Thanks to Kelly! A Final Note From the Readicide Book (Fan?) Club

[Jim Burke]

Please take time to jot down a note of thanks to Kelly G for not only his book but his time, his generosity, his all-around-good-guy quality. During the three weeks he has run this book club for us, in which 632(!) individual posts were made to the various discussion strands of the Readicide book club, Kelly was still speaking around the country, finishing school (he just finished at the end of this week!), and no doubt writing his next book.

So please take time to send him thanks, digital chocolate, whatever will pay his heart for all he has given us not just these three weeks, or through his book, but by his example to us all as a colleague, a teacher, a writer, and a leader.

Jim

[Alan Sitomer]

Kelly, you are a ROCK STAR! I can't believe how much time, effort, energy and excellent thought you have dedicated over the past few weeks to what has been a truly FANTASTIC discussion. Thank you very much.

Now get to work on Testiside, Writicide and Lecturicide... we are waiting!

[Di Ander]

I don't know how you did it... but I am so glad you did! :)

Thank you for your guidance, support, humor and insights as we all try to stop the spread of "readicide" in our schools. You are a great example for all of us and thank you so much for all that you have shared with us.

[Robin Turner]

Hah, I love Sitomer's post here. Although Testicide made me wince.

Thanks Kelly for being one of the voices speaking out against the idiocy shaping educational policy.

Robin Turner

[Gayle K. Hobbs]

Sounds funny! ?

[Amy]

Thank you, Kelly, for your dedicated time and efforts toward the discussions of this book club. Your love of teaching and care for your students is evident, and your sharing of knowledge on all things reading is very much appreciated. I am excited about implementing changes into my reading curriculum.

I look forward to your next book!
Amy

[Mardie]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for a fantastic book and an opportunity to delve more deeply into it through discussion. I echo the sentiments of others; I can't imagine how you managed such a full-throttle discussion during the last weeks of school. But you did just that. I feel simultaneously validated and inspired to improve my teaching of reading - a perfect combination.

I loved Teaching Adolescent Writers and can't wait for your next book on writing.

[Mary Thomas]

Kelly,
Your books are great, your speaking is wonderful and you are a really nice guy (remember you talked to my friend on my cell phone last month in Florida). Thank you for taking the time to encourage us all as we do our best to combat Readicide. Your dedication to better educating all of our students is truly an inspiration.

[Andrea Zellner]

Hello Kelly,
First let me say that I was already a convert after reading Teaching Adolescent Writers. Readicide is another amazing contribution to our profession. I can't stop talking about it. I find myself blathering on at parties about pitfalls Accelerated Reader and people slowly back away. Thank you for doing the hard work and speaking the truth about what's happening in our schools. Also, I want to thank all the folks who participated in the discussion. I did a lot of lurking and benefited from reading each and every one of the comments. This is truly my favorite online community. Finally, thanks to Mr. Burke for starting this Ning and cajoling such fabulous authors to the book club. I feel so special to be part of something so valuable.
Andrea

[Jennifer Allen]

Kelly,

Thanks for sharing your expertise. Readacide is one of my new favorite books. It brought me back to my love of Stephen Krashen's work. It reminded me of the importance of staying true to my core values around reading and books. Many thanks, Jen Allen

[Alison Kirkpatrick]

As a fifth year teacher, I cannot begin to convey the excitement and sense of direction that Readicide has created in me. I read professional development materials voraciously each summer, and not one author has ever voiced the "state of education" so clearly as Kelly Gallagher. Gallagher backs up every statement with research which makes his book quite defensible, whereas others who write about literacy often give a bit of research to back up their subjective opinions and observations.
I love, too, that Kelly still teaches in a public school with the same NCLB and AYP demands that we all face in public education - No self-created utopian schools here. This fact makes his observations real and applicable.
I have given copies of Readicide to my principal, to my district's curriculum director, and to a fellow teacher. Other's have ordered their own copies because of my excitement over the clarity shown in this book.
Our district has been headed toward more and more test prep. as they deal with changes in our demographic, and they are beginning to panic with more and more curriculum control as test scores spiral downward. I think the "powers that be" are finally in a position to realize that test prep is not the answer. Readicide is perhaps going to give us the direction we need to make changes we need in just the nick of time.
Thank you, thank you Mr. Gallagher for such a well-written, readable, compelling book delivered to educators in our greatest hour of need!

[Martha Jo Dennison]

Kelly,

Thanks for leading us through this discussion brought about by another of your great books. This summer I'm an advanced fellow in the Wiregrass Writing Project, part of the National Writing Project. When one of my colleagues mentioned wanting to do a project on what testing has done to reading, I immediately showed her my copy of Readicide (which I seem to have with me constantly). I also told her about this great site and the discussions here. Thanks for your time and insights.

[Linda Reed]

Kelly,
Thanks for the inspirational boost! It's fabulous to have such a targeted focus for the great summer rework. I admire your ability to juggle so many hats. Here's hoping the summer holds a wonderful respite for you!
Linda