Incorporating reading aloud into a child’s daily routine has a profound impact on literary development. It not only stimulates language skills, but also builds memory and motivation. That’s why this month we’re previewing Global Read Aloud 2015 (GRA) with founder Pernille Ripp, during the next #ILAchat on September 10. 

Ripp is an author, a dedicated seventh-grade teacher, the cofounder of EdCamp MadWI, and, as she will discuss during our upcoming chat, the creative mind behind GRA. From its inception in 2010, this growing literacy initiative has united more than 500,000 students in 60 countries. Over social media and in correspondence, Ripp has inspired teachers to join her literacy campaign. She has recently developed a creative community through Edmodo, encouraging teachers to also collaborate and network during GRA.

GRA uses a list of specific books and encourages participants to follow a weekly schedule from October 5 through November 13. With a range of books suitable for kindergartners or college students, GRA celebrates a diverse readership and reminds participants that GRA is about the connections you make, not the complexity of the novel.

Empowered Schools, Empowered Students: Creating Connected and Invested Learners(Corwin) and Passionate Learners: How to Engage and Empower Your Students (Corwin),as well as her blog, Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension.

Join @ILAToday on September 10 at 8 p.m. ET. Remember to hashtag #ILAchat and #GRA15 to keep the dialogue going!

Alexandra Baruch is ILA’s communications intern.