Literacy Now

The Specialized Literacy Professionals Special Interest Group (SIG) of the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) are conducting a survey to obtain information about the current roles and responsibilities of reading specialists/literacy coaches across the United States. The SIG invites current reading specialists and literacy coaches to complete the online survey by March 21, 2012, at the following URL: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L7XVFLR

The survey will take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. It is not necessary to be a member of IRA or NCTE to complete the survey. Educators who provide a similar service as a reading specialist or literacy coach but who may not have those specific titles are encouraged to complete the survey.

The purpose for conducting this survey is to provide information to various stakeholders to assist with decision making, including: (a) institutions that prepare reading specialists/literacy coaches, (b) agencies and organizations (International Reading Association, National Council of Teachers of English, State Department of Education) that provide professional development for reading specialists/literacy coaches, (c) policy-makers and legislators, and (d) school districts that employ such professionals. They believe this information will also be helpful to individual reading specialists/literacy coaches who are seeking information about how others function in their schools and recent educational policies (e.g., RTI).

IRA will use the survey data to update the position statement on The Role of the Reading Specialist (2000) and The Reading Coach (2004).

The IRA Specialized Literacy Professionals SIG is chaired by Rita Bean, Professor Emerita, University of Pittsburgh, and Jack Cassidy, Professor Emeritus, Texas A & M, Corpus Christi.

International Literacy Association Position Statements

International Literacy Association Special Interest Groups

International Literacy Association Membership

"Mass Reading" President Nancy Witherell spoke to Reading Today Online about the many exciting council projects, including their April 2012 conference. 

1. Are you especially proud of any of your council’s projects?

The Massachusetts Reading Association is a dynamic, progressive, and goal oriented organization. There are so many projects that Mass Reading is proud to lead or that we are connected with in some way. We have a number of highly active committees; our advocacy committee co-chairs, Evelyn Wall and Cynthia Rizzo, have invited our new Early Education Commissioner Sheri Killins to receive our Advocacy Award at this year’s conference. 

Our Studies and Research Committee Co-chairs, Pamela Mason and Sheelah Sweeny, have just released a white paper entitled “Research-based Practices in Vocabulary Instruction: An Analysis of What Works in Grades PreK-12,” a summary of effective researched-based vocabulary practices that can be found at Resources on www.mass/. We have several committees that are hard at work to foster literacy in Massachusetts and beyond. Our international project, in which MRA, MACURE (Massachusetts Association of College and Reading Educators council), and the Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters have pooled their resources, promotes and maintains adult and family literacy programs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as opportunities for outreach, service, and research for Massachusetts educators and Rotarians. We have to thank Dr. Ruth Farrar of Bridgewater State University for leading this wonderful effort. Furthermore, our Families and Early Childhood Literacy Committee, co-chaired by Nancy Verdolino and Nancy Clark-Chiarelli, have created a partnership with Horizons for Homeless Children in which we collect and donate books to this organization.

MRA also gives out numerous awards yearly to honor those who work hard for literacy and let them know their efforts are appreciated. We have the Literacy Award for someone who has given outstanding efforts in literacy, the Legislative Award for a politician who has supported literacy in any area, the Exemplary Reading Award for a school that has documented a commendable reading program, and a Literature Award giving to an award winning author. Last year’s recipient was the Newbery Award-winning author Patricia MacLachlan, and this year’s recipient will be Rosemary Wells. We remember our researchers and students through our Sylvia D. Brown Scholarship and Donald L. Landry Scholarship, which offers a lucky winner free registration for our annual conference.

In conclusion, one of the areas in which Mass Reading is most proud is our local councils. They are always busy planning programs and events. The majority of our councils work diligently and tirelessly to gain Honor Council status. This, of course, involves hours of volunteer work either setting up local programs for their council or organizing what is necessary to fulfill minigrant obligations, and other public and professional services to their districts. Our local councils support Mass Reading in multiple ways and are the backbone of our organization.

2. What are the benefits of joining your council? 

Members of Mass Reading can become instantly involved in our social networking sites from friending us on Facebook, tweeting comments and getting tweets, to joining a specialized NING group, such much is always happeNING at MRA. We have numerous benefits, including an annual two-day conference, which this year takes place on April 12 and 13 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel in Sturbridge, MA. Our Conference Chair, Sherry Sausville is busy putting the final touches to what is promising to be one fantastic journey into “Comprehension: Imagine That!” This will be our first conference at which we have been able to offer free wireless connections for all attendees.

