Arkansas Reading Association
Featured Speakers
November 15-16, 2012
Steven L. Layne
Steven L. Layne serves as full time Professor of Literacy Education at Judson
University in Elgin, IL. His experience working at multiple grade levels in the
public schools provides a unique camaraderie with teachers and librarians.
His award-winning books for children and young adults add another
element to his dynamic presentations.
http://www.stevelayne.com/
Timothy Shanahan
 Timothy Shanahan is a professor of urban education at the University of
Illinois at Chicago where he serves as director of the UIC Center for Literacy. A
former IRA president, he has authored, co-authored, or edited more than 150
publications including Developing Literacy in Second-Language Learners
and Teachers Thinking, Teachers Knowing. His research focuses on the
relationship of reading and writing, school improvement, the assessment of
reading ability, and family literacy.
 http://www.childrenofthecode.org/interviews/shanahan.htm
Linda Hoyt
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Linda Hoyt has worked as a reading specialist, a staff developer, a curriculum specialist,
and a Title I Coordinator. Her special love is creating environments where children
engage as active participants in the learning process. She is the author of numerous
books including: Revisit, Reflect, Retell: Strategies for Improving Reading
Comprehension; Snapshots: Literacy Minilessons UpClose; Exploring Informational
Texts: From Theory to Practice; Make It Real: Strategies for Success with Informational
Texts; and Spotlight on Comprehension: Building a Literacy of Thoughtfulness.
http://www.lindahoyt.com/
Danny Brassell
 Danny is a professor in the Teacher Education Department at California State
University-Dominguez Hills and founder of www.lazyreaders.com. He is the author
of over 50 journal and newspaper articles and nine books, including 75+ Reading
Strategies: Boost Achievement and Build a Life-Long Love of Reading, Dare to
Differentiate: Vocabulary Strategies for All Students, and Bringing Joy Back Into
the Classroom.
Lisa S. Blackwell
Lisa’s background includes leadership coaching and design and delivery of professional
development. She serves as Mindset Works’ VP of Design, Implementation & Evaluation
and advises schools and districts implementing the Brainology® approach, which
teaches students how the brain functions, learns, remembers, and changes. She has
been featured in Time Magazine, New York Magazine, Good Morning America, National
Public Radio programs, and many scholarly publications.
 http://www.mindsetworks.com/default.aspx
Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander has written 14 books, owned several publishing companies, written for
the stage and television (TLC's "Hip Hop Harry"), recorded a CD, performed around the
world, produced jazz and book festivals, hosted a weekly radio show, worked for the U.S.
Government, and taught in a high school. He resides in the Washington, DC area, where
he is the Founding Director of Book-in-a-Day (BID), a program that teaches and
empowers teenagers to write and publish their own books.
 http://www.bookinaday.org/
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Page McBrier
Page McBrier is an award-winning author, writing teacher, drama specialist, and arts
consultant from Connecticut. She has written over 40 books including Beatrice’s Goat,
winner of a 2001 Christopher Award. Some of her other books include Confessions of a
Reluctant Elf and the Oliver and Company series.
http://www.pagemcbrier.com/
Taryn J. Souders
Taryn J. Souders lives in Winter Park, Florida. With a background in math education, she
is passionate about keeping math fun for young students. This is her first children's book.
With the math problem featured as part of the artwork, students get an immediate sense
of how to apply and understand the concept of fractions.
 http://www.fractionsarefun.com/
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Courtney Sheinmel
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As a child, Courtney loved reading and spent most of her money on books. She majored
in English and then became a lawyer, but continued working toward her childhood dream
of becoming an author. Originally from California, she now lives, works, and writes in
Manhattan.
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http://www.courtneysheinmel.com/about.html
Mike Artell
Mike Artell is an award-winning author, illustrator, TV cartoonist, musician, storyteller and
humorist. Each year, Mike speaks to thousands of school kids, business leaders, and
educators. He loves sharing cool and creepy science facts from his award-winning books
about weather, space, bugs and smells. Mike engages his listeners in language arts
wordplay while having fun with his Cajun culture.
 http://www.mikeartell.com/
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Gary Schmidt
Gary Schmidt is the author of many well-received books for young readers, including The
Wednesday Wars, First Boy, and The Wonders of Donal O'Donnell. His novel Lizzie
Bright and the Buckminster Boy was both a Newbery Honor Book and a Printz Honor
Book. Gary teaches writing at Calvin College and lives with his wife, author Elizabeth
Stickney, and their six children on a farm in Alto, Michigan.
