Literacy Now

International Literacy Day is over, but reports are streaming in from all over the world about how schools celebrated and continue to celebrate.

This year,  in the International Literacy Day Activity Kit we spotlighted The Philippines with activities framed around the history and culture of the country. Not only is the Philippines a very active affiliate, but its people have shown great strides in improving literacy rates to 97.5% literate over the last 30 years.

Students, educators, and elected officials all got in on the ILD fun with singing, dancing, and read-alouds. There were also dozens of Little Free Libraries launched that day alone as a ILA-suggested ILD service project.

Arlene B. Arcillas, mayor of Santa Rosa, Laguna, visited five schools on ILD, participating in Little Free Library ribbon cuttings at all of them and taking the time to read to hundreds of students during the course of the day. The different events also included singing and dancing, and distribution of new backpacks to students.

In Hyderabad, India, there was an assembly in the morning at Oakridge International School, followed by two activities during the day. Alfaaz involved “expression through writing” and Cuentos was “story reading sessions in mother tongue.”

In the U.S., The Episcopal School of Dallas called on Filipino natives from the community to share the country’s culture in the classroom. Students also used the ILA Activity Kit to reinforce lessons.

“We learned about modes of transportation and saw a jeepney and video from the Google Tour,” said Allison Hogan, a primer teacher at the school. “Later in the day, students drew a tricycle on an iPad and made a tricycle using wooden wheels, pipe cleaners and straws. [It was] a great STEAM activity.”

Just one day into the school year, Central Jamaica Reading Association (CJRA) set out to celebrate ILD inside and outside of the classroom. Read-alouds were held by parents, community leaders, and educators. CJRA led the construction and launch of a Little Free Library and affiliate representatives went to the Pediatric Ward of the Mandeville Regional Hospital to distribute reading and writing materials to patients.

In Illinois, at least three Little Free Libraries were opened. The Illinois Reading Council (IRC) built two in one day at the state library, one of which was planted outside of their office in Normal, IL. They were, appropriately, filled with books from IRC’s Illinois Reads program. Maria Schlup, a reading specialist at an elementary school in Palatine, IL, spearheaded the creation of the first Little Free Library in her community, but the plan is to make several more for area parks and schools.

Finally, at ILA headquarters in Newark, DE, we held a ribbon cutting for our own Little Free Library. With materials, books, and labor donated by staff, the library itself cost ILA nothing to construct or plant. A ribbon cutting was held on ILD which featured local and state legislators and the reading of a proclamation from Delaware Gov. Jack A. Markell naming Sept. 8, 2015, Literacy Day in the state.

Keep the movement going! Download the free activity kit today or build your own Little Free Library, then share your photos and stories with mailto:social@reading.org.

April Hall is editor of Literacy Daily. A journalist for about 20 years, she has specialized in education, writing and editing for newspapers, websites, and magazines.

This year, we celebrate the 20th year of the What’s Hot in Literacy Survey, published in the latest issue of Literacy Today. Results from previous surveys have been cited in numerous publications, translated into multiple languages, and replicated in several countries including Denmark, Rumania, and the United Kingdom.

In addition, previous results of the annual survey have guided professional development within schools and have played a key role in situating the timeliness of current research. In a brief overview, we share how the 2016 survey was constructed, the approaches used to select this year’s respondents, and the methods used while analyzing the results.

Each year, a purposeful sample of 25 literacy leaders completes the survey. The literacy leaders who responded to the 2015 survey played a key role in constructing this year’s edition by reviewing the items listed on the 2015 survey and making suggestions for revisions. This process resulted in a 30-item survey for 2016. In addition, three topics appeared for the first time: oral language, teacher evaluation for literacy, and teacher preparation and certification.

The 2016 literacy leaders all hold a national or international perspective on literacy. Many of them have served on boards of prominent literacy organizations, or as editors of major journals. Together the 25 leaders create a diverse group representing various  ages and job categories such as classroom teachers, administrators, and college professors. 

