Recent Events
MCRR Open House in Peik Hall
175 Peik Hall, 159 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Friday, March 23 | 3:00-4:30 PM
The Minnesota Center for Reading Research invites you to join us for an open house in our new offices in Peik Hall on Friday, March 23rd. Please drop in to learn more about the people, projects, and resources at the MCRR. Light refreshments will be served.
At the open house, MCRR will be accepting book donations for Books For Africa, a local organization that collects, sorts, ships, and distributes books to children in Africa. Please consider bringing a book to donate. Thank you!
MCRR Annual School Recognition & Lecture Series
Their Way is Your Way: Development, Success and Courage | Donald R. Bear
Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 10:00 AM
Johnson Great Room, McNamara Alumni Center
200 Oak Street SE, Minneapolis, MN | Directions & Parking
Morning lecture with Donald Bear - Instruction may be most effective when we teach “their way,” when we followstudents’ leads. It takes courage to teach developmentally, but doing so leads to success, three words that we study at the beginning of this talk: development, success and courage. As an illustration of teaching “their way is your way,” we examine how students’ word knowledge guides word study instruction. Specifically, we will visit five stages of development to see that what students are experimenting with, what they are “using but confusing” is a window to their development, their ways of learning.
Donald is director of the E. L. Cord Foundation Center for Learning and Literacy and professor in the College ofEducation. Together with his students, they tutor and assess 200 children in the center and in their outreach Reading Buddies programs. Donald has been involved in innovative professional development grants, and has developed assessments used in school districts throughout the country. He is an author and co-author of numerous articles, book chapters, and books, including Words Their Way, Words Their Way with English Learners, Vocabulary Their Way and Words Their Way with Struggling Readers, 4 – 12. Donald is involved in numerous studies that examine literacy development including studies of the orthographic development in different and second languages.
Following the lecture, MCRR will recognize Minnesota K-12 schools for significant improvement in reading, based on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). A few of the schools will share significant factors that led to their success and certificates will be awarded.
Free & open to the public.
Leadership in Reading Network (LiRN) 2011-2012
The Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Center for Reading Research, and The Minnesota Reading Association have partnered to offer a network for district-level and school-wide literacy leaders who support teachers and administrators in developing PK-12 literacy programs based on research-based best practices.
School-wide reading coaches, district literacy coordinators, administrators, AYP coordinators, and other Minnesota educators with similar job descriptions serving learners PK-12 are invited to join in this collaborative initiative.
The Leadership in Reading Network (LiRN) series features three full-day professional development events offered during the 2011-2012 school year. All events are held at the Minnesota Department of Education. Each day focuses on a theme recommended by LiRN members. Presentations and information are presented by experts in each area and time is dedicated for networking, collaboration, and coaching.
Supporting Diverse Learners and English Learners
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Keynote speakers: Dr. Lori Helman and National Expert TBA
Multi-Tiered Systems of Intervention
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Keynote speakers: Dr. Matt Burns and Ms. Jane Olson
Reading Digital and Informational Text in the Content Areas
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Keynote speakers: Mr. Scott Voss and Media Literacy Expert TBA
Register at http://lirn2012.eventbrite.com/
Cost: $265 for MRA Members; $295 for non-MRA Members. Fee includes all 3 events, free guest participation, resources and light refreshments. Payment options include check, PayPal, or invoice.
For more information, please contact:
MDE - Kari Ross: kari.d.ross@state.mn.us, 651-582-8455
MRA - Julie Scullen: j.scullen@mnreading.org, 612-741-1658
MCRR - Dr. Debra Peterson: peter328@umn.edu, 612-626-9360
MCRR Afternoon Brown Bag Discussion with Dr. Yolanda Majors
Cultural Community Processes: Resources for Reasoning through Texts
Thursday, November 17, 2011 | 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Room R380, Learning & Environmental Sciences, 1954 Buford Avenue, St. Paul Campus
Join us for an afternoon session of the MCRR Brown Bag Discussion series. Dr. Yolanda Majors, visiting Associate Professor of Curriculum & Instruction, will present and answer questions.
"In this presentation, I present a cultural context view of literacy. I argue that, when leveraged within a classroom, literacy from this perspective can provide an alternative space that structures opportunities for all students to sort through their real life dilemmas as well as work through the academic tasks they are expected to take up. Research that acknowledges students’ literate problem-solving and problem posing processes as culturally situated under-scores and challenges the dominant theme in education that either (1) views students’ cultural practices (e.g., ways of speaking, communicating, listening, responding) as deficits rather than as resources, and (2) tends to link popular culture practices, such as rap and hip-hop music, to classroom practices without making explicit how and where such links occur."
MN English Language Arts Standards:
Fall 2011 Workshop Series
The Minnesota Center for Reading Research (MCRR) and the Minnesota Department of Education will partner again this fall to present two NEW sessions on the Minnesota English Language Arts Standards.
The registration fee for each session is $25/person.
Supporting English Learners: Using the New MN English Language Arts Standards
Monday, October 17, 2011, 4-6 PM | MN Department of Education
This session will help elementary and secondary teachers, coaches, and administrators use the new MN English Language Arts Standards to support English learners. Topics will include: how to provide explicit instruction for academic language, how to access prior knowledge and build specific content vocabulary, and how to scaffold the support we provide to students with different levels of language proficiency. Participants will have opportunities for cross-school sharing in elementary or secondary groups.
Differentiation: Connecting Students, Texts, and Standards
Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 4-6 PM | MN Department of Education
This session will focus on specific strategies for helping students at all achievement levels to meet the English Language Arts standards. Particular focus will be placed on integrating the reading standards with the speaking, listening, viewing, and digital literacy standards. Participants will have opportunities for cross-school sharing in elementary or secondary groups.
