Literacy Now

Nance Wilson from the International Reading Association's Middle School Reading Special Interest Group (MSR-SIG) shares the groups exciting projects and activities. 

1. Are you especially proud of any of your SIG's projects?

One SIG project I am especially proud of is our efforts to link middle level authors with teachers and students. Beginning in 2010 we partnered with the author presenting at the annual convention with a classroom teacher. Throughout the year leading up to the conference, the teacher reads the author’s work with her students using interactive, interpersonal, and inquiry techniques. As the teacher finishes her study of the text, the students engage in a Skype session with the author. The lessons learned by both author and students are presented at the annual conference each year.  

This year we are excited to share lessons learned from using integrated technology, questioning, and collaboration from a fifth and eighth grade classroom. The fifth grade teacher, Monique Myers, will share a unit centered around the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis, in which her students worked in literature circles to engage in discussions around the text, used iPads to research the facts behind the books, and prepared engaging in classroom presentations to share each of their texts. The eighth grade teacher, Bernadette Thompson, created a unit centered on Adam Gidwitz's novel A Tale Dark and Grimm to have students research multiple versions of the Hansel and Gretel tale, analyze narrative voice, and use an online Blog to facilitate discussion about the text within and beyond the classroom walls. 

A second MSR-SIG project that I am proud of speaks to the contributions and talents of our membership. Our newsletter boasts of regular columns such as Book Lists for Middle Grade Readers (by Melanie Koss) and Eye on Disciplinary Literacy (by Vassiliki Zygouris-Coe). Our biannual newsletter boasts peer reviewed articles that support the teaching of literacy across the curriculum for middle grade readers.

2. What are the benefits of joining your SIG? 

The biggest benefit to joining MSR-SIG is having access to professional development opportunities focused specifically on Middle Grades literacy as well as learning from the expertise of our members. Our membership is distributed between classroom teachers, literacy researchers, and librarians.   The goal of our SIG is to disseminate pertinent information and research on middle school reading, serve as a forum for expressing varying viewpoints on middle school reading, and promote an interest in further research in the field of middle level reading. In addition to having the opportunity to work with and learn from people across the country, registered members receive our SIG newsletter two times each year and can submit proposals to present at our annual MSR-SIG session.

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

One exciting new goal of the MSR-SIG is to create more dialogue among the membership throughout the years. For instance, we invite all middle grades teachers (4-9) to participate in our survey to determine what books are being taught in the middle grades classrooms. If you are a middle grades teacher, please take a moment to complete a brief 12 question survey by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/62HT57K to participate, or feel free to pass the link along to a middle grades teacher that you know. Through this investigation we hope to learn more about the books being used in classrooms and to provide support for the teachers using them.

In addition, we want to find more ways to effectively share our resources and meet the needs of classroom teachers through increased communication between the members. We have a Facebook page for members to share their thoughts and ideas as well as a website for distributing information from past newsletters to booklists.

4. How does one join your SIG? 

The easiest way to join our SIG is to visit IRA’s MSR-SIG website. From here, you can go to the membership page to print the one page registration form and mail it with your $10 annual registration fee to our membership chair, Billie Jo Dunaway. Her contact information is included at the bottom of the form. Please note that you must be a member of IRA in order to join the MSR-SIG. There is also space on the form to indicate your interest in serving as a MSR-SIG committee member.

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

To learn more about the MSR-SIG, you can download a recent newsletter from our Reading in the Middle link at the MSR-SIG website. To learn more about our SIG, you can contact me (Nance S. Wilson, President of the MSR-SIG) at msrsig@gmail.com. For more information about our newsletter, you can contact our editorial team at msrsig@gmail.com.

by Melanie Cohen Goodman, Chestnut Hill College

The Mission of IRA’s Literacy and Social Responsibility Special Interest Group (L-SR SIG) is to study, understand, and advocate for high quality programs which integrate community service, participatory citizenship, social responsibility, appreciation for diversity, environmental stewardship, character education, and/or caring behavior into the development of literacy across the curriculum. L-SR Past President and Membership Chair, Melanie Goodman, shares what makes the SIG unique and fun. 

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

Members of the L-SR SIG are proud of all our activities including our consistently engaging sessions at IRA’s annual convention dedicated to introducing conference attendees to top-notch key note speakers and interactive round table presenters, our new special service award for students, informative newsletter, creative website, and most recent professional venue–the LSR e-journal. We work to build community at our sessions and leadership dinners, and online now via Facebook. We should also mention our newest award under development is for books that address–you guessed it!–literacy and social responsibility. 