The percentage of ILA members in each region of the United States determines the number of literacy leaders interviewed in that region. Representing the East for 2016 were Julie Coiro, Rona Flippo, Donald J. Leu, Jill Lewis-Spector, Barbara Marinak, Susan B. Neuman, and Marcie Craig Post. From the Southeast were Richard Allington, Donna Alvermann, Estanislado Barrera IV, and Linda Gambrell. The Great Lakes area was represented by Nell Duke, Patricia Edwards, Timothy Rasinski, William Teale, and Timothy Shanahan. Julianne Scullen represented the Plains area, while the West was represented by Diane Barone, Douglas Fisher, and P. David Pearson. Other areas included the Southwest, represented by Katy Landrum and Chase Young; the Rocky Mountains, represented by Ray Reutzel; Canada, represented by Shelley Stagg Peterson; and outside North America, represented by Bernadette Dwyer.

We interviewed the literacy leaders by phone, Skype, or in person during the summer months. Each interview began with the reading of a standard 178-word paragraph explaining that a rating of “hot” and “not hot” would not be a measure of his or her personal interest in a topic, but instead would refer to the amount of attention the item was currently receiving. Next, each of the 30 items from the survey were read aloud to the respondent and a rating of “hot” or “not hot” was assigned. In addition, the respondent stated whether the item “should be hot” or “should not be hot.”

The final step was analyzing the results. This involved tallying the collected ratings. Items receiving 100% consensus among the literacy leaders were reported as “extremely hot” or “extremely cold.” Items receiving 75% consensus were reported as “very hot” or “very cold,” while those receiving 50% consensus were reported as “hot” or “not hot.”

Read about the results of the What’s Hot in Literacy Survey in Literacy Today magazine (formerly Reading Today).

International Literacy Day (ILD) is about spreading awareness about the work that remains to be done to obliterate illiteracy across the globe. Nearly 800 million people worldwide are illiterate, 126 million of whom are children. That’s about 12% of the people on the planet.

To spark awareness on how to take #800Mil2Nil, ILA has put together the first of many tools we plan to put in the hands of literacy champions. This initial effort, comprised of four infographics, arms advocates with the information vital to spreading awareness about illiteracy. Downloading these infographics from the Take Action section of the ILA website and spreading them via social media will shine the light on not only the impact but also the causes of illiteracy everywhere. Spread this information using the hashtag #800Mil2Nil to keep the discussion going on how we can eliminate illiteracy.

The ILD 2015 Activity Kit, released this Spring in preparation for ILD can also be used year-round. This free kit has a wealth of classroom activities that can be used throughout the school year. The kit’s content is focused on The Philippines, whose people peacefully caused meaningful change through collective action to not only overthrow a dictator, but also to raise literacy rates in the country to an impressive 97.5%.

As a tangible product of efforts to spread literacy to all, communities all over the world—including the one at International Literacy Association headquarters in Newark, DE—will establish Little Free Libraries in honor of ILD. The libraries will bring books to people who may not otherwise have access to reading material and volunteers will keep the shelves stocked for children and adults alike.

Through awareness, education, and collective action, we can solve the illiteracy problem. What will you do to bring #800Mil2Nil?

April Hall is editor ofLiteracy Daily. A journalist for about 20 years, she has specialized in education, writing and editing for newspapers, websites, and magazines.

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.

The International Literacy Association (ILA), formerly known as the International Reading Association, honors its inaugural 30 Under 30 list in the September/October 2015 issue of Literacy Today (formerly Reading Today). The list recognizes the next generation of young innovators, advocates, and educators who are leading efforts to address the challenges of today’s evolving education field and make a difference in the global literacy landscape.

“I’m thrilled to unveil our first 30 Under 30 list of young individuals who are tirelessly working to impact the future of global literacy advancement,” said Marcie Craig Post, ILA’s executive director. “Today, an astounding 12% of the global population is unable to read or write. These 30 young education champions are developing new, creative strategies to close the literacy gap and, in the process, are transforming lives in their communities and around the world.”

ILA’s 30 Under 30 list highlights young trailblazers from 13 countries and several different sectors and includes nonprofit leaders, classroom teachers, authors, volunteers, researchers, technology startup founders, and entrepreneurs. Each honoree has created and implemented an initiative that either has improved the quality of literacy instruction directly or has increased access to literacy tools in the classroom, community, or online.

See the full story in the latest issue of Literacy Today, ILA’s bimonthly magazine, released today. The honorees will be invited to participate in upcoming global literacy community activities to support the shared cause of advancing literacy for all. To view the magazine feature, visit literacyworldwide.org/30under30.