Literacy Now

Today we announce with great sadness to all of our members, councils, and affiliates the passing of Kent Williamson, Emeritus Executive Director of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). We extend our sincerest condolences to the Williamson family and to everyone at NCTE.

Kent was a gracious person, a great colleague, and a tremendous leader. Many of our board members and staff had occasion to work with him on various projects over the years. His was a strong commitment to the collaborative action that unites literacy professionals in finding new ways to enhance classroom instruction and advocate for the resources to reach the most needful students and school districts.

Kent believed that capacity building was critical to our common efforts. He saw a future in which local professional learning communities disseminated and digested the latest literacy research, and in which mentoring drove pedagogical enhancements that have the greatest impact on student learning. He also understood that professional development must be ongoing.

Under Kent’s leadership, NCTE launched initiatives in mentoring, online learning, and collaborative advocacy, including the National Center for Literacy Education (NCLE). He had a great appreciation for the work of other literacy associations and thrived on communal exchanges. He was always happy to share the insights of his experience and to make connections for others, and he did so with great generosity.

In this mournful moment, we offer our condolences to Barbara Cambridge, NCTE's Interim Executive Director; Kathy G. Short, President, NCTE; the NCTE Board of Directors; and to all the staff at NCTE. Our hearts are with you all. We share your loss, and we stand ready to assist you in any way we can in the days to come.

Great challenges lie ahead for literacy professionals, as do important opportunities. We know that Kent would be counting on us to keep our collaboration strong.

In Grateful Memory,
The International Literacy Association Community

The Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy (JAAL) is a rare publication focused on the literacy education of older learners. It offers effective classroom-tested ideas rooted in research and theory that are proven to enhance the educational experience of adolescents and adults. Open access podcasts continue the conversations by offering interviews with authors of JAAL’s feature articles.

JAAL coeditors Emily Neil Skinner and Margaret Carmody Hagood ask authors about their inspirations, their educational foundations and expertise, and the impact of their research findings. Podcasts highlight key findings from each article along with ideas for instruction, reviews of resources, tips on creating a multimedia classroom experience, and commentary on current literacy news. Consider them an audio alternative when reading the journal isn’t possible, such as during a commute or workout.

As a supplement to its articles, the JAAL podcasts are intended to motivate educators to challenge themselves and their students through the applications of new and invigorating education techniques to enrich the classroom experience. JAAL articles are available to nonsubscribers for rent or purchase through Wiley Online Library. ILA Members can subscribe to JAAL for access to all issues back to 2004.

The International Literacy Association has officially elected a new vice president and three Board of Director positions for the upcoming 2015-2018 term.

Beginning his term as vice president is William H. Teale, professor, University of Illinois at Chicago. Teale has served on the Board of Directors since 2011. In addition, he has worked with ILA in a number of ways focused on early literacy, as well as working on the Common Core State Standards Committee and as a co-department editor for The Reading Teacher. He’s a contributor to both RT and JAAL.

“Today’s literacy educators are adjusting to increasing globalization, digital changes to the nature of literacy and what needs to be taught in the classroom, and shifting community and governmental influences,” Teale said in his philosophy statement before this year’s election. “In realizing ILA’s strategic plan, my goal is to have ILA established as the world’s go-to thought leader on literacy—for teachers, for researchers, and for the public.”

Teale will assume the presidency of ILA’s Board of Directors in July 2016.

In addition to the new vice president, the board will also gain three officers. Their term runs from 2015–2018.

Gwynne Ash (@GwynneAsh)has previously been involved with ILA as a department editor for the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy and has worked on several committees, including the Children’s and Young Adult Book Award committee. A professor at Texas State University, Ash has been published in journals including Reading and Writing Quarterly and The Handbook of Reading Research. She believes that “effective professional development regards teachers as knowledgeable professionals,” and advocates for meaningful literacy policy. Ash is also a Jeopardy! champion.

As a reading specialist for Chesapeake Public Schools in Chesapeake, Virginia, Catherine Collier (@Wiseowlcathy) believes in “taking a stand for literacy throughout the world by providing teacher training, education and support to the highest degree.” Her blog, The W.I.S.E. Owl, is dedicated to literacy and emergent students. Collier has served as president of the Chesapeake Reading Council, as well as president of the Virginia State Reading Association. She is a regular contributor to Literacy Daily.

Rachel Karchmer-Klein (@RKarchmerklein) is an associate professor at the University of Delaware. As a former elementary school teacher and reading specialist, her research interests lie in practical applications of technology into the classroom. She’s published several articles on technology use in education and has previously been a member of the advisory board for ReadWriteThink.org and the editorial review board for The Reading Teacher. She believes in fostering collaborative relationships between stakeholders to ensure that educational policies can reflect the realities of the classroom.

The ILA extends its best wishes to the newly elected officers.

Morgan Ratner is ILA’s communication assistant.

Educators often talk about choice in the classroom and how it can make all the difference in encouraging lifelong readers. Having titles for every taste at hand can be hard, so as we kick off Children’s Book Week, let 12,500 students from around the United States help narrow down your offerings.

The Children’s Choices program, a joint venture of the International Literacy Association and the Children’s Book Council, launched in 1974 and this year offers 100 favorite titles narrowed from more than 600.

The top vote-getters in the Beginning Readers category (ages 5–8) are Duck, Duck, Moose! (Disney-Hyperion), Eva and Sadie and the Worst Haircut EVER! (HarperCollins), Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and Dance (Candlewick), How to Babysit a Grandma (Knopf Books for Young Readers), and A Pet for Fly Guy (Orchard/Scholastic). Young readers (ages 8-10) favored Claude at the Beach (Peachtree), The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza (First Second), Happy Birthday, Babymouse (Random House Books for Young Readers), Kali’s Story: An Orphaned Polar Bear Rescue (Arbordale), and Sisters (Graphix). Advanced readers (ages 11–14) chose The Dumbest Idea Ever! (Graphix), Ice Dogs (HMH Books for Young Readers), Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods (Disney-Hyperion), The Return of Zita the Spacegirl (First Second), and Temple Run: Race Through Time to Unlock Secrets of Ancient Worlds (National Geographic Society)as their favorites.

Choices voting is broken down by U.S. regions and is run by team leaders who coordinate book distribution and voting by students. In addition to the children’s list for school-age kids, there is also a Teachers’ Choices list and a Young Adults’ Choices list—more children’s and YA books chosen by, you guessed it, teachers and teens.

ILA is looking for team leaders for all of its Choices programs (Children’s, Teachers’ and Young Adults’). For more information, contact ILA’s Executive office.

 

The International Literacy Association is planning its first-ever 30 Under 30 list—a way to honor the new generation of literacy trailblazers and rising stars committed to increasing literacy rates, transforming classrooms, helping communities, and changing lives. We want to hear their stories—and we want you to tell us about them.

 

This is not just for educators—we’re also looking for up-and-coming administrators, authors, librarians, students, volunteers, advocates—anyone dedicated to literacy and making a difference. Those selected will be featured in the September/October issue of Reading Today and across ILA’s platforms. They will also be invited to participate in upcoming activities that support our shared cause. 

“This new generation of champions plays a critical role in the future of literacy at a time when the literacy landscape is evolving rapidly,” said Marcie Craig Post, Executive Director, International Literacy Association. “For that reason, we are eager and honored to be able to highlight the important contributions and commitment of these leaders through what will become our annual 30 Under 30 list.”

Visit literacyworldwide.org/30under30 to find out how to send in your nominations. All nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 21, 2015. E-mail 30under30@reading.org if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

We look forward to embracing a new generation of literacy leaders!