Illinois Reading Council

203 Landmark Drive, Suite B, Normal, Illinois 61761 Phone: (888) 454-1341 Fax: (309) 454-3512

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Take advantage of this networking opportunity and attend your local council activities! Share your expertise with other members in your area.

September

September 1, 2020: IRC Councils submit the Membership Grant to the IRC Membership Director.

September 1, 2020: IRC Councils order supplies for the Illinois Reads Family Literacy Night.

September 1, 2020: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Fall IRC Communicator.   Please send your information to the IRC Office.

September 2, 2020:  IRC Webinar on Word Study that Works with Tim Rasinski.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

September 2, 2020:  Illinois Valley Reading Council will host a special showing of the IRC Webinar featuring Tim Rasinski from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Morton Cinemas, 2115 South Main Street, Morton, Illinois.

September 2, 2020:  Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Timothy Rasinski at 8:00 pm via a virtual platform.

September 8, 2020: International Literacy Day is being celebrated by IRC.

September 12, 2020: Fox Valley Reading Council will will host a Book Talk with Kathleen March from Anderson's Bookshops and Bert Crossland from Heinemann from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm via a virtual platform.

September 15, 2020:  National Road Reading Council will host Let's Taco-Bout It at 7:00 pm via Zoom.

September 16, 2020:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host a Book Chat:  Writing Tools for Teachers with Pat Braun from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via Zoom.  Following the discussion, participants are asked to share a reflective response of the topic.

September 16, 2020:  West Suburban Reading Council will host Engaging Students and Teachers with Pear Deck for Remote Learning with Chris Sorrell from 7:00 to 9:00 pm via Zoom.

September 17, 2020:  Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host Celebrating the Global Read Aloud from 4:45 to 6:15 pm via Zoom.

September 23, 2020:  Will County Reading Council will host Fall Into A Good Book from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via Zoom. 

September 24, 2020:  Black Hawk Reading Council will host Literature and Laughter Yoga with Pat Braun from 6:30 to 7:30 pm via Google Meets.

September 24, 2020:  Northern Illinois Reading Council will host the Literacy Learning in Uncertain Times from 6:00 to 8:00 pm via Google Meets.

September 28, 2020:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Everday is the BEST Day Ever! with Adam Peterson from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.  Register online today!

September 2020:  Starved Rock Reading Council will host a Coffee Chat via an online platform.

October

October 1, 2020: IRC Councils submit the Council of Excellence Award requirements to the ILA State Coordinator.

October 1, 2020:  Prairie Area Reading Council will host Literacy as a Tool for Healing from Trauma from 6:15 to 7:30 pm via Zoom.

October 7, 2020:  IRC Webinar on History's Beating Heart:  Tools for Making Historical Figures Come to Life with Kate Hannigan.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

October 7, 2020: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Kate Hannigan at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

October 7, 2020:  East Central-EIU Reading Council will host a special showing of the IRC Webinar featuring Kate Hannigan from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Auditorium, 1920 9th Street, Charleston, Illinois.

October 10, 2020:  Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will host a Round Table Discussion for the 2nd in the Series:  Sharing the Burden at 9:00 am via Zoom.

October 14, 2020:  West Suburban Reading Council will host a Book Gossip with Kathleen March from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via Zoom.

October 15, 2020:  Illinois Reading Council will close registration for the IRC Book Club.

October 15, 2020:  Will County Reading Council will host a Virtual Meet with Liesl Shurtliff from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via Zoom.

October 26, 2020:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Equipped for Reading Success with David Kilpatrick from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.

October 27, 2020:  National Road Reading Council will host Interactive Read Aloud Across the Curriculum at 4:30 pm via Zoom.

October 2020: Starved Rock Reading Council will host a Wine and Book Tasting.  More information will be available soon.

November

November 1, 2020: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

November 1, 2020: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Winter IRC Communicator. Please submit your information to the IRC Office.

November 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020: Macon County Reading Council will host an Online Book Club on Raising Kids Who Read -- What Parents and Teachers Can Do via Google Classroom. 

November 7, 2020:  Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host Building a New You:  Development to Your Destine with Allen J. Bryson from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm via Zoom.

November 10, 2020:  East Central-EIU Reading Council will host Literacy Strategies in the Content Areas via a virtual platform.

November 11, 2020:  IRC Webinar on Using Poetry to Expand Content Knowledge and Structure Informational Text with Clare Landrigan.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

November 11, 2020: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Clare Landrigan at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

November 12, 2020:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host the Day of Reading from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm via a virtual platform.

November 13, 2020: IRC Executive Committee Meeting will be held online via Go to Meeting.

November 14, 2020: IRC Board of Directors Meeting will be held online via Go to Meeting.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

November 14, 2020:  Fox Valley Reading Council will host An Innovative Approach to Reading and Writing with Maria Walther and Karen Biggs-Tucker from 9:00 to 10:30 am via a virtual platform.

