51st Annual VSRA Conference
March 08, 2018 - March 10, 2018
"Reading Our World, Inspiring the Future"
Richmond Marriott and the Greater Richmond Convention Center (GRCC)
Richmond, Virginia
Conference Overview
ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. ONSITE REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN AT 6:00PM, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7TH AT THE GREATER RICHMOND CONVENTION CENTER.
"Reading Our World, Inspiring the Future"
We are thrilled to host the 51st Annual VSRA Conference, "Reading Our World, Inspiring the Future," in Richmond, VA. We have assembled many of your favorite authors and local and national literacy professionals to share the latest trends, ideas and research about literacy education with you. Some of this year's featured speakers are: Louis Sachar, William Joyce, Jennifer Serravallo, Dr. Julie Coiro, P. Buckley Moss, Marc Tyler Nobleman, Dr. Ian O'Byrne, Jerry Pallotta, Laura Robb, Dr. Frank Serafini and Dr. Mary Anne Wolfe.
We are very excited to continue our GotIT program with a keynote presentation from Andres Ruzo, a geothermal scientist and a National Geographic Young Explorer, known for his book about the boiling river of the Amazon.
Our Exhibit Hall will feature many opportunities to visit with exhibitors and learn more about products and services that can enhance your work. We will also offer opportunities for socializing, networking and just having fun!
To complement your conference experience, VSRA has also arranged for several free and paid optional events. Join us for pre-conference literacy institutes, author meal events like our new author speed-dating luncheon and our full-day dyslexia strand.
Conference Rates and Payment Procedures
ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. ONSITE REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN AT 6:00PM, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7TH AT THE GREATER RICHMOND CONVENTION CENTER.
ONSITE RATES
Onsite Member Registration - $350.00
Onsite Non-Member Registration - $425.00
Onsite Dyslexia Strand Plus Conference - $435.00
Single Day Dyslexia Strand - $200.00
Member Single Day Registration - $175.00
Non-Member Single Day Registration - $215.00
Member Full-Time Student, Full Conference - $175.00
Important Registration Notes:
To qualify for the Member Conference Rate, you must be a member in good standing for the 2017-18 school year. CLICK HERE if you would like information on membership benefits and/or to join the Virginia State Reading Association.
To qualify for the Full Time Student Rate, you must be registered at a college or university and have a valid student I.D.
Register and pay by January 12, 2018 for Early Bird Savings!
Payment Options and Procedures:
You may pay for the conference by credit card, check or purchase order.
After you submit your registration, you will be offered the option to either click on the PayPal link to pay immediately by credit card or click on the invoice link to bring up an invoice to send in with your check or purchase order. Your invoice will include all pertinent information, including the mailing address.
If you would like to register a group of 2 or more people on one invoice, make sure you are on the Group Registration page at https://conference solutionsllc.com/meeting_participants/group_register?meeting_id=123. (The registration landing page is the same, however the group URL will show the words /group_register.)
Single Day Dyslexia Strand
Join VSRA for an exciting opportunity to learn more about dyslexia. This new one-day offering provides participants with information on best practices and strategies for supporting students with dyslexia. The Dyslexia Strand will occur on Thursday, March 8 during the annual VSRA conference and costs $200. The keynote address will be provided by Dr. Mary Anne Wolfe. Dr. Wolfe received her doctorate from Harvard University and studies the neurological underpinnings of reading, language, and dyslexia. She edited the book "Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain" and is also the author of "Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain." After the keynote address, T/TAC will provide a hands-on session, and local Virginia literacy experts Jennifer Floyd, Angelica Blanchette and Wendy Snow will provide ideas for classroom applications. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to grow professionally and better support students with disabilities! Space is limited, so register soon to secure your ticket!
