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New York State Reading Association’s Profitable Conference

| Sep 06, 2011

by Cindy Wells

Blending the charm of the Two Sisters, charisma of Kelly Gallagher, entertainment of Steven Layne, solid advice in writing process provided by Ralph Fletcher, strategies for developing automaticity that bolsters fluency from Tim Rasinski, internet connections with Donald Leu, insights into successful implementation of RtI by Donna Scanlon along with countless other professionals, the New York State Reading Association saw an extremely profitable conference this past April. Participants from all around New York State, neighboring states, and Canada converged to connect with various professionals to learn more about the effective promotion of literacy at all levels.

Notable events at the conference included an author tea with Ellen Potter and Anne Mazer which featured their new book, Spilling Ink, and an author dinner which included several prominent authors who shared their journey toward connecting literacy to their lives. A special event at the Author Dinner was the honoring of the 2010 Charlotte Award winners and the unveiling of the 2011-2012 Charlotte Ballot. This is a unique book award program in which winning books are chosen by the students in classrooms from around New York State.

Leading up to and during the annual conference the reading association strives to support literacy outreach either nationally or internationally. This year puzzle quilts were crafted incorporating the book jackets from the New York State 2009-2010 Charlotte Award nominee books at the primary, intermediate and young adult levels. The proceeds from the raffle of the quilts were sent to the Village of Hope in Ghana, West Africa which were used to purchase school supplies and – of course, books!

A Children’s Literacy Fair was a popular event which was held in partnership with the local library in Saratoga Springs, New York. Cookie Mouse warmly welcomed children and their families to this event which featured visits with authors, games, storytelling and free books.

Our secret to success? Along with making sure that current topics and timely presentations were offered, a great deal of effort went into making sure the conference was promoted through many venues. We connected with professionals via social networking, a video sharing conference highlights was posted on our website (www.nys/), announcements were placed in Reading Today and other prominent publications, The Empire Reading Scene Newsletter was sent to our membership and every school district in New York State and communication with our State Education Department was frequent. Collaboration was established with phenomenal sponsors and exhibitors who supported our efforts and helped spread the word of the conference offerings and dates. Teamwork was the essential ingredient that provided the foundation for this profitable endeavor!

Cindy Wells is an instructor at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the State University of New York at Potsdam and also works as a Literacy Consultant, dwells5@ twcny.rr.com.

Photos: 2010-11 President Debbie Dermady and Sara Parker share stories of the Village of Hope. Literacy Fair Coordinator Susan Hirsch with Cookie Mouse. Conference Committee member Judy Ehrensbeck and Conference Coordinator Cindy Wells.

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PBTM Indonesia Elects New Board Leadership

| Sep 06, 2011

Perhimpunan Baca Tulis Masyarakat (PBTM) Indonesia is an affiliate of the International Reading Association (IRA). It currently operates in several different provinces in Indonesia, such as Aceh, Padang, Jakarta, and Surabaya. PBTM Indonesia (or The Indonesian Reading and Writing Association) seeks to reflect the vision and mission of its mother organization.

PBTM Indonesia has specific goals which are to progress and develop the reading and the writing interests in the communities of Indonesia, to assist and provide bilingualism training (fluency in bilingual reading and writing) in Indonesian and English, and Indonesian and the Community Language (local languages in Indonesia). PBTM Indonesia also maintains a close network among the professional educators and stakeholders that are interested in community-based education.

PBTM Indonesia coordinates with chapters in various provinces in Indonesia. Mulyadi is chairman in Aceh, in, Nazara heads the chapter in Padang, Athriyana Pattiwael leads in Surabaya, and Marnix Ruipasa is in charge in Jakarta. The PBTM Indonesia chapter in Ambon just elected Christian Albert Lewier as its head of the chapter. These chapters will coordinate their work, plans, and other activities with PBTM Indonesia.

PBTM Indonesia held a board meeting on the second day of the seminar. A new board leadership was inducted, with Richard Manuputty as President, Mulyadi as Vice President, Jenny Lekatompessy as Recording Secretary and Treasurer, and Sophia Bynendik as Membership Secretary. This board will serve the association from 2011 to 2013.

In front of the seminar participants, representing the IRA board of directors, Rizalina Labanda witnessed the newly appointed PBTM Indonesia board as they were sworn in to serve the organization. Labanda also gave two sponsored memberships on behalf of Mark Mullen, the Interim Executive Director of IRA. Labanda hopes that these new members will “breed” more members in the future. At this point, PTBM Indonesia is beginning to design its short-term and long-term future plans. PBTM is focusing on welcoming the 2013 Asian Literacy Conference, which also will be held in Indonesia.

IRA Members: Click here for more news about PBTM in the digital version of the magazine.

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DCRC Hosts Young Authors' Reception

| Aug 25, 2011

More than 120 students, parents, and teachers attended the Young Authors' Reception, sponsored by the DCRC (Dallas County Reading Council). The evening reception was held at the Van Meter Community School Event Center on March 28th to honor first place winning student authors who entered their original stories and poetry in the annual DCRC creative writing contest. The DCRC judged more than 100 entries from the county area. After a light meal was served, the highlight of the evening was listening to the young authors read their story or poem. DCRC would like to express gratitude to local businesses for helping with the meal: Jordan Creek Hy-Vee – cookies and bottled water, Waukee Fareway – chips, Waukee Subway – six foot sub.

