Kids, Books & Anti-Racism Series: Lester Laminack
Reading to Make a Difference: Using Literature to Help Students Speak Freely, Think Deeply, and Take Action
In this one-day workshop with Lester Laminack, learn how to broaden students’ view of the world through diverse literature and shared read aloud experiences.
Gain practical ideas on how to help students find value in their complex identities while honoring new perspectives other than their own through deep thinking, classroom dialogue and taking action!
Registration for this event has closed.
- Classroom Teachers, Interventionists & Specialists
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- District & School Leaders
30-Day Access to the Recording
- $250 Individual + Colleague (includes professional text). Email CRRLC@lesley.edu to initiate discounted rate.
- $895 (Complete Series)
- Group discounts available! Email CRRLC@lesley.edu to inquire.
Reading to Make a Difference: Using Literature to Help Students Speak Freely, Think Deeply, and Take Action with Lester Laminack
Building off the work of Rudine Sims Bishop we will extend the notion of literature as windows, mirrors, and doors to create more inclusive classrooms. Because identity influences our choices and our perceptions of what we read it is important to broaden students’ view of the world through diverse literature. In our classrooms, shared read aloud experiences can help students find value in their complex identities while honoring new perspectives other than their own.
Participants will examine the presence of mirrors, windows, and doors in a carefully selected collection of literature. Together we will examine our personal identities and reflect on how these influence the selection of texts we make available for students. We will explore an instructional framework that enables you and your students to delve into diverse literature to help students build empathy, speak freely, think deeply and take action.
Participants in this workshop will:
- Deepen an appreciation for the importance of diverse literature
- Evaluate their classroom libraries for the inclusion of diverse literature
- Utilize the provided instructional framework to design future instruction
- Evaluate a collection of literature for potential mirrors, windows, and doors
- Consciously examine personal bias and the limitations it places on the selection and use of diverse literature
Registered participants will receive a copy of the professional text, Reading to Make a Difference: Using Literature to Help Students Speak Freely, Think Deeply, and Take Action by Lester Laminack and Katie Kelly.
Assignments:
Lester has requested that each participant bring 10 interactive read alouds (picture books) that they use with students. Participants will use these during the session on March 10th.
To earn 6 professional development hours for participating in this workshop, please read the introduction to Reading To Make a Difference and one chapter of interest to you.
Lester Laminack
Lester Laminack is Professor Emeritus from department of Birth-Kindergarten, Elementary and MiddleGrades Education, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina where he received two awards for excellence in teaching [the Botner Superior Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award].
Lester is now a full-time writer and consultant working with schools throughout the United States. He is an active member of the National Council of Teachers of English and served three years as co-editor of the NCTE journal Primary Voices and as editor of the Children’s Book Review Department of the NCTE journal Language Arts (2003-2006). He also served as a teaching editor for the magazine Teaching K-8 and wrote the Parent Connection column (2000-2002). He is a former member of the Whole Language Umbrella Governing Board, a former member of the Governing Board and Secretary of the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children, and a former member of the Board of Directors for the Center for the Expansion of Language and Thinking. He served as the Basic Reading Consultant to Literacy Volunteers of America from 1987 through 2001. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Our Children’s Place.
This workshop is part of a larger series designed to confront social injustices that contribute to the race- and poverty-related opportunity gap by promoting access and equity for all children through literacy. You may register for this individual workshop or all of the series.
Kids, Books & Anti-Racism Series
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Reading to Make a Difference: Using Literature to Help Students Speak Freely, Think Deeply, and Take Action with Lester Laminack
This event has passed.
Friday, April 9, 2021
Book Clubs for a Better World: Reimagining Reading Instruction as Liberatory Spaces with Sonja Cherry-Paul
This event has passed.
July 12 – 15, 2021 (Summer Literacy Institute)
Reaching All Learners: Taking Action for Equity with Kass & Cornelius Minor
This event has passed.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Edith Michelson Milender, Lesley Class of 1958
Silver Sponsor
Terri Ziegler-Lowell, Lesley Class of 1994
Diversity Scholarship Sponsors
Sarah Bishins Family
Susan Farris Family
Gary Nelson, Publishers Representative
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
You must cancel in writing two weeks before the start of the course to get a refund, minus a $50 processing fee. Email CRRLC@lesley.edu to cancel. If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute at any time. Regardless of conditions, if the event is held but you cannot attend, you will be billed for the full amount.
Registration Deadline
Registration for this workshop has closed. If you are interested in registering, email us at CRRLC@lesley.edu by 9:00am ET on Monday, March 8, 2021 and we may be able to accommodate.
Bring a Colleague Option
You may register for this individual workshop for yourself and a colleague at the discounted rate of $250. Please email CRRLC@lesley.edu or call 617-349-8424 to initiate this process.
Independent Learning Policy & Recordings
This workshop will be recorded. Due to the workshop’s interactive structure, we highly recommend that the registrant participates live on March 10, 2021. Access to the recording (30 days) will be sent to all registrants within a week after the live workshop.
The registrant agrees to access the live session and/or recording for the purpose of independent learning. Access to the live session and/or recording is restricted to the registrant and may not be accessed in a group setting.
Certificates of Attendance
Only registered participants will receive a certificate of attendance for their participation by completing an insight form, which will be provided to participants at the end of the event. Please allow our team at least 1 week to process your certificate.