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Member - Early Bird (on or before Jan. 12, 2018) | $225.00 |
| Non-Member - Early Bird (on or before Jan. 12, 2018) | $300.00 |
| Member - Advance (Jan. 13 - Feb 22, 2018) | $275.00 |
| Non-member Advance (Jan. 13 - Feb 22, 2018) | $350.00 |
| Onsite Member (postmarked Feb. 23 or later) | $350.00 |
| Onsite Non-Member (postmarked Feb. 23 or later) | $425.00 |
| Member Thursday Only | $175.00 |
| Member Friday Only | $175.00 |
| Member Saturday Only | $175.00 |
| Non-Member Thursday Only | $215.00 |
| Non-Member Friday Only | $215.00 |
| Non-Member Saturday Only | $215.00 |
| Member Full-Time Student | $175.00 |
| Non-Member Full-Time Student | $250.00 |
| Full-Time Student Thursday Only | $140.00 |
| Full-Time Student Friday Only | $140.00 |
| Full-Time Student Saturday Only | $140.00 |
| Single Day Dyslexia Strand | $200.00 |
| VSRA Board Member | $0.00 |
| VSRA Past President (registration includes one Annual Banquet Ticket) | $0.00 |
| Student Ambassador | $0.00 |
| Dyslexia Strand plus Conference - Early Bird (on or before Jan. 12, 2018) | $350.00 |
| Dyslexia Strand plus Conference - Advance (Jan. 13 - Feb. 22, 2018) | $385.00 |
| Onsite Dyslexia Strand plus Conference (postmarked Feb. 23, 2018 or later) | $435.00 |
Cancellation fee - on or before February 22, 2018- $75.00. No refunds after February 22, 2018.
Pre-Conference Literacy Institutes and Optional Meals & Events
Pre-Conference Literacy Institutes
Pre-conference Literacy Institutes are optional 1.5-hour sessions offered the morning of Thursday, March 8, prior to the actual conference.
We offer Early Morning sessions beginning at 8:00AM, and Mid-Morning sessions beginning at 9:50AM. You may choose up to one Institute in each time session at an additional cost of $40.00 per Institute.
For session descriptions, please click the link at the bottom of the list of offerings below.
Note: If you need to register and pay for optional events separately (i.e. your school pays for registration and you pay on your own for optional events) use this form to register for the conference and then go to OPTIONAL EVENTS to register and pay for Literacy Institutes and/or Optional Events separately.
Following is the list of Pre-Conference Literacy Institutes:
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Pre-Conference Literacy Institutes | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 08, 2018 | 08:00 AM | - | 09:30 AM | Gail Boushey and Allison Behne of The 2 Sisters Co. - Make a Positive Difference with Barometer Behaviors During Daily 5 | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 08:00 AM | - | 09:30 AM | Pam Allyn - Every Child a Super Reader | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 08:00 AM | - | 09:30 AM | Beth Estill - Teaching Content through Literacy | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 08:00 AM | - | 09:30 AM | Marcia Invernizzi and Amanda Rawlins - What the Research Says About Teaching Struggling Readers, Including Children with Dyslexia, To Read | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 08:00 AM | - | 09:30 AM | Elizabeth English, Haley Witt and Mary Amico - Read by Grade Three: A National Imperative | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 08:00 AM | - | 09:30 AM | Karen Huff, Heather Campbell and Angela Dominquez - One Author, One School: Reaching Readers Big & Small | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:50 AM | - | 11:20 AM | Gail Boushey and Allison Behne of The 2 Sisters Co. - Developing a CAFE Lesson | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:50 AM | - | 11:20 AM | Laura Robb - Building Vocabulary To Improve Reading, Writing & Thinking | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:50 AM | - | 11:20 AM | Kelly B. Cartwright - Good Readers are Good Thinkers! Teaching Executive Skills to Support Successful Reading Comprehension | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:50 AM | - | 11:20 AM | Eric Litwin - Sing, Dance and Groove with Mr. Eric | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:50 AM | - | 11:20 AM | Marcia Invernizzi and Amanda Rawlins - What the Research Says About Teaching Struggling Readers, Including Children with Dyslexia, To Read | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:50 AM | - | 11:20 AM | Jacqueline Stallworth - Using Culturally Responsive Teaching and Diverse Text to Cultivate a Love for Reading | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:50 AM | - | 11:20 AM | Stephanie Blackburn and Mary Beth Lenertz - Interactive Writing to Independent Reading: Building Self-Efficacy in Our Youngest Literacy Learners | $40.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:50 AM | - | 11:20 AM | Joan Kindig - Best Bets for the Classroom 2018 | $40.00 |
Click here to view/print a description of the above Pre-Conference Literacy Institutes.