We are lucky to have IRA’s Carrice Cummings speaking. Last year, we had the great fortune to have Vicki Risko keynote for us! We have a fall institute every other year in which we try to focus on current issues in literacy education.

Our bi-annual publication, MRA’s Primer is a membership benefit that includes articles of research-based programs and instruction, and reviews of professional and children’s books. Our fall Primer is published calendar style and offers author’s birthdates. We also published our newsletter, The Connection, which keeps our members aware of current MRA and state events. 

3. Are there any future projects in store for your council?

There are always future projects on our horizon. Board members have begun the planning for our Fall 12 Institute. The Research and Studies committee members are hard at work deciding their next topic; our Diversity Committee is up and running working on its action plan. The planning never stops for our annual conferences; the keynote presenter lineup is well set for our 44th Annual Conference, which will take place on April 4 and 5, 2013 at the Boston Quincy Marriott in Quincy, Massachusetts.

4. How does one join your council?

Simply, join us at www.mass/ or connect through Facebook www.facebook.com/MAreads, or Twitter @mraread. 

5. Is there a website, newsletter, or another way to find out more information about your council? Is there a person that prospective members can contact?

We offer much information at our website www.mass/, which our webmaster, Joan Tuttle, diligently updates regularly. Our Conference Administrative Assistant and Vice President, Nancy Meagher will answer any questions. MRA can be reached through our website menu bar under “Contact Us” or e-mail Nancy directly at info@mass/. Please feel free to e-mail the President, Nancy Witherell, at nwitherell@bridgew.edu. Our phone number is 1-877-GROW-MRA (476-9672) The mailing address is MRA, PO Box 426, West Barnstable, MA 02668. 

Photo captions: 

MRA President Nancy Witherall.

Massachusetts Honor Council Recipients from 2010-11 (from left to right): IRA State Coordinator: Terrie Marr; Council Presidents or Representatives: Jean Helstrom, Martha Strachan, Jan Standring, Pamela Mason, Valerie Hytholt, Cathy Salvini, Judy Werner. Missing from photo:  Mary Ellen Caesar, Pamela Lavockin, Lori DiGisi, Sherry Alleman, and Bonnie Standring. 

This year's International Reading Association (IRA) Annual Convention is a professional development event that cannot be missed. Here are a few of the hundreds of informative sessions that deal with "hot topics" effecting reading teachers and specialists. 

LITERACY AND LEARNING

On Tuesday, May 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Michael Grave from the University of Minnesota (Emeritus) and James Baumann, University of Missouri-Columbia present Words, Words Everywhere; But Which Ones Do We Teach? Insights from the Multi-faceted, Comprehensive Vocabulary Instructional Program and Beyond. That day at 11:00 a.m., join Deborah Shefren and Sarah Weisberg for The Forgotten Literacy: Importance of Talk in the Primary Grades. 

LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGY

At 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 30, Kristin Ziemke Fastabend from Chicago Public Schools presents The 21st Century Literacy Workshop—Using iPads to promote reading, writing and collaboration in the primary classroom, and Tamie Lynn Pratt-Fartro from the University of Mary Washington and Kristina DeWitt from Liberty University present You Want Me to Blog in PE? A Study of How Adolescents Skillfully Make Connections between In-School Learning and Out-of-School Living at 3:00 p.m. that day.

TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ELL)

Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey from San Diego State University present Implementing RTI with English Learners on Monday, April 30, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Tuesday, May 1, at 11:00 a.m., come to Enhancing Adolescent English Language Learners’ Literacy and Identity Development through the Approach of Writers’ Workshop with Elizabeth C. Lewis and Lauren M. Amoros from Dickinson College.

ASSESSMENT

Attend Making the Most of Writer’s Workshop: Conferencing with Students Keeping the Common Core in Mind with Sarah Cordova from the Distinctive Educator’s Institute on Monday, April 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Scott Filkins and Christopher Belt from Central High School in Champaign, Illinois, present Using IRA/NCTE Standards for Assessment and the Common Core Standards to Assess Secondary Readers for Learning and Growth on Wednesday, May 2, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

TEACHING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN READING AND WRITING

On Tuesday, May 1, at 11:00 a.m., join Beth Olshansky from the University of New Hampshire for Picturing Writing: Engaging Diverse Learners by Treating Pictures and Words as Equal Languages for Learning. And on Wednesday, May 2, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Jauquita Hargus from Texas A&M University-Texarkana speaks about Integrating Reading and Writing: Using Children’s Literature as Model Texts to Study Author’s Craft to Develop Critical Writing Skills. 

