Special Interest Groups | International Literacy Association

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide a forum for literacy professionals to share information about specific areas and also serve as a resource for professional growth. Membership in these groups (listed below) is open to all members of the International Literacy Association.

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List of Special Interest Groups

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SIG Descriptions

Canadian SIG on Literacy

Canadian SIG on Literacy acts as a forum for communicating and discussing issues affecting literacy in Canada.
CARE: Concern for Affect in Reading Education

The CARE Special Interest Group encourages leadership, research, teaching, and discussion of issues dealing with reading affect, including attitudes, motivation, preferences, and responses to reading.
Children's Literature and Reading

The Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group is a community of individuals who have an abiding interest in the development of literacy and in promoting high quality literature. Our mission is to promote the educational use of children's books by focusing on recently published children's literature, supportive professional books, issues relative to children's literature, and current research findings. Membership typically includes Pre–K through 12 teachers, librarians, teacher candidates, administrators, university professors, authors and publishers.
College Literacy and Learning

The College Literacy and Learning SIG provides an exchange of ideas and techniques regarding teaching methods and assessment of students’ literacy and learning in two and four-year colleges and universities. The SIG evaluates the effectiveness of the programs, textbooks, and teaching materials used, encourages the adoption of specific qualifications for teacher educators, and serves as a resource for colleges and universities that are either implementing or improving literacy and learning programs for students.
District Literacy Leadership (DiLL)

Provide a professional community for professional educators who are interested in and concerns with district literacy leadership; provide a professional forum to explore the skills sets and knowledge district level administrators such as principals, assistant principals, curriculum directors, directors, and all levels of superintendents, should possess in order to make informed literacy decisions and for individuals to discuss literacy education, provide opportunities to explore and examine literacy leadership.
ILARI Partnerships

The ILARI Partnerships SIG was formed in 2007 to encourage members in ILA councils and RI clubs to work together in partnerships to create local, state/province, national and international literacy projects. To encourage and recognize the development of such partnerships, the Nea Stewart–Dore International Literacy Day Award, named after the late founder of the ILARI Partnerships SIG, was created in 2015.

The ILARI Partnerships SIG produces a semi–annual newsletter in the New Year and just prior to the annual conference of the ILA to inform our members of recent developments. The ILARI Partnerships SIG also submits a SIG session proposal for consideration for the annual conference of the ILA.
Language Experience Approach (LESIG)
The Language Experience: Literacy Across the Disciplines Special Interest Group (LESIG) is an organization for all members of the International Literacy Association (ILA) who are interested in the language experience approach and teaching and research on literacy at all levels across all disciplines. The purposes of LESIG are as follows
- To create a community of teachers and researchers of literacy who support and encourage the study of language experience approach and literacy at all educational levels
- To stimulate and promote research on literacy that studies the various factors that influence growth in literacy
- To support the development of teacher training at all levels
- To bring language experience approach and literacy to all stakeholders through presentations at the ILA annual conference and through the group's journal
- To act as a clearinghouse for information relating to language experience approach and literacy
- To disseminate knowledge helpful in the solution of problems related to literacy
- To provide local professional development in the study of literacy to enhance educators' and teachers' knowledge and skills
Leadership Educ. and Dev. for Educators in Reading (LEADER)

The LEADER Special Interest Group supports ongoing growth in leadership knowledge and expertise for reading/literacy professionals at all career stages.
Literacy and Social Responsibility

To study, understand & advocate for high quality programs which integrate community service, citizenship character education, appreciation for diversity, environmental stewardship and/or caring into the development of literacy across the curriculum. At last count there are 138 active members (+ a group of up to 39 new members) and at least 453 total SIG members. The name of the L-SR peer-reviewed eJournal is Literacy and Social Responsibility. The group has a Literacy & Service Recognition Award (for K–16+ students) and a Social Justice Literature Award (for award-winning books). The SIG was founded in 1995.
Mastery Learning

The Mastery Learning Special Interest Group brings together teachers, administrators, parents, students, researchers, and others interested in discussing ideas related to helping all students learn successfully in all schools. Please come and join us to discuss what has been done, and what we can do so all students learn well. Your ideas and experience can help improve our schools. We look forward to hearing from you.
Organization of Teacher Educators in Literacy (OTEL)

The OTEL (Organization of Teacher Educators in Literacy) Special Interest Group's purpose is to facilitate communication among its membership; provide a forum for debate and discussion of current issues regarding improvement of reading instruction; assist in the development of quality teacher education through recommendations for preservice and in-service program; stimulate research in reading and disseminate information regarding significant investigations; seek improved competence at all levels of reading instruction; and arrange conferences that will further the objectives of the organization.
Professors of Literacy and Teacher Education (PLTE)

The mission of PLTE is to provide a community for professionals who educate future teachers, including, but not limited to, university faculty and graduate students. We provide high-quality professional development for professionals who educate future teachers as well as a forum for discussing literacy education. Through our membership, we also offer a mentoring environment for professionals who educate future teachers.
Reading Disabilities

The Reading Disabilities Special Interest Group supports a community of literacy professionals inclusive of researchers, school-based educators, and administrators who are dedicated to improving the lives of readers with diverse abilities. The group focuses on disseminating knowledge about identifying and addressing the literacy needs of students with reading disabilities as well as promoting greater understanding of how these learners can become successful and competent readers and writers.