I think the only way we will get to the depth of the CCSS is to do exactly what you're talking about! Students need to be passionate and engaged in their learning within a reading/writing community to reading and writing work that has substance. This should be what grounds the CCSS, otherwise they'll be empty and hollow. Thanks for the reminder and so clearly articulating the truly core beliefs.

It's a special thing to pass on the legacy of those things you love to your children. There's just that enduring connection. Very cool! And I loved the backstory.

It's so true! If we know talk is good for student learning then it makes sense it's good for us too. I also agree that we will make significant growth if we're willing to take risks and put our own thinking out there in the world! Thanks for sharing your conversations - sounds like it was a great conference. Interesting thinking about balancing the concepts of volume of reading with complexity of reading. It seems like so many things in my life comes back to balance. Do we have to sacrifice volume for complexity? Like you said it makes sense that we would need to, but then when we are reading for fun or doing lighter reading our volume will pick up again. It's that balanced reading life...hmmm. Got me thinking - Thanks!