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    IRA Central: Your One-Stop Shop for the Bookstore, Membership Area, and IRA Theater

    by Chelsea Simens
     | May 02, 2014

    IRA CentralWith so many awesome activities jam-packed into the IRA 2014 Conference it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, lost, or torn about where to go and what to attend. Well fret no longer! This year, for the first time ever, the IRA debuts IRA Central!

    But what exactly is IRA Central? It’s your one-stop shop that combines the bookstore, membership area, IRA author signings, and sessions in the IRA Theater.

    IRA Bookstore

    The bookstore offers so many great deals you’ll never want to leave. When the bookstore opens at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9, you can purchase select books at a discount and get the first crack at the official IRA merchandise. There’s also member pricing for everyone, meaning all regularly priced books will be sold at member price…20% off! If you don’t want to wait in line you can use Order Express which allows you to purchase books with FREE shipping and no sales tax.

    Don’t forget to use your Bookstore Bucks! They are in the IRA Coupon Booklet and can be used at the Bookstore.

    IRA Author Signings

    The following IRA authors will be signing their latest books at IRA Central. Here is the book signing schedule:

    Saturday, May 10

    Sunday, May 11

    Monday, May 12

    IRA Theater

    IRA CentralNew this year! These IRA authors will present on topics from their recent and upcoming books in this unique theater built into IRA Central. Here is the IRA Theater schedule:

    Saturday, May 10

    • 10:00-11:00 a.m. – Timothy Rasinski, Valerie Ellery, Lori Oczkus, & Danny Brassell (The Art of Ending Your School Year Literacy Strong)
    • 11:30-12:30 p.m. – Doug Buehl (Tracking Argumentation as Readers)
    • 1:00-2:00 p.m. – Jennifer Scoggin (Reclaiming Your Happiness in the Classroom)
    • 2:30-3:30 p.m. – Mark Weakland (Learning to Turbocharge the Basal: A True Story)

    Sunday, May 11

    • 10:00-11:00 a.m. – Jennifer L. Altieri (Creating Powerful Content Connections)
    • 11:30-1:00 p.m. – Tony Stead & Sylvia Pantaleo, with Diane Barone & Marla Mallette (The Importance of Children's Literature - Authors of Articles Published in The Reading Teacher Share Ideas)
    • 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Ruth Culham (Psst…Want to Become a Writing Thief?)
    • 3:00-4:00 p.m. – Cathy A. Toll (Enduring Essentials of Literacy Coaching)

    Monday, May 12

    • Monday, May 12, 10:00-11:00 a.m. – Michelle J. Kelley & Nicki Clausen-Grace (Teaching Students to Effectively Read and Write Informational Texts)

    IRA Membership

    At IRA Central’s Membership area you can become a member or renew your membership during the conference for a chance to win the daily Golden Ticket, worth $100, that can be used towards your purchase at the IRA Bookstore. Discover IRA’s new benefit, IRA Bridges: Instructional Units for the Engaging Classroom and pick up samples of Reading Today and our peer-reviewed journals, The Reading Teacher, the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, and Reading Research Quarterly. Like what you see? Take a few steps to easily add a journal subscription to your membership. For each journal added, you’ll receive bonus Bookstore Bucks that can be used at the IRA Bookstore.  

    IRA CentralAs if that’s not enough, you can also receive discounted member insurance programs at the Membership area on Saturday. Here you can learn more about IRA's Member Insurance programs, with savings on a range of plans, including professional liability insurance.

    We’re thrilled to announce the new, streamlined IRA Central and hope you enjoy all of its benefits. Make sure that IRA Central is on your itinerary for IRA 2014!

    Chelsea Simens is a strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association. 

    With so many awesome activities jam-packed into the IRA 2014 Conference it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, lost, or torn about where to go and what to attend. Well fret no longer! This year, for the first time ever, the IRA debuts IRA Central! But ...Read More
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    #IRAchat: Gearing Up for #IRA14

    by Chelsea Simens
     | May 01, 2014

    It’s almost here! Are you getting excited for the International Reading Association 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans? Do you still have questions about which sessions to attend or how to make the most of your conference experience? Well, you’re in luck! We’re hosting an #IRAchat focused on helping you gear up for #IRA14. Join us on Thursday, May 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CST.

