It's that time of the year when reps for publishing companies attend sales meetings, so we are off to Charlotte, North Carolina for an ETA meeting and next week we go to Chicago for Heinemann/Raintree-Red Brick Learning. We already had a meeting for Science Companion and luckily the other companies we represent are not holding meetings!
We have been trying to stop by as many of the science pilot trainings as we can. We want the pilot teachers to be aware that we are the local reps for Science Companion and will be here for them as they run their pilots. We are really excited about this opportunity and think that Science Companion is a great program!

Penny Kittle and Brenda at the Indiana University Southeast Writing Project conference.

I just fininshed listening to Penny Kittle speak at the IUSE Writing Project conference. She is so inspiring! If you are looking for a speaker for writing for any grade level, she is your gal! I also heard J. Patrick Lewis this week. He is a children's author and writes poetry. He is a very interesting man. He originally taught economics at a university and later in life turned to writing poetry. You may recognize him as the author of Bury Me in the Library. Earlier in the week we were in Shipshewana and saw the authors Lester Laminack, Katie Wood Ray, Sharon Taberski, Franki Sibberson, and Smokey Daniels. We are so fortunate to be able to attend professional conferences and meet these people that do so much for the educators in our state.

New Representation for Science Companion

We are so pleased to announce that First Team Education has been hired to represent Science Companion. As you may be aware, the state of Indiana is running some pilots next year for inquiry based science curriculum and Science Companion is on the list of programs to be piloted. So, if you are involved in those pilots, we will be your contact for Science Companion and will be working closely with you to make sure all goes well. You can find out more about the company by going to sciencecompanion.com.

It's May so we are in the last inning of the school year. We can't believe how fast it has gone. We will be at several summer workshops this summer so look for us at Mishawaka, Shipshawana, New Albany, and Purdue Calumet. If you find yourself with last minute orders to place, give us a call and we will do our best to push them through for you or if you need an invoice we can do that right away. We appreciate all you do for us and are ready and willing to return the favors.

Vacation Time

Well, the Indiana State Reading conference is over. It was really a disappointment this year. Very few attendees and very little time for the ones that were there to visit the exhibit area. Hopefully next year the economy will be better and more people will attend and the committee will build in some time for attendees to visit the exhibits.
Joe and I are leaving on vacation next Friday and will have limited access to email or voicemail. We are going to Italy for a week and then on a Mediterranian Cruise for a week. Hopefully anything any of you have going on, can wait until we get back! While you are all on spring break have a great time and come back recharged and ready to finish the school year!

Discount and free book!

If you are attending ISRA and attend the Sunday session titled "Choosing and Using Mentor Texts", you will receive a coupon for an additional 10% off your purchase at the First Team Education booth! In adddition, during that session you will receive a free children's book! So check your schedule and see what you had planned for 12:45 on Sunday of ISRA. See you there!