Optional Meals & Events
In addition, we have planned several optional meals and events as listed below. Some are complimentary and some have additional cost. Please check all you plan to attend, even if they have a 0.00 cost.
Note: If you need to register and pay for optional events separately (i.e. your school pays for registration and you pay on your own for optional events) use this form to register for the conference and then go to OPTIONAL EVENTS to register and pay for Literacy Institutes and/or Optional Events separately.
For event descriptions, please click the link at the bottom of the list of offerings below.
Following is the list of Optional Meals & Events:
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Function Name | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 08, 2018 | 05:15 PM | 06:15 PM | President's Reception & Awards Ceremony | $0.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 07:30 AM | 09:30 AM | Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors | $0.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 08:00 AM | 09:30 AM | Early Literacy Breakfast w/Louis Sachar | $30.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 12:30 PM | 02:30 PM | Author Speed Dating - Primary Level (Mike Shoulders, Sue Corbett and Anne Marie Pace) | $30.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 12:30 PM | 02:30 PM | SESSION FULL/REGISTRATION CLOSED: Author Speed Dating - Elementary Level (Jerry Pallotta, Marc Tyler Nobleman, and Troy Howell) | $30.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 12:30 PM | 02:30 PM | Author Speed Dating - Middle/High School Level (Linda Oatman High, Shelia Moses and A.B. Westrick) | $30.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 06:00 PM | 08:00 PM | Annual Banquet w/William Joyce - Caprese Chicken | $50.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 06:00 PM | 08:00 PM | Annual Banquet w/William Joyce - Spiced Cod | $50.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 06:00 PM | 08:00 PM | Annual Banquet w/William Joyce - Vegetarian | $50.00 |
| March 10, 2018 | 07:30 AM | 08:50 AM | State of VSRA Membership Meeting & Full Buffet Breakfast | $5.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 08:30 PM | 10:30 PM | Make & Take DIY Labs | $15.00 |
| March 08, 2018 | 09:00 PM | 11:00 PM | Paint Nite Celebration | $50.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 09:00 PM | 11:00 PM | Line Dancing | $5.00 |
| March 09, 2018 | 09:00 PM | 11:00 PM | Line Dancing with Guest | $10.00 |
Click here to view/print a description of the above functions.
Hotel Accommodations
VSRA has blocked hotel rooms at the Richmond Marriott Downtown and the Hilton Richmond Downtown at a discounted conference rate.
THE ROOM BLOCK AT THE RICHMOND MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN IS SOLD OUT.
Richmond Marriott Downtown (Conference Site)
$172 single/double, $182 triple or $192 quad occupancy (plus tax)
500 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-603-3400
To book your reservation online click below:
RICHMOND MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN RESERVATIONS WEBSITE
Reservations must be made no later than 5:00pm on February 13, 2018 to receive these rates.
Richmond Marriott Downtown Parking Information
Valet Parking: $27.00 Daily
Self-parking is available at several nearby parking lots and garages not managed by the Marriott.
Hilton Richmond Downtown*
$159 single or double occupancy (plus tax)
501 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-344-4300
To book your reservation online click below:
Reservations must be made no later than February 13, 2018 for these rates.
Hilton Parking Information
Valet Parking: $25.00 Daily
Self-parking is available at nearby parking lots and garages not managed by the Hilton.
*No conference events will be held at this hotel.
