On Demand | International Literacy Association

On Demand

Reading Assessments That Promote Equitable Learning

Not all assessments are created equal. However, when formative assessments that focus on teacher and student engagement and high-quality reading instruction are prioritized, the process can be both humanizing and empowering. Join Laurie Elish-Piper, Mona W. Matthews, and Victoria J. Risko as they explore reading assessments created with an equity mind-set, making visible teachers’ decision-making and students’ strengths and needs. They will share samples of assessments that can be embedded in daily and authentic learning activities—assessments that account for the complexity of reading while also capturing students’ identities, cultural histories, knowledge, and lived experiences.

Registration: FREE FOR MEMBERS

New Voices in Children’s and YA Lit: Meet the 2023 ILA Award-Winning Authors

ILA’s Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards shine a spotlight on emerging authors who display unusual promise with their first or second publication. At this webinar, emceed by book awards chair Sonja Ezell, age-level subcommittee leads Miriam Martinez, Margaret Osgood Opatz, and Thu Anh Nguyen will sit down with some of this year’s winners for a robust discussion about their books’ contemporary relevance and universal themes, the importance of authentic and engaging texts, and the power that high-quality, diverse children’s literature holds to open our minds to the past, present, and future.

Who should register: Classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, librarians, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, and instructional leads

Registration: FREE FOR EVERYONE

Thank You to Our Event Supporters

FREE FOR EVERYONE

Backed by Research, Fueled by Results: Comprehension Lessons That Work

The right strategy at the right time can make all the difference in comprehension instruction. Join Lori D. Oczkus, best-selling author and literacy consultant, as she shares short, sharp minilessons designed to dramatically improve comprehension skills using any text and at any grade level. Each evidence-based lesson is powered by the “Fab Four” reciprocal teaching approach of predict, question, clarify, and summarize. Lori will share successful implementation models from schools around the globe and participants will leave loaded with ready-to-use resources, coaching tips, and ideas that can be implemented immediately.

Who should register: Classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, and instructional leads

Registration: $29.00 members | $35.00 nonmembers

Special pricing is available for groups of 5+, students, and individuals in countries with developing economies. Contact customerservice@reading.org for details.

Choosing Your Favorites: New Reader-Selected Books for Your Collections

In 2020, amid the global pandemic, the International Literacy Association (ILA) suspended production of the popular reader-selected Choices book lists. Three years later, the Children’s Book Council (CBC), our longtime Choices cosponsor, gave the project new life—and a new name.

In this webinar, meet some popular authors featured on the CBC’s inaugural Favorites Lists, as well as hear from CBC Executive Director Carl Lennertz on this fresh take on the classic (and beloved) resource. As an added bonus, the winners of the 2023 ILA Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards will be revealed by project chair Sonja Ezell.

Get ready—your to-be-read pile is about to get a whole lot taller!

Who should register: Classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, librarians, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, and instructional leads

Registration: FREE FOR EVERYONE

Thank You to Our Event Supporters

FREE FOR EVERYONE

Fact-Checking the "Science of Reading": Claims, Assumptions, and Consequences

Rob Tierney and P. David Pearson explore the validity of claims offered by scholars and policy advocates who align themselves with the “Science of Reading.” Specifically, they review key claims that have appeared in both scholarly and popular accounts of the “Science of Reading”—analyzing the evidence, reasoning, assumptions, and consequences associated with those claims.

Who should register: Classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, higher education faculty, principals and administrators, instructional leaders, legislators, school board members, parents, and the media

Registration: $29.00 members | $35.00 nonmembers

Special pricing is available for groups of 5+, students, and individuals in countries with developing economies. Contact customerservice@reading.org for details.

Using Literature to Promote Understanding, Empathy, and Global Citizenship

Literature has the power to open minds to new worlds, new understandings, and new possibilities. This free ILA Webinar, held in partnership with the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY), explores ways to leverage high-quality, global literature for powerful learning opportunities. Mónica Montañés (author of Different), Mari Kanstad Johnsen (illustrator of Bedtime for Bo), Paloma Valdivia (illustrator of Book of Questions) and Sara Lissa Paulson (translator of Book of Questions), whose books were named to USBBY’s 2023 Outstanding International Books List, will be on hand to discuss their work and how engaging young readers in world literature can help them become active global citizens.

