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    Empowered Students Through Empowered Teachers: Confronting Social Issues in the Classroom With Current Events Panel Speaker Nikole Hannah-Jones

    By Alina O'Donnell
     | Jun 12, 2017

    Nikole Hannah-JonesAlthough school boards and state legislatures mandate how to teach history and current events, as well as how to define concepts such as race, discrimination, and social justice, teachers are the ones who hold the power to contextualize, connect, and give meaning to these lessons.

    Where does the lesson begin and where does it end? Can we—and should we—teach students how to apply these ideas outside of the classroom?

    According to Nikole Hannah-Jones, an investigative reporter covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine, these conversations—however difficult—are critical.

    “It’s important to teach students about the real world,” says Hannah-Jones. “Not just phonics and math, but how to think, to process, to examine the larger society.”

    In the United States, escalating racially motivated violence has spurred many educators to stretch the boundaries of their curricula and engage their students in inclusive conversations about their own racial identities and experiences.

    At the ILA 2016 Conference & Exhibits, which took place just days after the Alton Sterling shooting in Baton Rouge, LA, and the Dallas, TX, murder of several police officers gunned down in a seemingly retaliatory effort, educator Cornelius Minor engaged attendees in an impromptu conversation to demonstrate how teachers should talk about emotionally charged and controversial topics. Minor, lead staff developer at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, hoped to model how many educators feel leading these conversations in the classroom: underprepared and uncomfortable.

    Minor’s standing room–only session inspired ILA to add a new Current Events Panel to the 2017 Conference & Exhibits lineup. “Disrupting a Destructive Cycle: How Literacy Drives Social Change,” moderated by Hannah-Jones and emceed by Minor, will include panelists Monita K. Bell, senior editor of Teaching Tolerance; Deborah S. Delisle, executive director and CEO of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; Zareen Jaffery, executive editor of Salaam Reads; Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, assistant professor in the Literacy, Culture, and International Education Division at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education; and Gene Luen Yang, (U.S.) National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

    After delivering a short keynote at the ILA 2017 event, Hannah-Jones will moderate a discussion that includes exploring the more expansive and evolving definition of literacy—particularly because she sees digital literacy and political literacy as key agents of civic engagement and social change.

    “We have focused so much on literacy in terms of how well someone can perform on a test, but it’s also about your ability to exercise your rights as a citizen and to participate fully in democracy,” she says. “A hallmark of segregation is that it disenfranchises and allows us to ignore large swaths of communities that don’t have the political acumen to fight for their rights, and don’t understand what their rights are.”

    Earlier that day, attendees can learn more about these issues at a special screening of Teach Us All, a documentary on educational inequality and the resegregation of America’s schools set against the backdrop of the 1957 Little Rock, AR, school crisis. Hannah-Jones was interviewed for the project by the film’s auteur, Sonia Lowman, and appears throughout. A brief discussion facilitated by ILA Board member Stephen Peters will follow the film.

    The documentary resonates with Hannah-Jones, whose latest book, The Problem We All Live With (expected to be published in 2019), examines the history of school segregation in the United States and argues that the public school system was not designed to deliver an equal education to black students and white students.

    Hannah-Jones is a firm believer in literacy as the foundation of all learning.

    “From spending time in classrooms in high-poverty, racially isolated schools, I can tell you that if you don’t have a strong foundation in literacy, there’s no way you can catch up,” she says. “You can’t do well in any of your subjects if you don’t have strong literacy.”

    Hannah-Jones says she hopes that educators who attend will leave with a set of tools they can use to facilitate constructive conversations and empower their students to promote social justice.

    “I hope that they will gain some insights on how to think about literacy and push for the supports that their students need,” she says. “But also how to talk about these inequalities with direct language and a clear-eyed understanding of what the problems are and the solutions should be.”

    She encourages those planning to attend the panel to prepare themselves by practicing introspection and reflecting on the stereotypes that inform their own biases.

    “Teachers first have to deal with addressing biases and racial anxieties they may have themselves,” Hannah-Jones says. “It’s important to teach students to be tolerant, but that’s difficult to do if the teachers themselves [hold biases].”

    To learn more about the Current Events Panel, visit the ILA 2017 Conference & Exhibits app.

    Alina O’Donnell is the editor of Literacy Daily.

    Although school boards and state legislatures mandate how to teach history and current events, as well as how to define concepts such as race, discrimination, and social justice, teachers are the ones who hold the power to contextualize, connect,...Read More
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    #ILAchat: Harnessing the Power of Literacy for Social Change

    Clare Maloney
     | Jun 06, 2017

    June 8 ILA ChatWe’re nearly halfway through 2017, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned so far in this politically and socially tumultuous year, it’s that we have the power to create change—and that change starts with discussion. Educators are prominent leaders of these discussions, explaining history and current events to students and helping them to find their voice. This week’s #ILAchat will explore how educators can approach this task as well as introduce a new event that will take place at this year’s ILA 2017 Conference in Orlando, FL.

