Welcome (back) to The Literacy Booth

Today's post is brought to you by Barb Novak.

Welcome (back) to The Literacy Booth: A Place for Wisconsin Coaches.

I am so very glad you're here.

We literacy coaches? We're a unique bunch. We're teachers, but we are also mentors. We are coaches, but we we may also be interventionists. We are readers of research. Wait. We are - more than likely - readers of just about anything you put in front of us. We cultivate relationships. We are passionate about literacy. We advocate for teachers; we advocate for students. We are masters at facilitating meetings and designing professional learning opportunities. We are leaders. We are listeners. We are learners. And, those are just the things that we are in our professional lives. . . 

We cannot do this important work alone. We need a place to call our own, and that's just what The Literacy Booth strives to be - a place for literacy coaches.

Specifically, The Literacy Booth is an online professional learning community especially for literacy coaches.

The Literacy Booth will be filled with reflections, practical tips, and conversations built upon the work of eight Wisconsin literacy coaches (along with the occasional special guest) and coordinated by yours truly. 

Here's how it works (generally):

• There will be a new post several times a week. There are no rules or specific topics; each coach writes about something that is on her mind.
• Each post will be open to readers' comments. The conversation that happens in your comments will make this a true professional learning community. Please, please, please comment! Comment to share links to resources. Comment to ask questions. Comment to continue the conversation.

Please use the comments on this post to introduce yourself. Who are you? What's your job? What are you learning right now? What do you still want to know more about?

Bio: Jaimie Howe

Jaimie Howe is in her fourth year as a Literacy Coach at Roosevelt Elementary School in the Eau Claire Area School District. She has taught four-year old kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade; all of which have been in Eau Claire at Roosevelt Elementary. She also teaches a graduate course at St. Mary's University of Minnesota focused on elementary reading instruction. She received her bachelor's degree from UW-Stout in Menomonie, WI and her Master's Degree in Literacy Education from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. She lives in Menomonie, WI with her husband and two young boys. When Jaimie is not taking on new opportunities, she enjoys running, scrapbooking, watching her husband's many softball tournaments, and reading to her two boys.

Bio: Bobbi Campbell

Bobbi Campbell is a Literacy Activist for the Madison Metropolitan School District. Bobbi has a passion for working collaboratively to promote and support equitable access  to high quality instruction for all of our children.

Bio: Diane Jenquin

Diane Jenquin's teaching career started in middle school science where she quickly realized that students couldn't fully enjoy science because they were struggling with reading and vocabulary. That is when Diane began to pursue her reading license. That was 23 years ago. Her siblings joke that she made a career out of getting sent to her room as a child where there was nothing to do but read!

One of Diane's most important jobs as been raising three children who are not young adults and share her passion for reading. She now has three dogs that live with her and each fit her children's personality. Diane's children, dogs, home remodeling, and design keep her busy. She also dabbles in making her own jewelry. She likes long walks on the beach, warm weather, and sunshine. Ha ha!

Five years ago, Diane took a nine credit literacy coaching class through Viterbo. With the help of two great mentors, Missy Bousley and Diane are now teaching the courses and having a blast sharing their passion and leadership skills.

Bio: Andrea Reichenberger

Andrea Reichenberger is in her third year as the Instructional Literacy Coach and 6-12 English/Language Art Coordinator for Menasha High School in the Menasha Joint School District. She has worked with students and teachers PK-12 and began her career as an elementary library media specialist and then spent the next 13 years as a middle school English/Language Arts teacher and teacher leader.  She prides herself in the professional learning network she has created as she is connected with some of the smartest people in education, not only in the Fox Valley, but also across the state. They inspire her to keep learning and to be better for our kids.  She is also a member of WSRA, ASCD, NCTE, IRA, and AWSA.

Andrea is very proud of the fact that she shares a birthday with Elvis, as she is a huge fan, but has yet to visit Graceland. Making the trip is on her bucket list. She loves to read, shop, walk/jog (more walking then jogging), and watch clever television. Andrea lives in Appleton with her husband and two tween daughters, who are also readers. Phew!

Some of Andrea’s favorite educational minds (i.e. Rock Stars and Professional Crushes)  include:  Doug Fisher, Nancy Frey, Kelly Gallagher, Cris Tovani, Penny Kittle, Jim Burke, Rick Wormeli, Jeff Zwiers, Jim Knight, Peter Johnston, Doug Buehl, Sarah Brown Wessling, and Donalyn Miller. (By the end of 2015, I will have met them all!)

Bio: Carrie Sand

Carrie is a Literacy Specialist for the School District of Mishicot. Her job role includes part classroom teacher, part interventionist, part literacy coach, which in her mind is the best of all worlds. Her work with literacy includes a unique passion for the incorporation of technology, which has led to numerous speaking opportunities around the state. In 2012, as a credit to the incredible literacy work of her district, Carrie was awarded the Herb Kohl Fellowship Teaching Award. Her three most powerful reading moments were: the day her high school English teacher introduced her to e.e. cummings, the first time she ever read Freak the Mighty with her seventh grade students, and watching her two young boys discover reading.

Bio: Julie Schwartzbauer

Julie Schwartzbauer is beginning her fourth year working for Appleton Area School District as a K-2 District Literacy Coach.  She completed her undergrad work at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.  She first received her Bachelor Degree in Psychology, knowing she always wanted to work with children.  Julie was later inspired by professor to pursue a career in teaching.   She received her Master's Degree in Reading from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.  Julie is currently pursuing licensure in Administration and Supervision.

After staying home to raise her family, Julie became employed by the Menasha Joint School District.  It was there that she received training in Reading Recovery and began working as a Literacy Coach.  

Now in Appleton, Julie still remains a strong advocate for Reading Recovery.  She services 16 elementary schools as a Literacy Coach and loves supporting the staff. She could not do it without her coaching colleague and supportive administrators.