     5-8 IRAchatOur host for the evening will be international speaker and education consultant @iChrisLehman. He’ll be guiding the discussion and seeking your input on what you’re looking forward to and what you hope to get out of your time in New Orleans.

     Even if you’re unable to join us physically in New Orleans, this chat will be the perfect opportunity to make connections with your peers who are making the trip. All are welcome to chat and we know there will be plenty of resource sharing and excitement to go around.

    To get a better idea what you can expect, check out the highlights of some of our previous #IRAchats and get ready to dive right in!

    Stopping the Summer Slide

    Motivation & Engagement with Book Clubs

    Project Based Learning

    How to Chat

    To join the conversation, you can simply search for the #IRAchat hashtag in Twitter. If you’re unfamiliar with Twitter, you can learn how to get started and make the most of your experience by reading “Harnessing the Educational Power of Twitter.”

    We look forward to chatting with you on Thursday and please feel free to tweet us with any questions you may have. Just use the #IRAchat hashtag in your tweet and we will do our best to help you with any advice or Twitter troubleshooting.

    Chelsea Simens is a strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association. 

    It’s almost here! Are you getting excited for the International Reading Association 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans? Do you still have questions about which sessions to attend or how to make the most of your conference experience? Well,...Read More
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    Tweet Suite Offers Sweet Deets: Greetings, Meetings, and Tweetings

    by Chelsea Simens
     | Apr 29, 2014

    Tweet SuiteWhether you’ve been chatting online, in person, via carrier pigeon, or through Morse code, now’s your chance to actually connect with friends old and new at the IRA 2014 Tweet Suite.  Located in the Exhibit Hall in Booth #1056, the Tweet Suite is a space dedicated to social gatherings at this year’s conference. Over the weekend you can attend everything from Tweet & Greets to Meet & Eats.

    Not on Twitter? Not a problem! Being on Twitter isn’t a prerequisite—everyone’s invited to join in on the fun. Experience ten different chances to expand your personal learning network (PLN) by linking up with fellow educators and forging professional friendships that will last long after the conference has ended.

    First Timers’ Sessions (Sat./Sun., 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.)

    If you’ve never attended the conference then you should definitely check out one of the “First Timers’ Sessions,” where you can score insider tips for how to make the most of your time at IRA 2014.

    Primary and Mid-Level Tweet-Ups (Sat./Sun., 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.)

    Chat and link up with fellow IRA attendees at the “Primary Teacher’s Tweet & Greet,” hosted by Lyssa Sahadevan (@lyssareads) and Heidi Butkus (@HeidiSongs).The “Mid-Level Educators Tweetup” will be hosted by Julie D. Ramsay (@JulieDRamsay), author of our popular “Plugged In” column.

    Empowered Teacher Tweet-Up (Sat., 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.)

    Rub elbows with Jennifer Scoggin (@MrsMimiTeaches), author of upcoming book Be Fabulous: The Reading Teacher’s Guide to Reclaiming Your Happiness in the Classroom (IRA, fall 2014), atMrs. Mimi’s Empowered Teacher Tweetup.” Join in on this informal gathering to meet and mingle with colleagues who are every bit as fabulous as you are.

    Edcamp Literacy Follow-Up (Sun., 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.)

    Still thinking about the people you met at Edcamp Literacy? Or maybe you missed out and want to learn more about this exciting format. Either way, make sure you attend the “Edcamp Literacy Tweetup” where you can meet the Edcamp Literacy organizers, hear a recap of from  Edcamp Literacy “unconference” event on Friday, May 9,and follow-up brainstorm around IRA’s inaugural Edcamp event. Bring a friend, too! (There is still room to register for this event at www.iraconference.org/edcampliteracy.)