    Inspired by an impromptu discussion that occurred at last year’s conference, this year ILA will host a Current Events Panel entitled Disrupting a Destructive Cycle: How Literacy Drives Social Change. Investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones will moderate this provocative conversation that will raise questions about complex social issues. How do we begin to address the underlying anxiety and implicit bias that make these conversations necessary? What role can literacy play in creating more positive social outcomes?https://d.adroll.com/cm/index/outhttps://d.adroll.com/cm/n/outThe event will be emceed by Cornelius Minor, who facilitated an on-the-fly discussion at last year’s conference that raised awareness about the need for more discussions like these.

    Our next #ILAchat on June 8, at 8:00 p.m. ET, is the perfect place to start the conversation. Follow @ILAToday to join José Vilson (@TheJLV) and Michael Hernandez (@cinehead) to discuss how to address social change and justice through literacy.

    José Vilson is a middle school math teacher in New York, NY. He graduated with a MA in computer science from Syracuse University and an MA in mathematics education from the City College of New York. He is the founder of EduColor, a coalition of teachers, parents, and other concerned citizens dedicated to the uplift of people of color in education. He has served as a board member on the Board of Directors for the Center for Teaching Quality and is also a committed writer, activist, web designer, and father.

    Michael Hernandez is an author, speaker, and cinematic arts and broadcast journalism teacher. He has an MFA in film production from Loyola Marymount University. He has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator, a PBS Innovator, a Google For Education Certified Innovator, and JEA National Broadcast Adviser of the Year. His passion for digital storytelling continues to be fueled by the authentic projects his students create, which have a real impact on their community.

    Join us on Thursday, June 8, at 8:00 p.m. ET as we continue this invaluable conversation and prepare for the panel at the ILA 2017 conference in Orlando.https://d.adroll.com/cm/n/out

    Clare Maloney is a former intern at the International Literacy Association. She is currently seeking a BA in English from the University of Delaware.
    We’re nearly halfway through 2017, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned so far in this politically and socially tumultuous year, it’s that we have the power to create change—and that change starts with discussion. Educators are prominent...Read More
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    Byron V. Garrett, ILA General Session Speaker, on the Importance of a Home–School Connection

    By Lara Deloza
     | May 30, 2017
    Byron Garrett

    Throughout his long and storied career, Byron V. Garrett has worn many hats. School principal. Community advocate. Policy advisor. Author. Consultant. Strategist.

    His cross-sector journey—which includes everything from serving as CEO of the National (United States) Parent Teacher Association to his current role as director of Educational Leadership & Policy for Microsoft—has afforded him a unique perspective on the field of education. And where he chooses to focus his attention is transforming education through meaningful family engagement.

    It’s a topic that resonates with Garrett on a personal level. He saw firsthand how low levels of family involvement can stunt a child’s learning potential when one of his nephews—the son of Garrett’s incarcerated older brother—fell two years behind.

    That’s when Garrett realized how important it was to rethink the scope of the family.

    “It’s not just a mom or dad who are responsible for the education of young people,” the Scholastic author says. “We actually have a collective and shared responsibility, whether you’re a business exec, a faith-based leader, a community partner, or whether you work for the district or the school system. We all have a role to play in improving the lives of young people and definitely making sure they get a quality education.

    “But we also know,” he adds, “that it starts from home.”

    It’s this mind-set that led him to found the National Family Engagement Alliance (NFEA), a nonprofit dedicated to helping educators and families forge partnerships that support a student’s academic success.

    “Parents have access beyond the bell to help shape what a student does or does not learn beyond the actual classroom,” Garrett said in an interview with EdSurge. “It’s great to have families as a partner in the education process.”

    That home–school connection, he maintains, is the best way to help kids “define, work toward, and accomplish their goals.” Strong guidance from parents, guardians, and educators provides an equally strong foundation for empowerment.

    In one of his parent-focused columns for The Huffington Post, Garrett urges families to reach out to their child’s teacher to create a “joint plan for greatness.”

    “You’re not going to do this alone,” he writes, “and as a lifelong educator, I know that your child’s teacher would love to help your child achieve their full potential.”

    Garrett encourages those same teachers to make sure families are not only given a seat at the table, but also welcomed there.

    “Family engagement empowers a child to identify and become their best self,” he says.

    It not only allows them to work toward greatness in the classroom, but it also allows them to recognize the greatness within themselves.

    Lara Deloza is the senior communications manager at ILA.

    Byron V. Garrett will speak during Closing General Session of the ILA 2017 Conference & Exhibits on Monday, July 17. For more information, visit ilaconference.org.

    Throughout his long and storied career, Byron V. Garrett has worn many hats. School principal. Community advocate. Policy advisor. Author. Consultant. Strategist. His cross-sector journey—which includes everything from serving as CEO of the...Read More
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    What Federal Education Budget Cuts Mean for Professional Development

    By Alina O'Donnell
     | May 26, 2017

    professiona-developmentAmong massive cuts to science, arts, healthcare, and social welfare programs, President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal, submitted to Congress on Tuesday, calls for a whopping $9.2 billion spending cut to education.