Registration: FREE FOR EVERYONE

FREE FOR EVERYONE

A Step-by-Step Guide to Fluency Instruction in the Age of SOR

In this requested follow-up to the popular ILA Webinar featuring Timothy Rasinski and Chase Young, the longtime collaborators will dig deeper into methods for effective reading fluency instruction and interventions, providing step-by-step instructions for classroom implementation. This webinar will explore six evidence-based approaches, ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 3 instruction. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how these authentic, research-supported strategies yield better outcomes for students.

Who should register: Classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, and instructional leaders

Registration: $29.00 members | $35.00 nonmembers

Special pricing is available for groups of 5+, students, and individuals in countries with developing economies. Contact customerservice@reading.org for details.

Literature and Democracy: Children's Rights to Read

Looking for new ways to embed high-quality literature into your curricula? At this webinar, we’ll focus on the power of story and how you can advocate for Children’s Rights to Read. Speakers will highlight the 2023 Notable Books for a Global Society list, curated by ILA’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group, and demonstrate how the titles can be used for classroom instruction as well as pleasure reading. Topics include how to incorporate social-emotional learning, how to pair books and decodable texts in prescribed programs, and how to leverage these and other works of literature across content areas.

Registration: FREE FOR MEMBERS

Comprehension Skills That Grow Strategic Readers

Comprehension begins with a literal understanding of what’s being read, which relies heavily on students' background knowledge. In order to grow as readers, students must then develop skills and strategies that allow them to become active and critical consumers of text through authentic tasks and texts.

In this ILA Intensive, speakers will share research on the role that knowledge building plays in reading comprehension and new perspectives on how to teach those skills and strategies and offer concrete ideas for classroom application.

Takeaways include

Examples of structured dialogue that assess deeper levels of comprehension
Ideas for building knowledge and empathy using authentic texts and diverse books
Activities that encourage learners to connect new knowledge to their lived experiences
Ways to layer instructional approaches for more meaningful engagement and greater gains

Hosted by Alida Hudson, recipient of the ILA 2022 Timothy & Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award, the program features a keynote by Gina Cervetti and sessions from Lakeisha Johnson and Wayne Tennent.

Learn more about the speakers.

Who should register: Literacy coaches, reading specialists, classroom teachers, university faculty, and preservice educators

Registration: $79.00 members | $99.00 nonmembers

Special pricing is available for groups of 5+, students, and individuals in countries with developing economies. Contact customerservice@reading.org for details.

Sponsored in part by University of Cincinnati

Closer Reading for Deeper Learning

Close reading is a habit of mind good readers employ when reading complex text. In this webinar, Carol Jago, member-at-large on the ILA Board of Directors, and Nawal Qarooni, founder of NQC Literacy, will demonstrate how modeling the process of close reading with complex visual texts can open otherwise opaque literature for readers. They will introduce participants to the latest high-quality titles in children’s and adolescent literature that are sure to pique students’ interest, explore instructional moves that encourage analytical risk-taking, and demonstrate methods for kindling the love of reading while strengthening reading skills.

Registration: FREE FOR MEMBERS

Ringing in the New Year With Read-Aloud Activities

In this interactive workshop, attendees will be introduced to titles that have received recognition through the ILA 2022 Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards and, specifically, how these texts can be used during read-aloud activities that provide positive affirmations in the new year. Join Kenneth Kunz and Kia Brown-Dudley, president and vice president, respectively, of the ILA Board of Directors, as they explore how seamlessly social and emotional learning (SEL), language, and literacy can come together while celebrating both the new year and the diverse experiences and perspectives of students.

Registration: FREE FOR MEMBERS

The Impact and Influence of ILA National Recognition

Attracting teacher candidates in this competitive climate requires preparation programs to demonstrate both excellence and value. At this free webinar, learn how earning ILA National Recognition can do both—and help your program stand out from its competitors.

Hosted by J. Helen Perkins, chair of the ILA National Recognition Commission, the event will feature representatives from schools that have been successful in earning this achievement, as well as Diane Kern, cochair of the ILA Standards Revision Committee and a key architect of the ILA National Recognition Program.

Speakers will address

The benefits of earning ILA National Recognition
What it’s like to go through the process
How to determine if ILA National Recognition is right for your school
Ways to become a program reviewer

Participants interested in becoming a volunteer reviewer for the ILA National Recognition program will be invited to join breakout discussions to ask questions and get more in-depth information.

Who should register: Higher education faculty/coordinators interested in strengthening or expanding their specialized literacy professional or elementary teacher preparation programs; potential volunteer reviewers.

