"Reading for the love of it
I can't get enough of it
The exhibition's just like a filament
To keep my bulb lit."

"It's the premier conference about literacy"

"It's a must attend every year!"

"Beware of the Prophet that carries one book. There are a lot of ways for us to help children be successful.

This conference addresses all grade levels including ELL's, ESL's, special needs, French immersion, struggling readers, different genres such as poetry in the classroom... the Reading for the love of it conference program offers breadth and variety and does not just provide one approach."

- Mary Bigler, Professor, Teacher Education, Eastern Michigan University

This is our 35th Annual Reading for the love of it Conference. Our mission, in terms of this conference has always been the same. It really is about providing professional development for our teachers, by our teachers and engaging educators as learners.

- Teresa Paoli, Vice-President, Programme Chair

"I've watched teachers and principals from all over Canada develop and deepen their understanding of reading and writing."
David Booth
Professor Emeritus, OISE University and Chair of Literacy, Nippissing University

Editor's note: David Booth has been taking a strong interest in Reading for the Love of It for more than 30 years and has been uniquely placed to observe it's ever-expanding impact on literacy.



Stephen Lewis 2010 Speech
"I actually spoke at this conference a legion of decades ago ... although I have not felt as au courant with the themes of the conference as might have been the case in the past ... I feel tremendously reassured by the encyclopedic nature of your program which is surely an astonishing compendium." - Stephen Lewis



Roy MacGregor 2009 Speech

Conference Feedback

I want to send a huge thank you to all your organizers for putting together such a wonderful opportunity. As a new administrator, I was able to bring back many worthwhile ideas from the presentations I attended, and feel very fortunate to have been a part of this experience.
    Our Board, Algoma District, is very forward looking in their Board initiatives and Improvement Plan. This conference, attended by over 50 teachers, administrators, and program team members, will certainly help implementation of components of our plan. We couldn't have had this unique opportunity without their support and encouragement.
    It is learning experiences like Reading for the Love of It that make being an educator the greatest profession in the world!

Al Harnden
Principal - Arthur Henderson Public School, 2 Henderson Lane, Bruce Mines, ON

I had the absolute pleasure of attending the conference once again this year.
    I was so impressed with the speakers I heard. Debbie Miller, Debbie Diller, and Tony Stead were full of information. I hope that they will all be invited to present at the conference again in the near future.

Nancy Ahrens

Faye Brownlie's presentations were excellent. Her ideas were informative, well thought out, creative and well formulated. A lot of value was provided. I had never heard of Faye Brownlie before but went because her topics matched our school goal - writing. What an amazing presentation!

A Teacher

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of you for the wonderful conference you organized this year. After waiting many years to attend your conference, I had the privilege this year. What an experience it was. I came home refreshed and inspired and definitely over my January blahs.

Jo-Ann van Staalduinen
James Strath Public School, Grade One teacher,
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Ontario

I was very pleased with the three sessions that I attended as well as the wonderful resources that I explored and purchased. This was my first time and I hope that I will have the opportunity to attend next year.

Heidi Kuenzle
JK/SK Teacher, St. Florence Catholic School

I really enjoyed the conference, especially Ellin Keene on the six reading systems, Sheree Fitch on Yoga and Writing and Jane Baskwill on Picture it Dads. Congratulations on inspiring me with positive approaches and fascinating information.
    I hope you can invite Ellin Keene back again next year. I was very interested in her theory about lexical systems. Thanks.

Mary Van Houten,
St. Maria Goretti, Toronto Catholic Board

An amazing line-up of speakers! Thanks so much for inviting me again. It's always a good time in Canada.

Sharon Taberski, Speaker

Thank you once again for including Right To Play in your conference. It is truly the best conference we attend in terms of spreading awareness about Right To Play's free resources for grades four to six.

Julia Myer
Coordinator, Education Programming, Right To Play - Canada

The highlight for me was the luncheon speaker, Susan Aglukark. I enjoyed her story interspersed with song. She was entertaining and informative and truly gave me a better perspective on the Aboriginal people and some of their issues.

Judy Chretien,
Toronto District

A quick note to say that our team really enjoyed the conference! The speakers were amazing and inspiring, the venue was great, the food was excellent and the publisher displays were well spaced. I attended Thursday and saw Carrice Cummins, Debbie Miller, Jeffrey Wilhelm and Tony Stead. All were top-notch, passionate and accessible. This was my first Reading for the Love of It - definitely not the last! All "5s"!
    Thank you!

Michael Ball,
Program Resource Teacher, York Catholic

I enjoyed another fantastic Reading for the Love of It. It has to be the best run and most star studded event of its kind. Besides all the obvious good stuff, I was really pleased to see the pitchers and glasses of water instead of the dreaded plastic bottles. Bravo!

Barb Reid, Speaker

The conference was another stunning success. I appreciated the opportunity to meet with other presenters, to participate in the breakfasts and lunches and to feel so much a part of a great organization. Thank you again and all my best to the Organizing Committees and everyone else who worked so hard to pull-off another Reading for the Love of It.

Lynn Taylor-Roehm, Speaker

I have found this conference to be the best organized and most enjoyable of all the ones I present at throughout North America. The presentation rooms are set up well and the support I receive from the AV team (not to mention the RFTLOT committee ) is really outstanding. I know how much work it is to set up a conference like this and I feel that the committee does a fabulous job.
    PS I love having the hosts at each session!! They come well prepared and willing to assist in any way.

Cathy Marks Krpan, Speaker
OISE, Toronto

Thank you again for a fabulous and inspiring day. This was my second year at Reading for the Love of It, and I loved it just as much as the year before. A workshop that especially stood out was the one with Sheree Fitch. Hers was truly a gift. While she packed in a lot in our 75 minutes (we laughed, we cried, we did yoga and then wrote to our heart's content), it would be fabulous next year for her to have a bigger room where we could all stretch out and practice the yoga-writing connection she has been developing.
    I'm so excited to get back into the classroom. I will be sailing on the high from my day at the workshop for a long time to come!

Robyn Stevan Matamoros
Rose Avenue, Toronto

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