Authentic Questions

Food for thought: Accomplished readers spontaneously ask questions before, during, and after reading. Self-questioning deepens one's engagement and understanding of text. Proficient readers speculate about the meaning and questions will not be answered by the author, but will be left to their own interpretations.
 
Source: Using Journals to Connect with Reading and Writing

26th Language Arts Conference Engaging!

The 26th Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 15 and 16, 2013 at UOG's Tan Lam Pek Kim English and Communication Building was engaging! The conference theme was Interweaving Tradition, Innovation, and Core Curriculum Standards in Literacy.The literacy-filled presentations and keynote speech by former Guam Department of Education Superintendent, Dr. Nerissa Bretania Underwood, was insightful. Drs. George Kallingal and Margaruite Smith also served as plenary speakers with inspirational messages.  Enjoy the following snapshots!

IRA & SOE Alumni Association Officers present their workshop titled Using Journals to Connect Reading and Writing. Pictured L-R:  Grace Griffin, SOE Alumni President & IRA Webmaster; Margaret Beem, SOE Alumni Vice President & IRA Member; Martha Sudo, SOE Alumni & IRA Secretary; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, SOE Alumni & IRA Webmaster/LAC Chair; and Lois Gumataotao, SOE Alumni PIO & IRA Member.

IRA members enjoying the 26th Annual Regional Language Arts Conference.
Pictured L-R:  Charleena Yanger, IRA Historian; Lois T. Gumataotao, IRA member; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, IRA/SOE Alumni/LAC Webmaster; and Amanda Quan. 

LAC Presentation:  Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera and Lois T. Gumataotao get ready for their presentation Differentiated Instruction for English Language Arts.  Pictured L-R:  Dr. Rivera; Gumataotao; and Martha Sudo, IRA/SOE Alumni Secretary. 

The presentation, Differentiated Instruction for English Language Arts, was well attended. 

More participants from the Differentiated Instruction for English Language Arts presentation.

Guam Council IRA November 2013 Newsletter

Click on the newsletter above to view this month's issue.

Sherry Dixon Presentations

Click on any of the following links to view Sherry Dixon's presentations:

The Writing of Natural Destiny

The Lost Art of Storytelling

Discover the Writer in You

Nurturing Young Writers

Guam Council IRA October 2013 Newsletter

Click on the newsletter above to view this month's issue.

Sherry Dixon‘s Natural Destiny on Guam

      Sherry Dixon started keeping a diary when she was in the fourth grade.  She wrote in a journal in high school.  Now Sherry writes a blog and participates in at least two writing groups.  She advises, “If you are a writer and you are not a part of a writing group, I strongly recommend you find one.”   

            Natural Destiny is Ms. Dixon’s first book.  It is the story of a young girl caught in the traumatic events of WWII on Guam as the Japanese invaded the island.  The story is narrated by an older woman thinking back on her youth and the events that shaped her.  The culture of Guam is seen through the eyes of an eight year old girl who keeps a positive outlook on life, despite the loss of her parents at an early age and also the extended family who cared for her. 

            Ms. Dixon’s education prepared her for her “day job” as an Environment, Safety, and Health Professional.  She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a BS in Occupational Education and earned an MA in Human Resources Development from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. She is now a Certified Safety Professional with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.  She also belongs to several professional organizations including Toastmasters International where she has earned the title, “Distinguished Toastmaster”. 

            She is the featured Speaker at the General Membership Meeting of the GIRA this Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the OUTRIGGER RESORT GUAM from 8:00 to 11:00 am.

She will also visit middle and high schools during the week of October 14-18.

            Other events are:

·         Teacher Writing Workshop at Agueda Johnston Middle School Library, Tuesday, October 15, 4:15-5:15pm

·         Story Hour at the Hagatna Branch of the Guam Public Library, Saturday, October 19, 10:00-11:00 am

·         Teen Writing Workshop at Ordot Chalan Pago Elementary Cafeteria on Saturday, October 19, 2:00-4:00 pm

                       

To read her blog and find out more about Sherry Dixon, visit her website at www.sherrydixon.com.

Sherry Dixon’s School Visits

October 14-18, 2013

Agueda Johnston Middle                  

VSA Benavente Middle

FB Leon Guerrero Middle

Oceanview Middle

George Washington High

John F Kennedy High

Okkodo High

Simon Sanchez High

Southern High

Notre Dame High

St. Francis Catholic

San Vicente Catholic

St. Paul Christian

SOE Alumni Association to sponsor special author’s visit with Filipina Author Dr. Gilles

The SOE Alumni Association will sponsor a special author’s visit with Dr. Almira Astudillo-Gilles on October 26, 2013 during the Saturday Story Hour, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  at the Hagatna Public Library.  Dr. Gilles’ will conduct a Read Aloud with activities.  She is based in Chicago and is one of the Pamana Awardees for 2012 (Literature) - awards for overseas Pinoys in different categories.  See link below.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/59677/aquino-awards-29-overseas-filipinos-and-friends

Her children's book, Willie Wins, has won several awards, and has been one of the most popular books for Filipino-American kids in recent years.

http://www.leeandlow.com/p/williewins_tg.mhtml

Here's the link to her website http://almiragilles.com/, as well as one about a launch of her novel.

http://www.gov.ph/2013/04/16/the-fire-beneath-tales-of-gold-by-filipina-author-almira-astudillo-gilles-launched-in-san-francisco/

She is also scheduled to deliver a lecture on October 25, Friday, 2:00 p.m. at the IT&E Lecture Hall in the University of Guam’s SBPA building.   Copies of her novel will be available for sale.