Has your program already earned ILA National Recognition or is it in the process of earning the seal of approval? This event is for you as well. Indicate your level of participation during the registration process, as well as any interest you have in networking with other recipients/current candidates.

Registration: FREE

FREE FOR EVERYONE

Fostering Literate Identities for Struggling Readers

Learn how to boost engagement, bridge foundational skills gaps, and foster confidence in readers who struggle through

Evidence-based practices that are responsive to the diverse and unique needs of readers
Literacy experiences that use authentic inquiry, multigenre text sets, and constructive conversations
Hands-on activities, digital tools, gamification, and easy-to-implement literacy strategies that empower readers

Join Frances L. Gonzalez-Garcia, literacy consultant and former teacher, reading specialist, and district-level ELA coordinator, for classroom-ready resources that create optimal literacy pathways—as well as tools you can use to create similar professional learning experiences in your school or district.

The ILA Resource Collection: Supporting Readers Who Struggle will be used to demonstrate core concepts. Owning the collection is not required, but it may enhance the participant experience.

Slides for Fostering Literate Identities for Struggling Readers (PDF)

Resources for Fostering Literate Identities for Struggling Readers (Google doc)

Registration: FREE

FREE FOR EVERYONE

Using Dungeons & Dragons to Scaffold Writing Instruction

Storytelling is central to the roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), and players who build and navigate in-game “campaigns” are essentially exercising their writing muscle. In this ILA Webinar, you’ll not only learn how D&D can be a powerful motivator for student writing but also leave with practical ideas for incorporating the fantasy world into your scaffolded writing instruction.

Speakers include:

Earl Aguilera
Maryanne Cullinan
Kade C. Wells
Rebecca West

This event was the third in a sponsored three-part series that ILA hosted in collaboration with Wizards of the Coast, who created a website specifically for educators with additional resources and a free D&D Afterschool Kit that contains everything you need to start a D&D club at your school or library.

You might also be interested in these other free webinars: Building Emotional Literacy Through Dungeons & Dragons and Leveling Up Reluctant Readers With Dungeons & Dragons.

Dungeons & Dragons is intended for ages 12+.

Registration: FREE

Sponsored by Wizards of the Coast

TM & © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

FREE FOR EVERYONE

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS SERIES

Leveling Up Reluctant Readers With Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) may require many-sided dice, but it’s the storytelling that fuels the game. Players create characters and work together to navigate fantasy worlds, developing literacy skills alongside of social, emotional, and cooperative ones. In this ILA Webinar, you’ll learn how to leverage the opportunities D&D provides to engage and motivate even the most reluctant reader, building the foundation for a lifelong love of reading.

Speakers include:

Alex Corbitt
Emily Rayner
Kade C. Wells

This event was the second in a sponsored three-part series that ILA hosted in collaboration with Wizards of the Coast, who created a website specifically for educators with additional resources and a free D&D Afterschool Kit that contains everything you need to start a D&D club at your school or library.

You might also be interested in these other free webinars: Building Emotional Literacy Through Dungeons & Dragons and Using Dungeons & Dragons to Scaffold Writing Instruction.

Dungeons & Dragons is intended for ages 12+.

Registration: FREE

Sponsored by Wizards of the Coast

TM & © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

FREE FOR EVERYONE

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS SERIES

Building Emotional Literacy Through Dungeons & Dragons

Ditch any outdated notions you have about Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). The fantasy roleplaying game’s mix of storytelling, strategy, and teamwork make it a powerful tool for building social-emotional skills. In this ILA Webinar, you’ll learn how school- or library-based communities can enhance D&D’s ability to boost players’ social-emotional and literacy learning and ignite their creativity and imagination. Speakers will also share ideas and tools for establishing a youth-led D&D club.

Speakers include:

Antero Garcia
Stefan McNinch
Lizz Simpson
Kade C. Wells

This event was the first in a sponsored three-part series that ILA hosted in collaboration with Wizards of the Coast, who created a website specifically for educators with additional resources and a free D&D Afterschool Kit that contains everything you need to start a D&D club at your school or library.

So much information was shared by attendees during this event that ILA created this resource round-up to accompany the video recording so that these helpful tips and recommendations would not be lost.

You might also be interested in these other free webinars: Leveling Up Reluctant Readers With Dungeons & Dragons and Using Dungeons & Dragons to Scaffold Writing Instruction.

