As readers of this blog may know, I work full-time as a 7th grade English teacher, which means that most days I am found teaching my incredible 7th graders in Oregon, Wisconsin. It is what my heart loves to do. It is such an honor to work with these kids as they navigate these formative years and to be a part of a community that works so hard in growing together. I have a dream of schools where all stakeholders feel they have a voice; that is my driving force and it is one I share with many other educators.
I am fortunate enough to be invited to share this vision, and practical progress toward it, with many different audiences. Some key areas I have focused on center around creating environments where literacy flourishes, infusing global collaboration using technology, highly engaging student learning experiences, empowering staff and administration, and overall personalization of the student experience. My workshops/sessions are interactive and blend storytelling with practical how-to’s that participants can implement right away. Working with other educators is a thing I love and am honored to be asked to do. I do not take it for granted and I am so grateful for the opportunity to go and work through obstacles with fellow educators. There are so many of us trying to help each other. I never thought teaching other educators would be a part of my world, it is humbling, engaging, and brain-expanding work to say the least.
Even though the snow is piled high outside, I was asked earlier this week where I will be speaking and teaching this summer. Here is where I will be as of right now – will I see you on the road?
June 16th, 2020 – Hazel Green, WI – District Workshop
June 18th, 2020 – Keynote, Scholastic Reading Summit, Indianapolis, IN
July:
July 9th, 2020 – Keynote, Scholastic Reading Summit, Orlando, FL
July 16th, 2020 – Featured Speaker, Harmony Public School District, Houston, Texas
July 24th, 2020 – Featured Speaker, Longwood Summer Literacy Institute, Virginia
August:
August 3rd, 2020 – NerdCampMN, Minneapolis, MN
I am open for a few more dates of work during the summer, or during next school-year. If you wonder about the work I do, here is a sample of what I help others with:
Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students
Would you want to be a student in your own learning environment? In this keynote, based on the book Passionate Learners: How to Engage and Empower Your Students, 7th-grade teacher Pernille Ripp will help both novice and seasoned educators create a positive, interactive learning environment where students drive their own academic achievement by honoring the individual child. Attendees will hear practical strategies for how to build a meaningful relationship with your learners based on mutual trust, respect, and honesty, share ownership of the classroom and school with them, and break out of the vicious cycle of punishment and reward to control student behavior. Based on common-sense strategies, personal storytelling and the research behind student engagement, this is a keynote meant to move you to action. Whether you are just beginning or well on your way in your teaching career, this session is meant to inspire you, help you take some risks, and eagerly pursue your journey toward a school filled with passionate learners.
This session can also be geared specifically toward administrators.
Passionate Readers – The Art of Reaching and Engaging Every Child
With 26% of adults reporting that they have not read a book in the last 12 months, we are facing a mounting reading crisis. So what can we, as the educators who teach this future generation of readers, do to create more engaging reading experiences? In this session, based on the book Passionate Readers: The Art of Reaching and Engaging Every Child, educator Pernille Ripp will help you re-discover the keys of creating a community of readers, no matter the constricts facing your time. Focusing on teacher reading identity, classroom environment and library, as well as a commonsense approach to bolstering student reading identity, this is a session sure to create conditions for more reading joy and deeper engagement with reading. From re-thinking major literacy decisions to all of the small decisions we make daily; this is meant to be a practical session that will offer up ideas to be implemented the very next day.
This session can also be geared specifically toward administrators.
Passionate Writers – Helping Students Become True Writers
While writing continues to be a skill that all children must develop, how do we help students feel like true writers, the type of writers who feel like their work matters beyond the classroom lesson? In this session, we will discuss small tweaks and practical tips on how to help students develop their writer’s voice to see writing as something that matters to them. With this renewed investment, we can help them dig deeper in their writing explorations, to truly become passionate writers no matter their skill level.
This session can also be geared specifically toward administrators.
Using Shared Reading to Increase Reading Joy
Creating opportunities for students to interact with one another through the use of book clubs, short story discussions, read aloud, and other shared reading opportunities is a way to increase engagement, create reading joy, as well as teach important literacy skills. But how do we set up our shared learning opportunities to guarantee access and enjoyment for students and educators alike? Join educator, Pernille Ripp, as she discusses best practices within shared reading, such as literacy circles, read alouds, and discussion, as well as the lessons her students have taught her throughout the years when it comes to developing rich discussions, community investment, and comprehensive understanding of reading.
This session can also be geared specifically toward administrators.
Cultivating and Retaining Passionate Teachers
For administrators and those who work with teachers, this session is focused on ways to help staff feel empowered, engaged, and excited to work with students. From more meaningful staff interactions to building a culture of trust that reverberates within classroom work, this session is meant to inspire, as well as provide practical ways for your school or district to take it to the next level. Based on the book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students,” this session will offer up ways to cultivate the expertise within your school, create a purposeful environment of trust and collaboration, and implement sustainable ways to tap into student and staff efficacy.
But They Still Hate Reading – Establishing and Cultivating a Personal Reading Identity
The message is clear among literacy communities; we want to help our students become readers for life, we want them to establish a positive relationship with reading, but we need more ideas that focus on the individual development of reading identity. So what do we do when we believe in choice, when we believe in inclusive access, when we believe we have the components needed for each child to be successful, and yet, it does not seem to be enough? What do we do not just on the first day of school but every single day after when those kids who hate reading just grow in their hatred rather than change their minds? Focusing on creating authentic opportunities for students to recognize, (re-)establish, and cultivate positive reading identities this session is meant for the educator looking for practical ideas in their quest to help students become passionate readers. Based on literacy research, personal anecdotes, and advice from her students, this session focuses on practical tools, reflective conversations, as well as easily implementable ideas that will help you continue the work you have started toward a thriving reading community.
This session can also be geared specifically toward administrators.
A Picture Book Taught Me This
While picture books are a staple of the elementary classroom, there often is no place for them with our older students, yet these are the students that need picture books the most. Discover how picture books can help older students read closely, critically analyze text, conquer complex messages, become stronger writers, as well as spark their love of reading again all through the use of carefully selected picture books. Participants will leave with strategies for building their own picture book mentor collection, ideas for lessons, including using picture books as a tool for assessment while honoring each child’s unique reading identity.
Reimagining Literacy Through Global Collaboration
Have you ever wondered what can happen when you integrate technology into your literacy instruction? Pernille Ripp and her students have been reading, writing, and discussing with the world since 2010, fundamentally changing the way she teaches and how her students read and write. Join us as we share ideas for how technology can take your literacy instruction to a new level, including ways to use Skype, Twitter, Edmodo, blogging, and many other tech tools that will allow for global collaboration, cross-curricular projects, and sparking the love of reading and writing in students.
All of these can be adapted to be a keynote, featured session, inservice training or half- or whole-day workshop and are all personalized to fit the unique needs of the educators I am working with.
If you would like to speak to me more about any of the events I will be at or if you would like me to work with educators in your area, please contact me at p@globalreadaloud.com or through the contact form found here
I hope to see many passionate educators on the road in the next few months, if our paths cross, please say hello! Until then, take care of yourself.
Pernille Ripp 