    IRA to ILA Town Halls (Sat./Sun., 3:00 p.m. to 3: 45 p.m.)

    Curious about the switch from IRA to ILA (International Literacy Association)? Join us at the “IRA Town Halls” for an informal Q & A to learn about the many exciting changes at IRA and see what we are up to and where we are headed as we move forward with our new strategic initiatives. IRA’s Executive Team will be on hand to answer your questions and solicit your feedback.

    Meet & Eats (Sat./Sun., 4:00 to 5:00p.m.)

    After the day’s excitement winds down head on over to the “Meet & Eat.” Whether you traveled alone or with friends, any and all are welcome to grab a bite, socialize, and discuss. Then, make plans to grab some grub with educators as hungry for children’s literature as you are! Already have dinner plans? Swing by and connect with future lunch companions. Perfect for solo travelers! Book lovers especially should check out Sunday’s YA Lit Lovers Meet & Eat, hosted by the Crazy Reading Ladies, Mary Cotillo (@allincotillo) and Erin O’Leary (@allinoleary).

    The Tweet Suite is one of two places in the Exhibit Hall that boasts free Wi-Fi (the other is the Digital Classroom, Booth #1010), so it’s a convenient place to get a boost to your device’s Internet speed outside of the Wi-Fi-friendly meeting rooms and common areas. So come on and make the most out of IRA 2014 and check out the new Tweet Suite.

    Chelsea Simens is a strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association. 

    Whether you’ve been chatting online, in person, via carrier pigeon, or through Morse code, now’s your chance to actually connect with friends old and new at the IRA 2014 Tweet Suite.  Located in the Exhibit Hall in Booth #1056, the Tweet Suite...Read More
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    Edcamp Literacy: An “Unconference” Opportunity at IRA 2014

    by Jonathan Hartley
     | Apr 24, 2014

    EdcampWill you be in New Orleans on Friday afternoon but are not attending an Institute? Are you looking for a new, interactive way to share a professional development experience will fellow literacy educators? The International Reading Association (IRA) is leaping into the “unconference” movement with the launch of Edcamp Literacy at IRA’s 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans. The free Edcamp Literacy event will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m on Friday, May 9, 2014 in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

    What Is an Edcamp?

    An Edcamp is a participant-driven professional development session where the attendees have the power to set the agenda and drive the discussion. Educators create the agenda on the spot and facilitate discussions based on what topics are important to them. Edcamp Literacy attendees will be asked to jot down their name and some topics they’d like to discuss on a sticky note that’ll be posted on a wall. IRA hosts will be on hand to help organize the topics into conversation strands, and attendees will take it over from there. Everyone is encouraged to share their knowledge and expertise.

    How to Register

    Edcamp Literacy attendance is open to any K–12 classroom teacher who registers to take part in this fully customizable event, but be warned that space is extremely limited. To reserve your slot (and sticky notes!), register at www.iraconference.org/edcampliteracy.

    The First of its Kind

    “The Edcamp Foundation is thrilled to see the International Reading Association be the first organization to adopt the Edcamp format for a portion of its national conference,” says Edcamp co-founder Dan Callahan, a K–5 instructional technology specialist and now chairman of the Edcamp Foundation’s board of directors. “They demonstrate a forward-thinking commitment to providing free and democratic professional development for all interested educators who wish to attend.”

    IRA is presenting this event to provide educators with the agency to get the information they need in a forum that they control. Tori Bachman, IRA’s content acquisitions manager, explains, “IRA is committed to helping teachers advance their professional learning and practice in whatever formats they choose. We hope Edcamp Literacy will be an exciting way to continue that tradition: You decide what you want to learn about, and you and your colleagues learn from each other.”

    To stay up to date on news about the event, follow the #EdcampLiteracy hashtag on Twitter and feel free to add your own voice to the excitement as our time in New Orleans draws closer.

    Edcamp Literacy is filling fast, so register today at www.iraconference.org/edcampliteracy.