Our newest project just unveiled last year is the Literacy and Service Recognition Award. This annual award celebrates the work of students (K-16+) who have been nominated by teachers and librarians for exemplary community service involving some form of literacy. Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy inspired this award, provided seed funds, and serve on the award committee chaired by Denise Stuart. Award winners are presented with an engraved plaque and certificate of recognition and invited to showcase their work at IRA’s annual convention as part of the L-SR SIG program. The inaugural first place winner was a team of third-grade students in an advanced literacy class at the Columbus School for Girls, who traveled to Orlando to present their service project last year. The work of Ahlam Jallaq, Aubrey Lanham, Ailis Rees, Leslie Robins, and Evelyn Stuntz was celebrated for developing and expanding Project S.O.A.R. (Save Our Albatross Research). Visit the L-SR website for submission details and information about our first award recipients.

Photo caption: Evelyn Stuntz, Leslie Robins, Ahlam Jallaq, Ailis Rees, and Aubrey Lanham along with teacher Debbie Charna display the service award and certificate at their school library.

Photo caption: Denise Stuart, Awards Chair of L-SR SIG, presents Literacy and Service Award certificates to the 2011 winners from Columbus School for Girls for Project S.O.A.R. (Save Our Albatross Research) at the L-SR SIG session. Ahlam Jallaq, Aubrey Lanham, Ailis Rees and Leslie Robins, traveled to Orlando with nominating teacher Debbie Charna and Director of Lower School Joan Hill.

2. What does your SIG program look like at the Annual IRA Convention?

Our Literacy and Social Responsibility (L-SR) SIG conference program has always engaged the most dynamic keynote speakers. Children's literature is the vehicle of choice through which Opening Keynoters and noted children's book authors Eve Bunting (The Terrible Things: An Allegory on the Holocaust) and Lynne Cherry (The Great Kapok Tree) have addressed issues of social justice. On more than one occasion, praise for the talent and courage of our keynoters has drawn high praise and much appreciation from a room filled to capacity with conferees. 

In various conference venues, L-SR SIG conferees have tapped to the lyrics and songs of singer, songwriter, and Grammy Award winner John McCuthcheon; waxed poetic with Dixie Goswami; and were ready to march to the Capitol with literacy advocate Patrick Shannon. A more recent keynote address was offered by authors and educational consultants, Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy (our very own!), whose "transformative education" practice suggests that teacher practitioners incorporate reflection to “give voice to life experiences.” A potpourri of Roundtable discussions at the L-SR SIG sessions continues to add an authentically interactive component to an already lively SIG session.

The Closing Keynote address has been a welcome addition to the L-SR SIG program and well received by conference attendees, many of whom remain in the conference room for our business meeting (organized and run by L-SR President, Patricia Dean) at which point they are invited to become active members and perhaps consider a leadership role in our SIG. Unique to IRA and truly a wonderful moment in the life of our Literacy and Social Responsibility SIG was the inclusion of students as recipients of the Literacy and Service Recognition Award in Orlando in May 2011. 

Photo caption: Patrick Shannon presents as keynote speaker at the L-SR SIG session in Orlando, 2011. 

Photo caption: John McCutcheon performs as he discusses Literacy and Social Responsibility at the L-SR SIG session at Chicago 2010.

3. Are there other benefits to joining your SIG?

As a member of the L-SR SIG you will benefit from the opportunity to dialog and exchange ideas with colleagues who are interested in social responsibility and literacy. Under the leadership of ejournal editor, Margaret-Mary Sulentic Dowell, we offer a peer-reviewed journal and each year, accept submissions for that journal. Reviewers represent a diverse geographical board with a wide variety of expertise, interests, and experience. The submission process is becoming increasingly competitive. Last year, we received 16 submissions and published five manuscripts, approximately a 33% acceptance rate. The most recent call and submission requirements can be downloaded from the link above.

Members also benefit from the opportunity to serve fellow educators by creating strands for display on the L-SR website. For example, Best Literacy Practices with Pro-social Twists is a new instructional strategies project under development as a website strand this year. At least five research-based and highly regarded literacy strategies appropriate for grades four through 12 will be presented in a user friendly format including: Definition, Goals, Teacher Preparation, Instructional Procedures, Prosocial Enhancements, Relevant Common Core Standards, and Further Resources. Please contact L-SR Secretary, Beth Breneman, at bethbreneman@comcast.net for information about the web-based strategies project.

Also, keep in mind that we’re on Facebook! Members can benefit by using Facebook for building their professional communities and for publicizing their publications and projects to a broader audience. Please join us on Facebook and search for "Literacy Responsibility." Our Communications Chair, Ernie Bond, set up the site specifically for our LSR SIG. Log on, check it out, and add your own comments and connections. Not sure how to join Facebook? It’s easy...just go to the website above and follow the instructions. You’ll need an email address and a password. It’s lots of fun!

