I THINK MY RUNNING APP IS SPYING ON ME

Yesterday I posted about last week's run in the foothills as part of my TeamQuest half marathon training. I shared that I had been talking about core workouts with my friend Brenda. When I got  home I received a message from Map My Run telling me that I had completed 12 miles for the week... and the app gave me suggestions for core workouts as well as tips for running up hill. I admittedly didn't do very well on that one. Did it know that I slowed down uphill? I wondered if the app had overheard my conversation.

I decided to test my theory. Today while I was out walking the Academy with my friends Eve and Lynne, I casually mentioned that I would really love to have a recipe for a salted caramel after workout recovery drink. About ten minutes after we finished our walk, I received an email notice from Map My Run that I had completed 13 miles for the week. Yay me! Included was a link for 16 Dietician Approved Pre and Post Workout Snacks. I'm not kidding. Here is the link: Dietician Approved Snacks. There is a picture of a green smoothie at the top of the post. NOT salted caramel, but still, it's weird.

Is Map My Run listening to my workout conversations?

If so, they obviously don't approve of my idea for a salted caramel smoothie.

I've gone back through my previous posts and come up with a recipe I created for a Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie. It's actually pretty healthy. You can find it over at Tips for Life and Love, a Simon and Schuster site.

On a separate note, yesterday at the Southwest Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, we held our annual conference with over 330 people in attendance. 35 of those were students! It was an amazing event with great national presenters like Dr. Elaine Cheesman, Dr. Margie Gillis, and William Van Cleave. I'll write more about this soon.

In the meantime, next week I'm going to "casually" mention that I'd love to have a pair of psychedelic running pants.

AWESOME LIBRARIAN/ AUTHOR PANEL AT THE SOUTHWEST DYSLEXIA CONFERENCE

The Reading Fire: Kindling A Love for Books

February 20, 2015

6:30-9:00p.m.

Sandia Resort Conference Center

Albuquerque, NM
Pre-Conference Session is

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

This fun and informative pre-conference session will begin with a 45 minute presentation by superstar librarian, Teri Lesesne, professor of library science at Sam Houston University, who will discuss a variety of titles and what makes them good selections for struggling readers. I recently finished reading her book - MAKING THE MATCH - THE RIGHT BOOK FOR THE RIGHT READER AT THE RIGHT TIME. It was fabulous!

The evening will continue with a 45 minute panel of local authors, each with a special connection to dyslexia. Each author will discuss dyslexia as it relates to her work. 

Kersten Hamilton, author of the GOBLIN WAR series, has struggled with dyslexia most of her life, but went on to become a highly successful author. Caroline Starr Rose's debut novel, MAY B., features a protagonist with dyslexia. (see the author interviews below). My novel, TAKE ME THERE, a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, features a male protagonist who cannot read or write but who dreams of being a poet. The evening will end with an author book signing. 

This event is FREE but please reserve a spot by calling 505-255-8234. Leave your name, the number in your party, and mention you will be attending the pre-conference event. Students are welcome to attend and CEUs will be provided for professionals who have signed up for the entire conference.

If you are interested in attending the Saturday portion of the conference as well, there is a fee so REGISTER HERE FOR THE FULL CONFERENCE - THE DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 13, 2015 AND THERE WILL BE NO REGISTRATION ONSITE. This year we are hosting a special student conference running simultaneously. I will be leading a session in the morning on digital storytelling with Megan Shanley, an occupational therapist with dyslexia. (See her interview below).

For more information about the conference, visit southwestida.org.

Two of this year's conference presenters, Kersten Hamilton and Megan Shanley,

have struggled with Dyslexia. A great way to get your students interested in the special student conference would be to read them these inspiring stories. I shared Kersten's interview to high school reading classes and was amazed by the avid response. Kids connect to people who have faced challenges similar to theirs. They are the true heroes because they set real life examples of how to overcome challenges.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

An Author with Dyslexia Speaks - Interview with 2015 Conference Presenter Kersten Hamilton

"When everything is hard, you learn to persevere."

Hamilton has written numerous titles from picture books to fantasy novels including the Goblin Wars series. She dropped out of high school due, in large part, to a significant reading disability, but went on to become a highly successful professional author. 

(Read more)

Characters with Dyslexia - Interview with Author Caroline Starr Rose 2015 Conference Presenter 

Caroline is former classroom teacher and the author of the middle grade verse novel May B. 

What Inspired you to choose a girl with dyslexia as your Main Character? In order for a book to work, an author must not give their characters what they want (at least not straight away), but must make them face their fears and weaknesses. Without these things, there is no change. Without change, there is no story. (read more)

A Therapist Speaks Out - What It's Like to be Dyslexic - Interview with 2015 Conference Presenter Megan Shanley

Megan Shanley struggled with reading all through school, but didn't know she had dyslexia until she was evaluated at the age of sixteen. She went on to college and became an occupational therapist. She now works as an Assistive Technology Practitioner on the Universal Design Team at APS as well as at Southwest Neuropsychology and Behavioral Health, where she helps match struggling learners with technology to assist them with reading and writing. (Read More)