    Jonathan Hartley is the social media strategist at the International Reading Association. 

    Will you be in New Orleans on Friday afternoon but are not attending an Institute? Are you looking for a new, interactive way to share a professional development experience will fellow literacy educators? The International Reading Association...Read More
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    Research Sessions in New Orleans

    by Chelsea Simens
     | Apr 21, 2014
    Timothy Shanahan
    Timothy Shanahan gives the
    Research Address

    Every day presents a new opportunity to explore literacy research at the International Reading Association (IRA) 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans. Enjoy Featured Research sessions, Research Into Practice sessions, poster sessions, and our annual Research Awards with an address by Timothy Shanahan.

    Friday, May 9

    9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
    IRA Research Institute
    The IRA Research Institute is already sold out! The day-long program co-chaired by Maureen McLaughlin and Kathy Headley features keynotes by Richard Allington (struggling readers), Claude Goldenberg (English learners), James Bauman (vocabulary), Linda Gambrell (motivation), Nell Duke (reading comprehension), Timothy Rasinski (fluency), Linnea Ehri (phonemic  awareness and letter knowledge), and Katherine Dougherty Stahl (phonics).

    Saturday, May 10

    11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
    The IRA Literacy Research Panel: Evidence-Based Practices for Literacy Education(Poster Session)
    This poster session features updates from the CCSS-aligned LRP interdisciplinary units (IRA Bridges) that have been implemented in classrooms during this school year, newly approved interdisciplinary units, research presentations by LRP members, and articles from the LRP on Reading Today Online. Virginia Goatley and John Guthrie chair the session.

    • Elizabeth Ann Flens Avila, Kathleen C. Perencevich, Sean Hennigan, and Ellen Kaplan share an overview of a fourth grade unit integrating literacy and life science through the Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI) program.
    • Debbie Linville, Leni Fragakis, and Liz Green share details about the Exploring our Natural Resources Interdisciplinary Unit for Grades 1–2.
    • Ana Taboada Barber, Leila Nuland Richey, and Melissa Gallagher present on Integrating American History with Literacy Practices for English Learners in Inclusive Settings.
    • Elizabeth Birr Moje provides information about Teaching Students and Teachers Disciplinary Literacy: Studying a Novel Teacher Education Program.
    • Diane Bottomley, Kimberly Beal, and Peggy Sue Rice present The Capital Gains of Student Learning: The Impact of a Third Grade Economics Interdisciplinary Unit.
    • Peter Johnston and Gay Ivey share insights on The Consequences of an Engagement Focus in Reading based on two studies.

    1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
    The IRA Literacy Research Panel: Policy Issues and Research
    In this session, panelists Bill Teale, Virginia Goatley, Peter Freebody, and Patricia Anders will join moderator Peter Afflerbach in a discussion of teacher education, credentialing, and teacher assessment.

    1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
    Summer as a Teachable Moment: Addressing the Primary Source of the Rich/Poor Reading Achievement Gap (Featured Research Program)
    Presented by Richard L. Allington and Anne McGill-Franzen, this session focuses on the primary source of the rich/poor reading gap, namely educators’ general failure to see summer vacation as a teachable moment. Research shows that summer reading and ease of book access are central to closing the achievement gap and that summer reading loss accounts for about 80% of the gap. Moreover, access to books during the summer varies significantly between low and middle income children. Guidance will be offered to attendees on what needs to be done to address the access problem and counter summer reading loss.

    1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
    Leveraging Technologies for Learning (Poster Session)

    2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
    IRA Outstanding Dissertations (Poster Session)

    3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
    Research Address and Awards
    The 2014 IRA research awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 10. Co-Chair and IRA President Maureen McLaughlin introduces Timothy Shanahan, the research keynote speaker, who will present, “Instructional Level Texts or Challenging Texts.” Co-Chair Diane Barone, former IRA Board Member and current co-editor of The Reading Teacher, introduces the award recipients. This year’s awards include IRA Albert J. Harris Award, IRA Dina Feitelson Research Award, IRA Jeanne S. Chall Research Fellowship Award, IRA Steven A. Stahl Research Grant, IRA Helen M. Robinson Research Grant, IRA Teacher as Researcher Grant, IRA Outstanding Dissertation Award, IRA Elva Knight Research Grant, IRA Esther Zolt Academic Research Grant, and IRA Esther Zolt Teacher Research Grant. Information on the criteria for nominee qualification and the vetting process used to determine recipients of these awards can be found at /grants.