November 15, 2020: IRC Councils deadline to submit the Council Audit Form.

November 15, 2020: IRC Councils deadline to submit the IRS e-Postcards.

November 19, 2020:  Family Reading Night is an annual statewide event sponsored by Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian, and the Illinois Center for the Book at the Illinois State Library that encourages families to spend quality time reading together.  Free bookmarks and posters are available to participating organizations. The IRC’s ILLINOIS READS Program has partnered  with the Secretary of State’s Family Reading Night since 2013.  Plan now to create a Family Reading night program in your area.  For the annual theme, material order forms and programming ideas, visit the Family Reading Night webpage.

November 28, 2020: ILA Exemplary Reading Program Award deadline.

December

December 1, 2020: IRC deadline for Council Program (Speakers) Grant applications.

December 2, 2020:  IRC Webinar on Inspiring Lifelong Readers with Jon Scieszka.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

December 2, 2020: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Jon Scieszka at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

December 3, 2020:  Prairie Area Reading Council and Anderson's Bookshops will host the Illinois Reads Relaunch Party at 7:00 pm via a virtual platform.

December 5, 2020:  Illinois Title I Association (ITA) will host How to Do MTSS/Special Education During This Time at 9:00 am via Zoom.

December 12, 2020:  National Road Reading Council will host Stories with Santa at 10:00 am at the Effingham Pubic Library,  200 N 3rd Street, Effingham, Illinois.

December 15, 2020: ILA Honor Council materials are due electronically to ILA. 

December 15, 2020: ILA Local Council Community Service Award submissions are due.

December 2020: West Suburban Reading Council will host a Blog & Book Club on Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain with Zaretta Hammond via a virtual platform.

 January

January 6, 2021:  IRC Webinar on Dark, Absurd Humor...for Dark, Absurd Times with Crystal Chan.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

January 6, 2021: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Crystal Chan at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

January 14, 2021:  Will County Reading Council will host an Author Discussion with Joelle Charbonneau on her latest book, Disclose, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via a virtual platform.

January 15, 2021: IRC election ballot sent to IRC members.

January 15, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will close registration for the IRC Book Club.

January 15, 2021:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) is accepting nominations for the Gene Cramer ICARE for Reading Award to honor an outstanding educator who shows concern for the affective domain of reading and who strives to promote lifelong reading habits among students.  The award will be given at the annual IRC conference.

January 21, 2021:  Prairie Area Reading Council will host the Book Gossip with Kathleen March from 6:15 to 7:30 pm via Zoom.

January 25, 2021:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Maslow Before Bloom with Bryan Pearlman from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.

January 29, 2021: IRC Executive Committee Meeting will be held online via Go to Meeting.

January 30, 2021: IRC Board of Directors Meeting will be held online via Go to Meeting.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

January 29-30, 2021:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host the 1/2 Price Book Sale at the Capital Area Career Center, 2201 Toronto Road, Springfield, Illinois.  The sale will run from 4:00 - 7:00 pm on Friday and from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday.

January 2021:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host an event with Carol Jago via a virtual platform.

February

February 1, 2021: IRC Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

February 1, 2021: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Spring IRC Communicator. Please submit your information to the IRC Office.

February 1, 2021: IRC election ballot must be submitted online.

February 3, 2021:  IRC Webinar on Discovering the 2021 Illinois Reads Books with Becky Anderson.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

February 3, 2021: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Becky Anderson at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

February 6, 2021:  Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host Literacy is a Political Act with David Stovall from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm via Zoom.

February 15, 2021: IRC Councils - Sign up for the Hall of Councils Display at the annual IRC Conference.

February 19, 2021:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) is accepting applications for Student Conference Stipends for education majors who attend the IRC Conference.  Applicants must be full-time education majors attending a college or university in Illinois.  Up to ten $100 stipends will be awarded.  Winners will be notified by email by February 21st.

February 22, 2021:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Teaching in a Post-COVID Classroom with Grace Stevens from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.

February 27, 2021:  East Central-EIU Reading Council and National Road Reading Council will host the Literacy & Learning Conference from 8:15 am to 12:20 pm at Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Auditorium, 1920 9th Street, Charleston, Illinois. 

February 2021:  Will County Reading Council will host the Spring PD Event from 5:00 to 8:30 pm at Lewis University, 1 University Parkway, University Dining Room, Romeoville, Illinois.


March

March 1, 2021: ILA Celebrate Literacy Award verifications are due.

March 1, 2021: IRC Officers, Committee Chairs, Regional Directors - Submit Officer, Committee Chair, and Director reports for Annual Meeting to the IRC Office.

March 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021: Macon County Reading Council will host Literacy and Technology Lesson Sharing via Google Classroom.