 http://us.macmillan.com/author/garyschmidt
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Ard Hoyt
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Ard Hoyt was born in Temple, Texas and raised on picture books. From a very early age he discovered
that even though he wasn't allowed to cross the street, he could go anywhere in a picture book. He fell
in love with the worlds created by Robert Lawson, Steven Kellogg and H.A. Rey. This freedom grew to
include his own pictures. Before long Ard discovered that with a white sheet of paper he could change
the weather. He knew that he wanted to be a children's book illustrator and dreamed of one day having
a book with his name on it next to the great ones.
http://www.ardhoytbooks.com/
Anna Mackey
More than 10 years ago, Anna Mackey began her career in the Little Rock School
District in Little Rock, AR, as an 8th grade Language Arts/Reading teacher. From
serving as one of the district’s Literacy Southern Regional Education
Board representative to being awarded as Campus Teacher of the Year, she was a
visible and active educator in the district who wholeheartedly understood her purpose to
Motivate & Engage to Reach & Teach students. Whether Anna is teaching students or
presenting at educational conferences/workshops using the M.E.R.T. approach, she
doesn’t miss an opportunity to recap childhood memories from the South as
she compares herself to a R.O.C. K. Simply and plainly, she concludes by saying that as
a teacher it is her Responsibility and Obligation to Care for Kids.
 http://www.mackeyliteracygroup.com/Founder_CEO.html
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Darcy Pattison
 Darcy Pattison writes both picture books and novels. See the book trailer of her
latest book, Prairie Storms, illustrated by Kathleen Rietz. In Prairie Storms, a
typical storm is featured for each month as well as a prairie animal in its
normal habitat, and the prairie's ecosytem is explored through its weather,
especially its storms.
 http://www.darcypattison.com/
Sara Pennypacker
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Sara Pennypacker is a New York Times' bestselling author of children's books
including Clementine, The Talented Clementine, Clementine's Letter, Clementine Friend of the
Week, Clementine and the Family Meeting, The Amazing World of Stuart, including Stuart's
Cape and Stuart goes to School, Flat Stanley books including The Mount Rushmore
Calamity, The Great Egyptian Grave Robbery, The Japanese Ninja Surprise and The Intrepid
Canadian Expedition, Sparrow Girl, and Pierre in Love.
 http://www.sarapennypacker.com/
Julie D. Ramsay
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I'm currently a 5th grade teacher in a student-driven classroom. I recently completed
authoring the Stenhouse book, "Can We Skip Lunch and Keep Writing?" Collaborating in
Class and Online. I obtained my National Board Certification and travel to speak,
present, and facilitate workshops in applying technology to support authentic learning. I
am an adventure-seeker and world traveler who also loves to curl up with a good book
and a great cup of coffee.
 http://juliedramsay.weebly.com/index.html
Greg Tang
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Today, Greg is working to develop a more intuitive approach to teaching math, one that combines
problem-solving and arithmetic and integrates math with language and art. To read a recent interview
click Boston Partners in Education or Teaching K-8 Magazine. In addition to writing his picture books,
Greg is also an author for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's new textbook programs in California, Texas,
the Carolinas and Kentucky. He wrote the Go Fast Go FarTM mental math series and is creating a
line of teaching materials that includes flash cards, math games, and workbooks. His math
games NumskillTM and Numskill JrTM have been an instant hit with teachers and students, and
his Smart SumsTM andGreat TimesTM flash cards have been widely praised by both teachers and
parents alike. More supplemental materials will soon be available on this web site and through
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. To watch a short video click You Tube.
 http://www.gregtang.com/
Carla McClafferty
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Carla Killough McClafferty grew up in the small farming community of Tomberlin, Arkansas,
where her parents farmed rice and soybeans. Many long, lazy days of her childhood were spent
under the outstretched arms of a giant pecan tree. Her elementary school didn't have a library,
using instead bookshelves under the windows that filled one wall of the classroom. She
says, says, "To this day, libraries fill me with awe and appreciation."
 http://www.carlamcclafferty.com/
Common Core
 SEARCHING FOR COMMON CORE? Here are
some sample sessions . . .
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Deborah Goff - Scaffolding Common Core Complex Texts
Merica Howie - Teaching Informative/Explanatory Writing with the Common Core
Standards
Alysa Russell - Here's What We're Thinking: Using an Audit Trail to Document
Learning
Julie Huskey - Don't Miss this Episode of CCSI: Common Core Standards
Investigations with Art & Literacy
Carla Killough McClafferty - Blowing up Books: How Pieces of a Nonfiction Book Fits
Common Core State Standards
Melissa Wilson - CCSS Foundational Skills K-5
Mark Forget - Making Common Core Literacy Easy for Content Teachers
Murder Mystery – Thursday Evening
 Thursday Evening Mystery Entertainment and
Dessert
 $10.00
 7:15 – 8:45