Chesapeake Public Schools provided pleasant background music for the enjoyment of those attending the exhibits, compliments of these strolling student musicians.

Marty Krievs of Harcourt School Publishers, and Hope Terrell, VSRA Conference Chair and President-Elect, have a chance to chat at the President’s Reception, held at the Sheraton Hotel. Musical entertainment was provided by popular local musicians from the Robin Welch Group.

At the President’s Reception (left to right) Joan Nutter (Conference Committee Member and Chesapeake Public Schools Reading Specialist), Neale Pitches (Keynote Speaker and CEO of Learning Media), and Maureen Moynihan (Conference Committee Member and Chesapeake Public Schools Reading Specialist) enjoy each other’s company as well as the fabulous desserts!

As a Featured Speaker, Harriette Johns Arrington involved session participants in telling stories and examining ways to include storytelling in their own classrooms, during her session “Using Story-Telling to Enrich Literacy Across Content Areas.”

Over 100 exhibitors packed the Exhibit Hall with the latest in innovative learning and teaching tools, resources, and wares. Thanks to the involvement of the various vendors in the planning of the exhibit, it was one of the most successful exhibits ever sponsored by VSRA!

In the Second General Session, Regie Routman, noted author and teacher advocate, shared her perspective on empowering teachers and literacy instruction to a very receptive audience.

The Pavilion Theater was filled to overflowing with conferees eager to hear Regie Routman in the Second General Session on March 8. Some participants sat on the floor, while others stood against the walls and in the halls, just to have a chance to be a part of the session.

Christopher Paul Curtis, author and former auto worker, delighted the audience at the Annual Banquet, held on March 8, with stories of his youth and life as an author. In addition to showing participants where he grew up (he’s pointing to Flint, Michigan on his hand/map), Christopher easily held the audience’s attention with a brief reading from his latest book! The Banquet program included Greetings from Dr. Timothy R. Jenney, Superintendent of Virginia Beach Public Schools; Recognition of VSRA Past Presidents; Music by the Norfolk Jazz Ensemble, provided by Norfolk Public Schools; and Presentation of the VSRA Ofie T. Rubin Teacher of the Year Award to Marlene Darwin.

At the Parent and Reading Connection event on Saturday morning, a clown easily captures the children’s attention and helps make reading fun!

The students do the teaching in this creative puppetry presentation that emphasized the importance and enjoyment of reading!