MN English Language Arts Standards:
Summer 2011 Workshop Series
One-Day Workshop for K-12 Teachers in Staples, MN
Thursday, August 25, 2011
8:30 AM –
3:30 PM
Central Lakes College, Staples Campus
Register with lori.duhn@njpacoop.org before
August 18th. (Registration deadline extended from
June 15)
Cost is $50/person or $200 for
teams of 4-6.
The workshop series is going on the road! The Minnesota Center for Reading Research (MCRR), the Minnesota Department of Education, and the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) Region V Education Service Co-op will partner to present a one-day workshop for K-12 teachers on the new Minnesota English Language Arts Standards.
Please note: This workshop series will repeat some of the sessions offered earlier this spring at the Minnesota Department of Education.
The workshop will be presented by Debra S. Peterson, Ph.D. in Literacy Education and Education Specialist at MCRR, and Kari Ross, School Improvement Specialist in Reading at the MN Department of Education.
Topics to be covered: Using Informational Text, Text Complexity, Reading in the Content Areas, and Planning to Implement Standards in the Curriculum.
Questions? Please contact Lori Duhn at lori.duhn@njpacoop.org.
MCRR Summer Literacy Workshop
Applying Reading Research to Real Classroom Settings
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
8:30 AM –
3:00 PM
Continuing Education & Conference Center, U of M
St. Paul Campus
The workshop will feature a keynote address by Dr. Jennifer York-Barr from the University of Minnesota, Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, along with breakout sessions led by other U of M faculty from the College of Education and Human Development. The day will conclude with a Q&A panel discussion with the presenters.
Learn more about the 2011 MCRR Summer Literacy Workshop.
Online registration is now closed.
MN English Language Arts Standards:
Summer 2011 Workshop Series
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
9:00 AM –
4:30 PM
Minnesota Department of Education, Conference
Center B, Room CC17 and CC18
The Minnesota Center for Reading Research (MCRR) and the Minnesota Department of Education will team up once again to present three sessions on the new Minnesota English Language Arts Standards. The workshop will be presented by Debra S. Peterson, Ph.D in Literacy Education and Education Specialist at MCRR, and Kari Ross, School Improvement Specialist in Reading at the MN Department of Education.
Please note: This workshop series will repeat the sessions offered earlier this spring at the Minnesota Department of Education.
All three sessions will take place on the same day. You may register for the full day or pick and choose which sessions you'd like to attend throughout the day:
- Session 1: Using Informational Text | 9:00 - 11:00 AM
- Session 2: Text Complexity | 12:00 - 2:00 PM
- Session 3: Reading in the Content Areas | 2:30 - 4:30 PM
The registration fee for the full day is $75/person or $25/person for each session. Light refreshments will be offered in the morning and afternoon. Lunch will be on your own from 11:00-12:00. There are many dining options available near MDE.
MCRR Afternoon Brown Bag Panel Discussion
K-12 Classroom-based Research: Reading Interventions and Instruction
Thursday, May 19, 2011
3:30 - 5:00 PM
Room R380, Learning & Environmental Sciences (formerly VoTech Ed), St. Paul Campus
Join us for a discussion on classroom-based research. Matt Burns, MCRR Co-Director and Professor in Educational Psychology, will introduce the topic. Kara Coffino, graduate student in Curriculum & Instruction, and Abbey Karich, graduate student in Educational Psychology, will present.
The Fourth Guy Bond Memorial Conference on Reading
"Developing Critical Readers & Writers: Improving Adolescents' Literacies through Research, Practice, and Policy"
A Celebration of the Research, Teaching, & Impact of Professor Richard Beach
April 29-30, 2011
Learn more about the conference.
Speakers included well-known international researchers such as:
- Donna Alvermann, Distinguished Research Professor, Affiliate for African American Studies, Literacy and Language Department, The University of Georgia
- Jerry Harste, Professor Emeritus, Literacy Education, Indiana University
- Elizabeth B. Moje, Associate Dean for Research and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, School of Education; Faculty Associate, Institute for Social Research; Faculty Affiliate, Latina/o Studies; University of Michigan
- Chris M. Anson, University Distinguished Professor and Director, Campus Writing & Speaking Program, North Carolina State University
- Deborah Appleman, Hollis L. Caswell Professor of Educational Studies, Carleton College
Learn more about the keynote presentations and breakout sessions.
Sponsored by the University of Minnesota, the Bond Foundation, the Minnesota Center for Reading Research & the Bush Foundation: Minnesota Reads Project.
MN English Language Arts Standards:
Spring 2011
Workshop Series
We hope you'll be able to join us when these sessions are offered again in the summer and/or fall. Repeat session dates will be announced on our website and through the MCRR email list. Subscribe to receive email updates from MCRR.
Session Information
The Minnesota Center for Reading Research (MCRR) and the Minnesota Department of Education will team up this spring to present three sessions on the new Minnesota English Language Arts Standards.
Session 1: Using Informational Text | Monday, April 11, 2011, 4-6 PM
Comprehension of informational text structures and content is critical. This session will discuss the importance of increasing students' access to informational text and the need to explicitly teach comprehension strategies.
Session 2: Text Complexity | Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 4-6 PM
Being able to read complex text independently and proficiently is essential for learning. This session will address the considerations of identifying text complexity and the importance of supporting students with ongoing reading development.
Session 3: Reading in the Content Areas | Thursday, May 5, 2011, 4-6 PM
A student’s level of background knowledge, interest, and goals often impact how well students are able to understand and use texts in content area reading. This session will focus on strategies for understanding and applying what is read across disciplines and how understanding of disciplinary texts is inextricably tied to understandings of the discipline.
The registration fee for each session is $25/person. All sessions will be held at the Minnesota Department of Education in Conference Center A, Room CC13.