“That is great news! Thank you very much,” was Rick J. Dillon’s response when the International Reading Association told him that he had just won a Kindle Fire HD tablet and a $50 Amazon gift card to purchase IRA books in the 2013 Annual Convention registration contest.
Anyone who registered for the IRA 58th Annual Convention in San Antonio before February 15, 2013, 11:59 p.m. PST was automatically entered to win.
Rick is a literacy trainer in the Office of Title I at Brevard Public Schools in Viera, Florida. He’s been an IRA member since 2004 and has attended several IRA conventions.
His favorite convention was the 2011 Power of Literacy Convention that was held in Orlando. “Goldie Hawn and Tony and Lauren Dungy were outstanding keynote speakers,” he recalls. “Their passion for literacy was evident with every word they spoke.”
For this year’s convention, he’s especially looking forward to attending Institute 15: Students Make the Difference in Word Studyon Friday, April 19. “Our district is really trying to change the mindset of teachers when it comes to vocabulary and spelling instruction,” Rick says. “We are trying to shift from the lower levels of application and move them to the construction and deconstruction stage.”
He’s also looking forward to Addressing the Common Core State Standards: Effective Vocabulary Instruction to Enhance the Comprehension of Complex Texts on Saturday, April 20 and Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics via Common Core: Making Connections Common in the Elementary Grades on Sunday, April 21.
The tablet contest wasn’t the only registration offer this year, though. A VIP package will be awarded to one lucky convention registrant on March 28. This package* includes a $100 gift card to Boudro's, a $100 gift certificate to Paesanos Riverwalk, four tickets to the Rio San Antonio Cruises River Tour, a room upgrade at an official IRA Convention hotel, up-front seating reserved at all three General Sessions, a VIP meet and greet with select speakers, a $100 voucher toward the purchase of books and merchandise at the IRA Bookstore, and a one-year online membership to IRA.
The IRA Annual Convention will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas from Friday, April 19 to Monday, April 22, 2013. Register online or call 888-294-9167 or 415-979-2278 to find out how to register by phone, fax, or mail. To learn more about convention events in San Antonio, visit the annual convention website and the online itinerary planner (iPlanner), or read more Reading Today annual convention articles.
* Prize package subject to change. Anyone who registers or has registered for IRA’s 58th Annual Convention and booked an IRA Convention hotel on or before 11:59PM PST, on March 22, 2013 will be entered to win. Enter promotion code AC1309G when prompted.