Read Aloud Nebraska

### Context Profile for Read Aloud Nebraska

1. **Organization Mission & Cause:**
   - **Mission:** Read Aloud Nebraska is dedicated to promoting the importance of reading aloud to children. Their mission focuses on fostering a love for reading and enhancing early literacy skills among young children through community engagement and educational resources.
   - **Cause:** The organization emphasizes the critical role of reading aloud in child development, advocating for practices that encourage shared reading experiences between parents, educators, and children.

2. **Type of Activities:**
   - **Events:** The organization hosts various events, including workshops and conferences aimed at educators and parents. The "Read Aloud Nebraska Fall Conference 2025" is a notable example, featuring sessions on reading strategies, book recommendations, and professional development for literacy advocates.
   - **Community Programs:** They provide resources and support for local literacy initiatives, including book sales, community reading programs, and partnerships with libraries and educational institutions to promote reading aloud practices.

3. **Tone of Voice:**
   - The tone of the website and communications is **friendly, professional, and inspiring**. The language is accessible and engaging, aimed at encouraging participation and fostering a community around literacy. The use of exclamation points in event descriptions conveys enthusiasm and urgency about the importance of reading aloud.

4. **Emoji Usage:**
   - The organization does not appear to use emojis in their website content or communications. Their style remains straightforward and professional, focusing on clear and impactful messaging.

5. **Key Facts:**
   - **Founding Info:** Specific founding information is not detailed on the website.
   - **Scale:** The organization operates at a community level, focusing on Nebraska, with a network of educators and literacy advocates.
   - **Impact Metrics:** While specific metrics are not provided, the emphasis on community engagement and educational outreach suggests a significant impact on early literacy development in the region.
   - **Volunteer Info:** There is no specific volunteer information available on the website, but the organization likely relies on community involvement for its programs.

6. **Writing Guidelines:**
   - **Style:** Use clear, concise language that is engaging and accessible. Avoid jargon to ensure that the content resonates with a broad audience, including parents, educators, and community members.
   - **Structure:** Use headings and bullet points for easy readability, especially in event descriptions and informational content.
   - **Call to Action:** Encourage participation and engagement through enthusiastic language and clear calls to action, such as “Join us!” or “Get involved!”
   - **Consistency:** Maintain a friendly and professional tone throughout all communications, ensuring that the message aligns with the organization’s mission of promoting literacy and reading aloud.

This context profile provides a comprehensive overview of Read Aloud Nebraska, enabling AI assistants to generate tailored and effective content that aligns with the organization’s mission and values.

LXCL:For advance registration received or postmarked by November 2, 2025; includes lunch. Purchase orders will not be accepted.

RAN November workshop advance registration

LXCL:Late registration received after November 2, 2025; may not include lunch. Purchase orders will not be accepted.

