NCTE 2013--Boston

Last week, Holly Mueller and I had the good fortune of attending the NCTE annual convention in Boston.  It was a whirlwind experience!  We arrived late Thursday night and attended sessions throughout the weekend.  We also attended the Choice Literacy contributors dinner and a get-together with all of the Nerdy Book Club people.  The best part of the conference was walking through the convention center, and spying well-known and highly admired authors, like Judy Blume (Judy Blume!), Nancie Atwell (pioneer teacher of writing), Barbara O'Connor, Louise Borden, Ralph Fletcher, Jerry Spinelli, and the list goes on and on!  It was an experience we'll not soon forget and one we're looking forward to making an annual tradition.  We hope to present at next year's conference in D.C.  Time to write up our proposal about literacy contracts for intermediate and middle grade teachers.  Thanks NCTE for inspiring us to keep doing what we're doing in education and introducing us to those we know from our online family.  I can't wait until next year!

Enjoy some of the shots from our trip.  Unfortunately, I could not get them in the order I wanted, but they're still fun to look through. :)  Ah, technology.  Maybe Nancie Atwell had the right idea...

Fancy Shmansy at Bricco Italian restaurant in the North End.  Yum!

Faneuil Hall in Boston.  We did manage to escape the hotel and convention center one night.

I might have fallen in love with close reading because of these three: Chris Lehman, Kate Roberts and Maggie Roberts.

The iconic Nancie Atwell lugged her overhead projector clear from Maine!

Holly and I with Deborah Wiles!  The lady that wrote Countdown!

Appetizers at the Choice Literacy dinner.  Look at that lobster!  Yum!

Holly and I at the Choice Literacy dinner at The Capital Grille.

Kirby Larson signs her new book Duke.  I guest blog for her next Tuesday at Kirby's Lane!  Make sure you check it out.  She is nothing but kind.