    The largest proposed cut—at $2.3 billion—would come from the elimination of the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants, or Title II of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title II is the key federal funding stream that districts use to recruit, train, support, and compensate their teacher workforce.

    With such a huge loss of funding, districts would have to make difficult decisions about where to cut corners. Professional development, often viewed as a luxury instead of a necessity, is usually the first to go.

    During an appearance on EduTalk Radio this week, International Literacy Association (ILA) Associate Executive Director Stephen Sye explained that criticism of professional development often comes because it can be a vague term that can take on a myriad of forms, making it difficult to correlate with student achievement. 

    “There are a number of educators who feel that if the budget continues to be reduced, professional development will be eliminated. Unfortunately that does nothing but hurt our [future] workforce,” Sye said during the interview. “A less prepared teacher results in a less prepared student and ultimately a less qualified workforce.”

    Sye discussed the implications of the budget cuts with host Larry Jacobs. He said that as federal funding streams dry up, organizations like ILA will play an increasingly important role in ensuring that all students have access to current, prepared, high-quality teachers.

    “No matter what the climate, ILA is going to continue to advocate for making teachers better teachers because that’s what our students deserve,” said Sye.

    Budget cuts will hit some schools hard. Organizations like ILA can level the playing field by making professional development resources more accessible to all educators. ILA publishes journals, books, position statements, and other resources on evidence-based strategies that have been proven effective in classrooms.

    “If we as a nation are truly committed to quality education, then the cutting-edge practical resources on instruction that ILA provides are going to be more needed than ever,” Sye said. “What we offer in terms of knowledge is research based and is sound practice, no matter what the political climate brings.”

    The organization also offers free registration to the ILA 2017 Conference & Exhibits for undergraduate preservice teachers. Participants can attend presentations by literacy experts, hands-on curriculum-building workshops, TED Talk-style lunches, literacy research sessions, and the social justice and current events panel.

    But, Sye said, programming is only one part of the picture; having the opportunity for face-to-face networking and collaboration is the most valuable part of any conference. As districts start to reexamine and streamline their professional development budgets, Sye hopes they will continue to recognize these interactive learning events as a worthwhile investment.

    “Without investing in teachers and quality professional development, how are they going to be current and prepared, and how are our students going to be current and prepared?” 

    Alina O'Donnell is the editor of Literacy Daily.

    Among massive cuts to science, arts, healthcare, and social welfare programs, President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal, submitted to Congress on Tuesday, calls for a whopping $9.2 billion spending cut to education. The largest proposed cut—at $2.3...Read More
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    Embracing the Unknown With ILA General Session Speaker Enrique C. Feldman

    By Colleen Clark
     | May 25, 2017
    Enrique Feldman

    Enrique C. Feldman’s goal was to develop his potential more fully when he left his position as professor of music and education at the University of Arizona (UA) in 1997. It was a comfortable, secure job, but he felt there was a greater purpose for him.

    That idea got its start when he took an early childhood music education class during his undergraduate time at UA and was enthralled by the energy of the 3- to 7-year-olds

    “That experience kept calling me over the years,” Feldman says. “I also became a dad, [which] completely immersed me into the world and the imagination of the child. I became fascinated with how young children learn.”

    And so a man with an undergraduate in music and two master’s degrees in music education and conducting and performance departed UA in search of ways he could get involved in education in a more holistic sense—going beyond teaching music to educating the whole child.

    The result: Feldman is now the founder and director of education for the Global Learning Foundation (GLF), a play-based and research-based organization that offers professional development for schools and organizations of all types. At GLF, Feldman has taken everything he’s learned over the years—from music and composition to improv and play—and channeled it into a literacy learning approach that values engagement, connection, energy, and community. He promotes trusting your instincts and knowing when to take risks, authentic learning and frameworks, and building what he calls “Possibility Culture.”

    Now, helping others develop their full potential is a large focus for Feldman, who already wears many hats, including music composer, producer, and author of Living Like a Child: Learn, Live, and Teach Creatively (Redleaf), Sam the Ant, a new children’s book series he’s cowriting with his 22-year-old daughter, and iBG, Intellectual Brainwave Games, which improve cognition and patterning and reduce stress.

    Come July, he’ll add a new title to the list: ILA 2017 Opening General Session speaker. And the theme of the session, Literacy Reimagined, couldn’t be more in tune with Feldman’s story.

    Read the open access March/April issue of Literacy Today for just a peek at what you can expect from Feldman, in his own words.

    Colleen Patrice Clark is the managing editor of Literacy Today.

    Enrique C. Feldman will speak at the Opening General Session of the ILA 2017 Conference & Exhibits on Saturday, July 15. Attendees can also experience more of his brain games and improv techniques at his session, “Preparing the Brain and Body for Learning and Literacy,” on Sunday, July 16, and at the ILA Power Hour Lunch on Monday, July 17. 

    Enrique C. Feldman’s goal was to develop his potential more fully when he left his position as professor of music and education at the University of Arizona (UA) in 1997. It was a comfortable, secure job, but he felt there was a greater purpose...Read More
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