4. Is there a way to find out more information about your SIG?

All those interested in the IRA Literacy and Social Responsibility SIG are invited to visit the LSR website, created by Web-manager, Kaye West, at www.csulb.edu/misc/l-sr to learn more about the organization. The website includes information about our SIG: past and upcoming programs, resources including reviews of professional and juvenile literature, a list of websites related to the mission of the L-SR SIG, and ways to get involved in our Special Interest Group. 

In addition, every spring prior to the IRA Convention members receive an electronic copy of the L-SR program and update of SIG activities in the annual “Literacy & Social Responsibility Newsletter” thanks to our Newsletter Editor, Susan Speer-Powers. 

Currently, there are no dues for the L-SR SIG, but you must be an up-to-date member of IRA. Please contact Melanie Cohen Goodman, Membership Chair, goodmanm@chc.edu to become a member and learn about volunteer opportunities. 

5. What presenters and topics will be featured at your session in Chicago? 

Program Chair Andrea Karlin has announced two keynote presentations, one by innovative author/illustrator David Geister titled, “Memories and Stories from the Past: Historically Responsible Books for the Present and Future,” and the other by dynamic author/poet Kwame Alexander, “Words Changing Worlds.” In addition, round table discussions will include these topics: “What ARE the Gaps: ELs in Mainstream English Classrooms;” “Not Just Dead White Guys: Using Multi-Genre Writings to Study Overlooked Heros;” “Cinderella’s Prince Who? Looking at Resourceful Females in Multicultural Folk Literature;” “Putting Into Practice: Ecological Literacies for Classroom Instruction;” “Fostering Social Responsibility Through Inquiry;” and “Wiki Writers: Students and Teachers Making Connections Across Communities.”

Please join us in Chicago on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, CC21, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.!   

"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. 

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. 

The Barbados Association of Reading (BAR) held their 5th Annual Conference in Christ Church, Barbados on December 2, 2011.

The conference was held at the Accra Beach Hotel in Christ Church and was declared open on December 1, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. by the Minister of Education of Barbados, Hon. Ronald Jones. The theme of the Conference was Differentiating Literacy and Numeracy Instruction for Diverse Learners, and it was comprised of various sessions including Differentiating Instruction presented by Dr. Sandra Robinson and Early Literacy Development presented by Ms. Darnell Wynn, president of the Bermuda Reading Association. Other topics included Strategies for Overcoming Challenges in Mathematics presented by Mr. Stuart Russell, and Using Graphic Organizers to Support Literacy presented by Dr. Ann Fergusson, the Committee for International Development in the Caribbean (CIDCAR) chair, on behalf of IRA board member Dr. Karen Bromley. There were a total of 153 conference attendees, several sponsors from Barbados, and a few representatives from IRA including Dr. Brenda Overturf, an IRA board member.

At the CIDCAR business meeting on December 1, members each reported on the various activities carried out by each of their associations over the course of 2011. They also discussed various issues—including membership recruitment, membership retention, and conflict resolution—and shared their goals for 2012.

CIDCAR was pleased to welcome a new member, Mr. Felix Henderson, a popular DBS radio personality on the Island of Dominica, who in collaboration with the Ministry of Education hosted a successful National Reading Competition to inspire children to “Read Today, For Tomorrow.” CIDCAR hopes to establish a new IRA national affiliate in Dominica this year. 

On Saturday December 3, the IRA staff, in conjunction with the Chair for CIDCAR, organized a full day lea

The main focus of the leadership workshop was to facilitate and encourage collaboration between the councils and affiliates in the Caribbean and to encourage the leaders to work on literacy leadership and capacity building activities for their organizations. The leadership workshop also included modules on membership development, a guide to IRA’s online resources and a presentation on Leadership and Succession by Dr. Overturf.dership workshop. In attendance were representatives from Barbados, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the CIDCAR Chair Dr. Ann Fergusson from Barbados, IRA Board Member Dr. Brenda Overturf, and two IRA Global Operations staff members: Amy Kushner and Elizabeth Ndungu. 

The workshop featured an interactive session on work plan development goal setting, with a focus on creating strategic goals. Affiliate leaders shared ideas and discussed ways to develop their affiliates and the Caribbean region as a whole. The CIDCAR members were also urged to take advantage of and to publicize the various online tools and resources available to IRA members.

Photo captions: 

During the Leadership Workshop, Allison Lewis (representative from Trinidad and Tobago) and Beverly Harris of Jamaica (incoming CIDCAR chair) present their goals.

Committee for International Development in the Caribbean (CIDCAR) members, IRA board member Dr. Brenda Overturf, and IRA staff Amy Kushner and Elizabeth Ndungu.