workshop: Building an Understanding of Writing Workshop in order to Meet the Learning Needs of Students and Common Core (A Three Part Series), North Webster, IN 
Primary Workshop (K-2): November 6, 2012, February 12, 2013, May 14, 2013
Intermediate Workshop (3-5): November 7, 2012, February 13, 2013, May 15, 2013
Middle School Workshop (6-8): November 8, 2013, February 14, 2013, May 16, 2013

 Southbury Elementary School, Modeling Writing Workshop & Professional Development, Oswego, IL, October 11, 2012; February 26, 2013; May 8, 2013
Modeling Writing Workshop in Southbury classrooms (Click here to learn more about this form of professional development.)
Workshop 1
Becoming a Reflective Educator
Refining Routines and Procedures
Assessment Lenses
Developing Independence through the Writing Process
Meaningful Minilessons
Being a Teacher Who Writes
Workshop 2
Conferring: Conversations with Writers
Assessment Lenses
Being a Teacher Who Writes: Slice of Life Challenge
Workshop 3
Celebrations
Assessment Lenses
Being a Teacher Who Writes

Smithville Upper Elementary School, Professional Development, Smithville, MO, January 13, 2013; February 15, 2013

Workshop 1
Becoming a Reflective Educator
Refining Routines and Procedures
Meaningful Minilessons
Diverse Mentor Texts
Workshop 2
6 Ideas for Teaching 21st Century Writers & Meet the Demands of Common Core
Conferring: Conversations with Writers
Assessment Lenses
Being a Teacher Who Writes


 All Write Summer Institute, Opening Keynote, Warsaw, Indiana, June 21, 2012
Mission Story: Mandates, Standards, and Evaluation -- Can Teachers Still Change the World?

 All Write Summer Institute, Breakout Session, Warsaw, Indiana, June 22, 2012
Fostering Independence in Readers and Writers with Patrick Allen

 Literacy in Motion, Judson University, Elgin, IL, June 20, 2012
Celebrating Writers Near and Far (primary and intermediate sessions)

Dublin Literacy Conference, Ohio, February 25, 2012
Celebrating Writers
Meaningful Minilessons

NCTE, Chicago, IL, November 2011
with Patrick Allen, Troy Rushmore, & Stacey Shubitz
Fostering Independence in Reading & Writing Workshops

All-Write Summer Institute, Warsaw, IN, June 20, 2011
What I Learned about Teaching Writing from Swim Lessons

Warren Writing Project, Indianapolis, IN, June 7, 2011
Lessons from the Pool for Teaching Writers Keynote
Meaningful Minilessons: Moving Beyond Scripts (primary)
Meaningful Minilessons (intermediate)



Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)