Late registration

Eight hours of CE for this event!<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bold;" style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bold;">8:00 a.m. &ndash; 8:30 a.m. Registration, Book Sales, Refreshments, Welcome </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bold;" style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bold;">8:30 a.m. &ndash; 8:45 a.m. Special Announcement &ndash; Read Aloud Champion </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">8:45 a.m. &ndash; 9:25 a.m. Session 1 &ndash; What&rsquo;s up with the Golden Sower? - Anne Price Anne Price, Children&rsquo;s Librarian at North Platte Public Library, will talk about the nuts and bolts of the Golden Sower award. Ever wondered about how to get involved as a reader? Anne will also provide information about that, including reader expectations and the timeline of the Golden Sower award process. </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">9:30 a.m. &ndash; 10:10 a.m. Session 2 &ndash; Picture Books to Read Aloud - Sally Snyder Sally Snyder, Youth Services Coordinator at the Nebraska Library Commission, will highlight picture books that are engaging choices for reading aloud. Aside from fostering a love of reading in young children, resources such as these can greatly impact early literacy development. </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">10:15 a.m. &ndash; 10:55 a.m. Session 3 &ndash; Illustrations as Part of the Read Aloud Experience - Chloe Burgett Artist Chloe Burgett will talk about the process of visual storytelling and how illustrations and words work together to create the listener&#39;s experience. Great read aloud titles are constructed around illustrations that help children visualize and understand the story, while inviting them to look closer and see the story hidden underneath the text. </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">11:00 a.m. &ndash; 11:40 a.m. Session 4 &ndash; Defending the Read-Aloud - Steven Layne (via Zoom) The act of reading aloud to students shouldn&rsquo;t need a defense but far too often it does, and a key component of defending best practice is learning how to best leverage the instructional elements that make our work more successful. Award-winning author and literacy professor Steven Layne provides an energetic session focused on a hallmark of quality read-alouds: the thoughtful and strategic use of the reader&rsquo;s voice as a tool for strong oral delivery. </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bold;" style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bold;">11:45 a.m. &ndash; 12:25 p.m. Lunch and Book Sales </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">12:30 p.m. &ndash; 1:10 p.m. Session 5 &ndash;Nebraska Growing Readers Nebraska Growing Readers (NGR) is a family literacy organization focused on increasing book access and shared reading habits as well as creating locally tailored content in Nebraska. In this presentation, NGR staff will share takeaways from their first year of statewide programing, explain the concept of community book gardens, and share resources and ideas for all supporters of literacy! Presenters: Greta Carlson (Program Manager) and the Nebraska Growing Readers team from Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">1:15 p.m. &ndash; 1:55 p.m. Session 6 &ndash; The Power of Artful Read Alouds to Support Reading Comprehension and Foster Belonging - Rebecca Billingham (via Zoom) Rebecca Bellingham is equal parts educator and artist. She has led literacy and arts-based work in schools, universities, and nonprofits for over 25 years. In this session, Rebecca (author of The Artful Read Aloud and The Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging) will share tips for reading aloud &quot;artfully&quot; in order to deepen students&#39; ability to make meaning, develop background knowledge, and connect with classmates in genuine ways. Rebecca will model small shifts that make a huge difference in our read aloud practice, and inspire you to incorporate artful moves with your&nbsp;students that increase engagement, critical thinking, and &quot;bookjoy!&quot; </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">2:00 p.m. &ndash; 2:40 p.m. Session 7 &ndash; Storytime Spark: Simple Arts to Ignite Your Read-Alouds - Cody Talarico Cody Talarico is former music teacher and currently serves Nebraska as the Arts Education Specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education where he leads and supports visual arts, media arts, dance, music and theatre education. Are you ready to add a burst of creativity to your storytimes? Discover simple ways to jazz up your read-aloud with music, movement, acting, or art. Whether it&rsquo;s playing rhythms, trying a character&rsquo;s voice, or adding a splash of color, experiment with easy techniques&mdash;no arts expertise required! Leave with creative ideas for your arts-inspired read aloud. Step in, get inspired, and see how a little creativity can make reading unforgettable! </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">2:40 p.m. &ndash; 3:20 p.m. Session 8 &ndash; Early Chapter Books for Reading Aloud &ndash; Carla Ketner Many of us can still name a novel our elementary school teacher read to us and know from experience the influence those books had on us. Nebraska author Carla Ketner will share high-interest, engaging new chapter books to read aloud with beginning readers and older elementary children, the kinds of books that will leave lasting impacts&mdash;and some that are just plain fun. </li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bold;" style="box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:bold;">3:20 p.m. &ndash; 3:30 p.m. Closing, Evaluations, Book Sales, and distribution of FREE books to give to children in your community!&nbsp; Thanks for coming!</li></ul>

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for our event and supporting our cause. We look forward to seeing you on November 7! If you would like to contribute further, contact us to become a volunteer, or talk to your friends about our cause! Read Aloud Nebraska<a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:info@readaloudnebraska.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">info@readaloudnebraska.org</a>