March 3, 2021:  IRC Webinar on The Power of Wordless Picture Books with Matthew Cordell.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

March 3, 2021: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Matthew Cordell at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

March 11-12, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will host the 53rd Annual IRC Conference, Rockin' Through the Pages, in Springfield, Illinois.  Please take a moment to peruse the online Conference Preview!  Registration and housing will reopen online on August 15, 2020.

March 11-12, 2021:  Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) will host the ICARE Strand at the IRC Conference.

March 11-12, 2021: Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host an IRC Strand at the IRC Conference.

March 11, 2021:  College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP) will host the CIRP Reception and Board Meeting at the IRC Conference.

March 12, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will hold the Annual Membership Meeting at the IRC Conference.

March 13, 2021:  Illinois Reads Book Festival will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Springfield, Illinois.  Everyone is invited to the celebration of the 2021 Illinois Reads Program.  Many authors will be present, bring your books, and have them autographed at this event!  Books will also be available for purchase from Anderson's Bookshops.

March 22, 2021:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host A Fresh Look at Phonics with Wiley Belvins from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.

March 2021:  Secondary Reading League (SRL) will host an event with Neil Lesinski via a virtual platform.

April

April 1, 2021: IRC  Committee Chairs - Submit chair reports to the IRC Office.

April 7, 2021:  IRC Webinar on The Literacy Lessons I Learned from Hamilton with Penny Kittle.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

April 7, 2021: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Penny Kittle at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

April 15, 2021: IRC Council Officer and Committee Representatives are due to the IRC Office.

April 16, 2021: IRC Executive Committee Meeting at the IRC Office.

April 17, 2021: IRC Board of Directors Meeting, Destihl, 1200 Greenbriar Drive, Normal, Illinois.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

April 22, 2021:  Prairie Area Reading Council will host Made with Maxine & STEM Challenge with Ruth Spiro from 6:15 to 7:30 pm via Zoom.

April 24, 2021:  East Central-EIU Reading Council will host Book Talk at Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Auditorium, 1920 9th Street, Charleston, Illinois.

April 24, 2021: Chicago Area Reading Association (CARA) will host Strengthening the Core with Fluency, Vocabulary, and Language featuring Tim Rasinksi followed by breakout sessions on Vocabulary Instruction with Char Cobb and Literacy Instruction for English Learners with Kristin Lems.  This event will be from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at Chicago Literacy Alliance, 641 West Lake Street, Suite 200, Chicago, Illinois.

April 26, 2021:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host New and Notable Books with Becky Anderson Wilkins from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.

April 2021: Starved Rock Reading Council will host the 2021 Young Author Celebration.  More information will be available soon.

May

May 1, 2021: IRC Literacy Support Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2021: IRC International Literacy Grant applications are due.

May 1, 2021:  IRC Early-Career Teacher Recruitment Program applications are due.

May 1, 2021: IRC Council Relief Grants are due.

May 1, 2021: IRC deadline for submitting information for the Summer IRC Communicator. Please submit your information to the IRC Office.

May 5, 2021:  IRC Webinar on Making a Case for Reading Joy with Donalyn Miller.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

May 5, 2021: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Donalyn Miller at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

May 24, 2021:  Western Illinois Reading Council will host Teach Like a Pirate with Dave Burgess from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via a virtual platform.

June

June 1, 2021: IRC Council Program (Speaker) Grant applications are due.

June 2, 2021:  IRC Webinar on Literacy as the Foundation of Democracy and Justice with Samira Ahmed.  IRC will be offering the 2020-2021 Webinar Series for members only.  Each webinar begins at 7:00 p.m. Members who watch the live or recorded webinar can earn one PD clock hour.  Current members will receive the webinar registration link by email each month.  If you are not a current member, join online and email the IRC Office for webinar link.

June 2, 2021: Fox Valley Reading Council will host a Wired Webinar Discussion following the IRC Webinar with Samira Ahmed at 8:00 pm via Zoom.

June 15, 2021: IRC Prairie State Award nominations are due.

June 15, 2021:  Illinois Reading Council will close registration for the IRC Book Club.


July

July 1, 2021: IRC Officers take office.

July 6, 2021: IRC Executive Committee Meeting will be held at the IRC Leadership Retreat. For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or phone at 1-888-454-1341.

July 7, 2021: IRC Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the IRC Leadership Retreat.  For more information, please contact the IRC Office by email or by phone at 1-888-454-1341.

July 7-8, 2021: IRC Leadership Retreat will be held at the Grand Bear Resort in Utica, Illinois.  Local Council Officers, State Committee Chairs, Regional Directors, and Executive Officers will have access to a comprehensive training and team-building workshop series.  Please watch your email for more information.  Contact your local council leaders for information on how you can be more involved in your local council.


August

August 1, 2021: IRC Councils - Send local council meeting dates and Publicity Form to IRC Office.

August 1, 2021: IRC Committee Chair Report - Send committee goals, budget requests, and committee member's names, addresses, and phone numbers to IRC Office.