Dungeons & Dragons is intended for ages 12+.

Registration: FREE

Sponsored by Wizards of the Coast

TM & © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

FREE FOR EVERYONE

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS SERIES

Censorship in School Libraries Across the Globe

The current censorship surge in American schools has drawn attention to the role of school librarians. However, efforts to control what materials young learners can consume extend beyond the United States. How are school librarians across the globe addressing challenges to access and intellectual freedom? How can what’s happening in the U.S. inform and be informed by the work happening beyond the country’s borders?

Join ILA and guests for a roundtable discussion on the critical role school librarians everywhere play in ensuring children’s rights to read. After the roundtable, participants can choose a breakout space to connect, share stories, and learn from one another.

Speakers include

April M. Dawkins, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Fredrik Ernerot, VP Association Operations at IASL; Master student in LIS at Uppsala University, Sweden
Valérie Glass, Certified Teacher Librarian, France
Lucy Santos Green, coeditor of School Libraries Worldwide
Danielle E. Hartsfield, Associate Professor of Literacy and Elementary Education at the University of North Georgia
Carol Jago, English teacher, associate director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA, and an ILA board member
Annette M. Kiberu, Librarian and Literacy Coordinator, Uganda; Member, ILA Board of Directors
Kenneth Kunz, Vice President of the Board of Directors at ILA; Founder/Director of For the Love of Literacy
Jennisen Lucas, K–12 District Librarian in Cody, WY; President of the American Association of School Librarians
Terry McHugh, Instructional Specialist, Edith M. Smith Middle School, Waukegan, IL, past-president Adolescent Literacy Interest Group
Molly Ness, Vice President of Academic Content, Learning Ally; Member, ILA Board of Directors
Julia E. Torres, Librarian, Denver Public Schools

Breakout topics include advocacy for families, caregivers, and communities; book access; disinformation; and more.

Registration: FREE

Free for Everyone

Tackling Tough Topics Through Middle Grade Literature

In this ILA Webinar, four middle grade authors—Barbara Dee (My Life in the Fish Tank), Supriya Kelkar (That Thing About Bollywood), Hena Khan (Amina’s Song), and Donna Gephart (Abby, Tried and True)—will discuss the importance of using fiction to introduce tough topics to middle grade readers as part of a moderated conversation led by educator Thu Anh Nguyen. This panel will cover social-emotional learning and how to address difficult subjects such as divorce, drug addiction, childhood cancer, and cultural identity in a sensitive way.

Digital Book Catalog

Reading Group Guides

Registration: FREE

Sponsored by Simon & Schuster

Free for Everyone

Writing Instruction That Grows Writers Through a Focus on Feedback and Process

Writers grow most when immersed in the messy process of writing. But holding instructional space for that complexity can be challenging. How can we plan intentionally for students to dive into their unique writing processes? How can we cultivate classrooms where students feel safe to struggle? What kind of feedback keeps them engaged in the work? In this ILA Webinar, Sarah M. Zerwin will explore strategies to focus students on the process of writing and their own growth rather than on perfect, polished final drafts.

Access is available on demand.

Registration: FREE

Sponsored by Heinemann

Heinemann

Free for Everyone

Disrupting Instructional Paradigms by Embracing Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

As adults, we know how expectations can affect the outcomes of our work. Sometimes we make assumptions about student abilities on the basis of one assessment or one summation from a previous educator. In this ILA Webinar, Glendaliz Martinez Almonte will discuss how teacher expectations directly affect student outcomes and also explore how to increase equity in education, address implicit bias, and have open dialogue about how we can change our outlook on student abilities.

For more information on culturally responsive teaching, click here.

Access is available on demand.

Registration: FREE

Sponsored by Curriculum Associates

Free for Everyone

Journey to a Student-Centered Classroom: Equitable Practices That Make a Difference

In this ILA Webinar, Towanda Harris will establish a rationale for determining and evaluating quality resources and practices for learners' varied concerns. Participants will learn how to determine students’ strengths and needs to make equitable instructional decisions that place students at the center of the learning. Ways to establish a path of checkpoints that help students reach their personal goals will be discussed, and strategies and tools that will help to ensure that daily instruction is being driven by the learner and not the resource will be shared.

Registration: FREE

Access is available on demand.