Eight hours of CE for this event!<ul><li>8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration, Book Sales, Refreshments, Welcome </li><li>8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Special Announcement – Read Aloud Champion </li><li>8:45 a.m. – 9:25 a.m. Session 1 – What’s up with the Golden Sower? - Anne Price Anne Price, Children’s Librarian at North Platte Public Library, will talk about the nuts and bolts of the Golden Sower award. Ever wondered about how to get involved as a reader? Anne will also provide information about that, including reader expectations and the timeline of the Golden Sower award process. </li><li>9:30 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Session 2 – Picture Books to Read Aloud - Sally Snyder Sally Snyder, Youth Services Coordinator at the Nebraska Library Commission, will highlight picture books that are engaging choices for reading aloud. Aside from fostering a love of reading in young children, resources such as these can greatly impact early literacy development. </li><li>10:15 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. Session 3 – Illustrations as Part of the Read Aloud Experience - Chloe Burgett Artist Chloe Burgett will talk about the process of visual storytelling and how illustrations and words work together to create the listener's experience. Great read aloud titles are constructed around illustrations that help children visualize and understand the story, while inviting them to look closer and see the story hidden underneath the text. </li><li>11:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. Session 4 – Defending the Read-Aloud - Steven Layne (via Zoom) The act of reading aloud to students shouldn’t need a defense but far too often it does, and a key component of defending best practice is learning how to best leverage the instructional elements that make our work more successful. Award-winning author and literacy professor Steven Layne provides an energetic session focused on a hallmark of quality read-alouds: the thoughtful and strategic use of the reader’s voice as a tool for strong oral delivery. </li><li>11:45 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. Lunch and Book Sales </li><li>12:30 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Session 5 –Nebraska Growing Readers Nebraska Growing Readers (NGR) is a family literacy organization focused on increasing book access and shared reading habits as well as creating locally tailored content in Nebraska. In this presentation, NGR staff will share takeaways from their first year of statewide programing, explain the concept of community book gardens, and share resources and ideas for all supporters of literacy! Presenters: Greta Carlson (Program Manager) and the Nebraska Growing Readers team from Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. </li><li>1:15 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. Session 6 – The Power of Artful Read Alouds to Support Reading Comprehension and Foster Belonging - Rebecca Billingham (via Zoom) Rebecca Bellingham is equal parts educator and artist. She has led literacy and arts-based work in schools, universities, and nonprofits for over 25 years. In this session, Rebecca (author of The Artful Read Aloud and The Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging) will share tips for reading aloud "artfully" in order to deepen students' ability to make meaning, develop background knowledge, and connect with classmates in genuine ways. Rebecca will model small shifts that make a huge difference in our read aloud practice, and inspire you to incorporate artful moves with your students that increase engagement, critical thinking, and "bookjoy!" </li><li>2:00 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Session 7 – Storytime Spark: Simple Arts to Ignite Your Read-Alouds - Cody Talarico Cody Talarico is former music teacher and currently serves Nebraska as the Arts Education Specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education where he leads and supports visual arts, media arts, dance, music and theatre education. Are you ready to add a burst of creativity to your storytimes? Discover simple ways to jazz up your read-aloud with music, movement, acting, or art. Whether it’s playing rhythms, trying a character’s voice, or adding a splash of color, experiment with easy techniques—no arts expertise required! Leave with creative ideas for your arts-inspired read aloud. Step in, get inspired, and see how a little creativity can make reading unforgettable! </li><li>2:40 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Session 8 – Early Chapter Books for Reading Aloud – Carla Ketner Many of us can still name a novel our elementary school teacher read to us and know from experience the influence those books had on us. Nebraska author Carla Ketner will share high-interest, engaging new chapter books to read aloud with beginning readers and older elementary children, the kinds of books that will leave lasting impacts—and some that are just plain fun. </li><li>3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Closing, Evaluations, Book Sales, and distribution of FREE books to give to children in your community!  Thanks for coming!</li></ul>

Read Aloud Nebraska

Read Aloud Nebraska Fall Conference 2025

Seward Memorial Library

Late registration

$45

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