The 2011 story and poem winners are shown below. They are identified with the school district they attend.

DCRC Poetry Winners- Front left to right: (Co-1st grade winners Addison Thielman-Urbandale and Nora Henderson–Urbandale; 2nd grade, Audrey Messman-Waukee; 3rd grade, Alexis Carfrae–Waukee; 4th grade, Sarah Noga-Waukee. Back row: 5th grade, Alaina Taylor– ADM; 6th grade, Weston Garrett -Van Meter; 7th grade, Casey Jamison-Van Meter; 8th grade, Emma Skahill–Van Meter; 9th grade, Morgan Abbas– ADM.

DCRC Story Winners-Front left to right: K-Reagan Nicholl-Waukee; (Co-1st grade winners) Kenna Jackson-Dallas Center-Grimes and Sydney Hotchkiss-Urbandale; 2nd grade, Madison Nicholl-Waukee; 3rd grade, Anna Bauer–Waukee. Back row: 4th grade, Ben Fahrenkrug-Waukee; 5th grade, Emily Pottebaum– ADM; 6th grade, Sydney Bertman-ADM; 7th grade, Noah Bardwell-Van Meter; 8th grade, Emma Skahill–Van Meter; 9th grade, Madison Bertman– ADM; 11th grade, Lauren Abbas– ADM

First place winning stories and poems were sent to the Iowa Reading Council to be judged with other stories and poems entered across the state. The following students placed at state level:

Poetry: First Grader, Addison Theilman – first place; Second Grader, Audrey Messman – first place; Fifth Grader, Alaina Taylor - second place; Sixth Grader, Weston Garrett - first place; Eighth Grader, Emma Skahill – second place; Ninth Grader, Morgan Abbas – second place.

Story: Kindergartener, Reagan Nicholl – third place; Third Grader, Anna Bauer – third place; Sixth Grader, Sydney Bertman – second place; Eighth Grader, Emma Skahill – third place; Ninth Grader, Madison Bertman – first place.

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IRA Special Interest Groups Call for Journal Submissions

| Aug 10, 2011

If you are investigating submitting your work to a journal, consider contacting an International Reading Association Special Interest Groups (SIGs).

The College Literacy and Learning Special Interest Group (CLL-SIG) of the International Reading Association produces two publications. The editors of the Innovative Learning Strategies 21st Biennial Yearbook (2010-2012) are calling for manuscripts. The deadline is December 1, 2011, and the volume will be published in May 2012. Copies of the yearbook will be available at the 2012 International Reading Association National Convention. Authors are encouraged to submit articles in the following categories pertinent to college level reading programs and strategies that enhance students’ academic success: description of program models, discussion of successful instructional strategies/materials/methodologies, and report of research. For a detailed list of submission requirements, contact Lou Ann Sears, Editor, by phone at 724-836-7098, by email at los3@pitt.edu, or by mail at Innovative Learning Strategies, 2010 – 2012, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Faculty Office Building 105, 150 Finoli Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601.

The CLL-SIG’s Journal of College Literacy and Learning (JCLL) welcomes material related to advancing scholarship on reading, writing, and study strategies at the postsecondary level. JCLL is a refereed publication that provides a forum for the exchange of information regarding research, theory, and practice. Previously published or works under consideration elsewhere cannot be considered. Please contact editors Connie Kendall Theado (connie.kendall@uc.edu) and Amy J. Wan (amy.wan@qc.cuny.edu) for submission guidelines.

The Concern for Affect in Reading Education Special Interest Group (CARE SIG) seeks quality manuscripts for publication in its spring issue of the Affective Reading Education Journal. The co-editors of the journal are Dr. Janet A. Finke, Associate Professor of Literacy Education at Central Washington University, and Dr. Angela Rutherford, Associate Professor of Literacy at University of Mississippi. For publication consideration, please submit manuscripts via email to Dr. Rutherford and Dr. Janet A. Finke at araines@olemiss.edu. When submitting a manuscript, please indicate “CARE submission” in the subject heading of the email. For additional information regarding manuscripts, contact Dr. Rutherford at 662-915-7625 or Dr. Finke at 509-963-1951.

Dr. Katherine Wiesendanger, a faculty member in Education at Longwood University in VA, has been selected to serve as chairperson of the CARE SIG. As chairperson, she will focus on initiatives that emphasize colleagues support, give all members a voice in the organization, and engage as many as possible in leadership roles. CARE will offer programs at the IRA conferences that adopt a broad-based model, which includes both featured speakers and round table discussions. CARE welcomes new members. For information regarding membership, please contact CARE Membership Chair, Dr. Ron Reigner of West Georgia State University, at rreigner@westga.edu.

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Literacy Now

New York State Reading Association’s Profitable Conference

PBTM Indonesia Elects New Board Leadership

DCRC Hosts Young Authors' Reception

IRA Special Interest Groups Call for Journal Submissions