    Sunday, May 11

    11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
    The IRA Literacy Research Panel: Priorities for Literacy Policy and Practice
    In this session, members of the LRP address national and international priorities for literacy policy and practice. Peter Johnston and P. David Pearson chair the session.

    11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
    Becoming a Teacher Researcher: Exploring IRA’s Teacher as Researcher Grant (Research Workshop)
    Chaired by Laura Pardo, this session, which includes Paula Saine as a speaker, provides information on IRA’s Teacher as Researcher (TAR) Grant, including how to navigate IRA’s TAR website and complete the application process. Attendees learn what it means to be a teacher researcher and how to conduct action research. Committee members are available to answer questions about the research process and the grant application. The following award winners from previous years will present findings from their projects, Nakeiha Primus, Claudia Fimpel, Shaun Eyre, and Elizabeth Edmondson.

    11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
    Thinking Differently About Differences in Learning (Poster Session)

    1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
    Meet the Researchers(Poster Session)

    3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Aiming High: From Secondary to Career (Poster Session)

    3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
    Choosing the Right Drivers for Whole School Changes in Reading Pedagogy (Featured Research Program)
    Three Australian educators, Gary Kilarr, Brian Cambourne, and Christine, describe how they implemented changes to the professional learning and literacy teaching culture in an isolated K–10 rural school in Tasmania. They consider the potential of collaborative teacher inquiry for creating a culture which enables teachers to identify “the teachable moment” in ways that enable all students to learn.

    3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
    What’s New in Language Arts Research? (Research Into Practice Session)
    This session begins with a brief overview of the third volume of The Handbook of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts. Authors seated at round tables will share chapter contents interactively with participants. Rotations occur every 20 minutes in order for participants to hear multiple papers. The session ends with a whole group discussion highlighting the round table exchanges and identifying suggestions for the next volume of the Handbook. Speakers include, Diane Lapp, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Nancy Roser, and Karen Wood.

    Monday, May 12

    11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
    Getting It Right From the Start With Young Learners (Poster Session)

    11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
    Research in the Making: From Literacy Framework to Literacy Practice (Research into Practice session)
    In an era characterized by increased accountability, federal legislation and resultant mandates have accentuated instructional leadership roles for school principals while focusing increased scrutiny on literacy. But the teachable moment of reading just doesn’t happen, it is created. Despite intense inquiry into literacy practices, scant research has been conducted identifying literacy leadership knowledge. Attendees of this session are part of research-in-the-making by completing a survey on literacy leadership. The speakers include Margaret-Mary Sulentic Dowell, Bonnie L. Hoewing, and Tynisha Willingham-Meidi.

    11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
    What’s New in Literacy Teaching? (Research into Practice session)
    This session presents current research on critical topics such as vocabulary, comprehension, text complexity, digital learning, and children’s literature. The focus is on teaching, on how to translate research findings into practical classroom strategies that work for today’s students. References are made to the IRA E-ssentials as topical resources. Speakers include Karen Wood, Brian Kissel, Jeanne Paratore, and Rachel McCormack.

    Don’t miss out on these opportunities to learn from influential and inspiring literacy research leaders! The International Reading Association 59th Annual Conference will be held Friday, May 9 through Monday, May 12, 2014 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Visit www.iraconference.org for conference details or to register.

    Chelsea Simens is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.

    Timothy Shanahan gives the Research Address Every day presents a new opportunity to explore literacy research at the International Reading Association (IRA) 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans. Enjoy Featured Research sessions,...Read More
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