Sponsored by Heinemann

Heinemann

Free for Everyone

Book Access in the Post-COVID Era

As schools and libraries have closed because of COVID-19, book access is an even more pressing issue for students worldwide. Join host Molly Ness, creator of the End Book Deserts podcast, and Susan B. Neuman, Allister Fa Chang, and Karlos Marshall as they talk book access in homes, schools, and communities as well as impact on students. They will unpack the statistics around book access and explore why access is an issue of equity. Prepare to be inspired by the innovative people and programs who work to get books into the hands of children. At the end of this panel, you'll be ready to join in the fight to end book deserts.

This 60-minute webinar with interactive Q&A is free for everyone. Additional resources about ending book deserts can be found at http://literacyworldwide.org/endbookdeserts.

A recording of this event is available as an on demand webinar through Zoom, on YouTube, and on ILA's Facebook.

Access is available on demand.

Free for Everyone

How to Raise and Teach Anti-Racist Kids: A Virtual Town Hall

Join ILA, Kwame Alexander, and a panel of educators, authors, and activists for a discussion on how teachers and families can educate and empower kids to imagine and create a more just world. The panelists for the town hall are Cornelius Minor, Tiffany M. Jewell, Pam Allyn, Noni Thomas López, and Karyn Parsons.

The first half of the 90-minute event will focus on discussion with a live Q&A to follow.

A recording of this event is available on YouTube and on Facebook.

Please note: The event will have an ASL interpreter, provided through the support of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Access is available on demand.

Free for Everyone

Literacy Teaching in Turbulent Times

Anti-Black racism and the global COVID-19 pandemic are having an unprecedented impact on our students, our schools, and our profession. Please join us as Stand for Children's Jonah Edelman facilitates a frank conversation with Ernest Morrell and Nell K. Duke about the challenges and opportunities of teaching during an unsettling and uncertain time.

A recording of this event is available as an on demand webinar through Zoom and on ILA's Facebook.

Access is available on demand.

Free for Everyone

Responding to Writers, Responding to the World: Instruction That Centers, Celebrates, and Empowers Students

Educators need to be fluid through times of change, which can be challenging given the limits on their time and resources. In this ILA Webinar, Melanie Meehan and Kelsey Sorum share their framework for responsive writing instruction. Participants will learn how to shift agency from themselves to their K–5 learners—and feel empowered to make modifications to curriculum and instruction based on the academic, linguistic, cultural, and social-emotional identities and abilities of students. Guides and tools, applicable to remote and in-person settings, will be provided.

A recording of this event is available as an on demand webinar through Zoom, on YouTube, and on ILA's Facebook.

Access is available on demand.

Sponsored by Corwin Literacy

Corwin

Free for Everyone

Unpacking the Science of Reading:
A Conversation With the Editors of Reading Research Quarterly

What exactly is the science of reading (SOR), and why can't anyone seem to agree on what it encompasses?

These are the questions that led Amanda P. Goodwin and Robert T. Jiménez, editors of Reading Research Quarterly, to create a special digital issue of the journal devoted to SOR, bringing forth research perspectives on the polarizing topic.

Get a sneak peek at the special issue with the editors themselves, who will review key findings and reveal some of the more surprising discoveries they made along the way. Liisa Moilanen Potts, director of English language arts review for EdReports.org, will facilitate.

A recording of this event is available as an on demand webinar through Zoom, on YouTube, and on ILA's Facebook.

Access is available on demand.

Free for Everyone

"What Will We Say to Them Tomorrow?": Tackling Tough Conversations in the Classroom

Philadelphia educator Matthew R. Kay's Not Light, But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom provided practical, sustained strategies for talking about tough topics with students. In this interactive webinar, Kay demonstrates how his method can help teachers navigate conversations about current and emerging events as well. Guided prompts and a live Q&A round out the 60-minute session.

Access is available on demand.

Free for Everyone

What Should Equitable and Comprehensive Early Literacy Instruction Look Like in 2020 and Beyond?

Cozy up to a warm "fireside chat" hosted by Kenneth Kunz and Diane Lapp and featuring discussions with Susan B. Neuman, Patricia A. Edwards, Douglas Fisher, Sonia Cabell, Kia Brown-Dudley, Lisa Forehand, and Lesley Mandel Morrow. Participants will engage in a Q&A-style exchange facilitated by a team of regarded literacy experts and advocates at center stage who will reflect on the following question: What should equitable and comprehensive early literacy instruction look like in 2020 and beyond?

Access is available on demand.

Free for Everyone

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