These are just a few of the hundreds of sessions at the IRA 57th Annual Convention in Chicago from April 29 through May 2, 2012. Dates and times are subject to change. Visit the Annual Convention itinerary planner/program grid online tool for updated information. For more details or to register, visit www.iraconvention.org. 

This article was printed in the February/March 2012 issue of Reading Today. Click here for more information about viewing the digital versions of Reading Today issues.

The International Reading Association (IRA) 57th Annual Convention has hundreds of informative sessions on today’s hottest issues. Here is a sampling of sessions that present important literacy topics. 

STRUGGLING READERS

On Monday, April 30, Thomas Gunning from Central Connecticut State University presents Mystery Passages and Manipulatives: Active Learning Techniques that Build Essential Comprehension Skills from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. At 4:45 p.m. that day, Christopher Paul Curtis and Randon Singer present Struggling Readers and the Common Core State Standards: How Can I get Them College and Career Ready?

TEACHING ELEMENTARY LEARNERS

Join presenters Timothy Rasinski from Kent State University, Alicia McCartney from Gwinnett County Schools, Brod Bagert, and David Harrison from Drury University for Using Poetry for Word Study, Fluency, and Comprehension Instruction on Monday, April 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. The Differentiated Difference: The Tale of Two Schools from 3:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. that day features Beverly Tyner, Brian Alaback and Jodie Broussard from Brentwood Elementary, and MaKeysa Rhymer and Denny Wilson from Oakcrest Elementary. 

TEACHING EARLY LITERACY AND BEGINNING READERS

Don’t miss Better Books for Guided Reading: Exploring the Ways Text Selection Relates to Comprehension, Word Recognition, and Student Independence with Jan Miller Burkins (Jan Miller Burkins Consulting & Literacyhead.com) on Monday, April 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. On Tuesday, May 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Author/Literacy Consultant Miriam Trehearne and Christine Gordon, Professor Emeritus University of Calgary, present Writing, the Cornerstone of an Effective Early Literacy Program in Preschool-Kindergarten: Thousands of young learners learn to read through writing and love it! 

TEACHING ADOLESCENT LEARNERS

At 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 30, attend Reading, Writing, & Thinking through a Historian Lens: Integrating Disciplinary Literacy into Social Studies Instruction with Doug Buehl from Edgewood College and Jeremy Buehl from Madison Metropolitan School District. At 3:00 p.m. that day, catch Valerie Ellery and Jennifer Rosenboom’s Sustaining Strategic Readers: Techniques for Supporting Content Literacy, Grades 6-12. Maureen McLaughlin of East Stroudsburg University of PA presents The Common Core Standards: Teaching Middle School and High School Students to Comprehend Informational Text on Wednesday, May 2, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

These are just a few of the hundreds of sessions at the IRA 57th Annual Convention in Chicago from April 29 through May 2, 2012. Dates and times are subject to change. Visit the Annual Convention itinerary planner/program grid online tool for updated information. For information on registration and housing, visit www.iraconvention.org.

This article was printed in the February/March 2012 issue of Reading Today. Click here for more information about viewing the digital versions of Reading Today issues.

The International Reading Association’s Middle School Reading Special Interest Group seeks manuscripts for Reading in the Middle, an independent peer-reviewed publication. The journal publishes two issues a year sharing original contributions on all facets of language arts learning, teaching, and research focusing on young adolescents. Reading in the Middle offers middle level educators a practical guide to best practices in middle schools. 

Reading in the Middle disseminates pertinent information and research on middle school reading, serves as a forum for expressing varying viewpoints on middle school reading, and promotes an interest in further research in the field of middle level reading. Manuscripts focus on quality programs, promising classroom practice, middle level author viewpoints, book lists for the middle level student, and teaching resources. 

Presenters at the annual conference as well as other recent professional development events are invited to submit articles based on their work. 

The deadline for articles is July 15, with fall publication scheduled for October/November.