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has been developed for IRC members to share information with
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opportunities. The
Illinois Reading Council is not responsible for, nor does it
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information provided on the IRC Message Board. The Illinois Reading
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information not related to literacy to the IRC Message Board. Messages will usually be posted within 24 hours of submission. Please fill out this form to post a message now!
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Posted 2/28/10
By Scotti Cohn
| As a judge for the Letters About Literature competition, I'm gaining insight into the reading/book preferences of children at various grade levels. I decided to blog about some of the impressions I'm receiving, and would love for any of you to chime in with a comment or observation of your own. My first blog entry on the subject is here: http://scotticohn.livejournal.com/33785.html. It is continued, and a link is provided. There will be several more entries as I read through the next two levels of letters. I thought this might be of interest to other IRC members, and I feel my blog readers would certainly benefit from insights and comments on the subject by IRC members besides myself.
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Posted 2/27/10
By Lawrence Kenney
| World Congress on Reading Tour
There has been a comprehensive tour planned of New Zealand and Australia following the World Congress on Reading in Auckland during July 2010. The 14 day tour will begin at the close of the Congress on July 15. Pilgrim Tours is in charge of all arrangements for land and air as announced in the recent issue of Reading Today. For details, Tim Nyce at Pilgrim Tours can be contacted tnyce@pilgrimtours.com. He can also provide a website containing the complete itinerary. Academic credit for Congress participation can be arranged. I would appreciate your assistance in making this information known to all members of the Illinois Reading Council. Deadline for tour registration is in early April. The tour is open to all interested persons. Thank you, Dr. Larry Kenney, Tour Leader
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Posted 11/5/09
By Deborah Snow Humiston
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Students from five Chicago Catholic schools learned how to write poetry
from nationally known poet and musician Bruce Lansky, dubbed the “King
of Giggle Poetry,” at recent highly interactive and entertaining
workshops organized by DePaul University’s School of Education.
Equipped with his guitar and a wacky sense of humor, Lansky used
rhythm, rhyme and free verse to teach students how to write several
different kinds of poems. His school program featured interactive
activities such as poetry duets, poetry races, poetry mysteries and
poetry magic.
“He made all of us laugh and we couldn’t wait to get back to our
classrooms to write our own poems,” said Ruthie Owens, a fifth grader
at Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts in Lincoln Park.
DePaul students were on hand to assist with the workshops, which were
held at St. Alphonsus Church in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Participating were kindergarten through eighth grade students from
Alphonsus; Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School in Ravenswood;
St. Clement School in Lincoln Park; Immaculate Conception in Chicago’s
Old Town neighborhood; and Old St. Mary’s School in the South Loop.
The event was co-sponsored by DePaul, the Illinois Reading Council,
Alphonsus, Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School, St. Clement
School, Immaculate Conception School and Old St. Mary’s School.
DePaul has one of the largest schools of education in the Chicago area,
offering degree programs in early childhood education; elementary,
secondary and physical education; special education; world languages
education; bilingual/bicultural education; curriculum studies;
educational leadership; human services and counseling; and language,
literacy and specialized instruction
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Posted 10/7/09
By Jennifer Abate-Barrett
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Marion Lazan is the author of the book Four Perfect Pebbles: A Holocaust Story. Ms. Lazan is a holocaust survivor who has traveled the world sharing her story of tragedy, hardship, and hope. This event will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Carbondale, IL on Tuesday, October 20th at 7:00pm. The Southern Illinois Symphony will play two selections, including the theme from the film Schindler\'s List. Refreshments will be available following the presentation. This event is free to all and is co-sponsored by the Southern Illinois Reading Council.
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Posted 10/7/09
By Jennifer Abate-Barrett
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Our annual Fall Dessert Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15th at the Carbondale Middle School in Carbondale, IL. Our guest speakers will be teachers Crystal Anderson and Elaine Modene. The title of the presentation is "Daily 5 in the Classroom: Adapting the Work of the 2 Sisters." During our time together, Crystal and Elaine will share how this classroom management system provides an outstanding structure for daily literacy lessons. The target audience for this event is K-5 teachers and pre-service teachers! Desserts will be provided by SIRC from Larry\'s House of Cakes!! Individuals can RSVP Jennifer Abate-Barrett at jabatebarrett2@gmail.com. The event is FREE for SIRC members and costs $5 for non-members. Individuals can pay any fees at the door.
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Posted 9/18/09
By Scotti Cohn
| Event at Barnes & Noble in Bloomington to benefit Book Showers for Literacy
For those who live in the Bloomington-Normal area:
Saturday September 26, 2009
9am to 11pm
In partnership with Book Showers for Literacy, Barnes and Noble of Bloomington is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. Please join us for a day of events and entertainment. A percentage of your purchases will benefit the Books Showers for Literacy program in our community. (Please let cashier know your purchase is for the event.)
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Posted 9/10/09
By Barb Chrz-White
| Secondary Conference - 33rd Day of Reading - November 7, 2009
The Secondary Reading League invites you and your staff to attend the 33rd Day of Reading
WHAT: 33rd Day of Reading brought to you by the Secondary Reading League
FOR: Grade 6-12 teachers (content, exploratory, specials) and administrators
WHEN: Saturday November 7, 2009
WHERE: Holiday Inn Select & Convention Center, 18501 S. Harlem Ave., Tinley Park, IL
REGISTRATION FEE: Received before Oct. 31-SRL member $110, Non-member $145
Oct. 31through Nov. 4, SRL member $120, Non-member $155
Nov, 6 & 7 SRL member $130, Non-member $165
*On site registration - $175
CPDUs: 5
Team Discounts: Contact Terry by 10-15-09 for details...708-220-4544 or
tmchugh@dayofreading.org
Featured Speakers:
Sharon Draper, YA author: Copper Sun, Fire From the Rock, Jericho Trilogy
1997 National Teacher of the Year / Junior high & high school teacher over 30 years
National Board Certification in English/LA
Current - Board of the National Commission on Teaching & America‚s Future
Luncheon Address: Literacy, Laughter, and Learning
Workshop 1: Making Books Come Alive for Adolescent Readers
Workshop 2: Using the Past to Empower the Future-The Legacy of Hope & Possibility
Dr. Fabiola Ehlers-Zavala, Asst Prof ESL/Bilingual Ed, CSU
Author, Reading Strategies for Spanish Speakers
Co-dir/Center/Community Lit. Research & Outreach
Keynote: What Do Teachers of ELLs Need to Know About 2nd Language Reading?
Workshop 1: Academic Reading Instruction for English Language Learners (ELLs)
Workshop 2: How to Prepare to Provide Effective Reading Instruction to ELLs
Other Presentations Include:
Tech to Support Students‚ Reading Development *Co-Teaching: Monolingual & ELL Students
RtI Process *Reading and Writing to Learn: Engaging Students in All Content Classes
Best New Books for Young Adults *Literacy Instruction In Content Classes/a Coaching Model
Provide Effective Reading Instruction to ELLs *Content Reading in Diverse Classes with ELLs
For online registration/information go to: www.dayofreading.org
Contacts: Barb Chrz-White: bchrzwhite@comcast.net Terry McHugh: tmchugh@dayofreading.org
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Posted 9/10/09
By IRC
| Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White is urging students in grades 4-12 to enter the 2010 "Letters About Literature" contest, a national reading and writing contest sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Illinois Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Illinois Center for the Book in partnership with Target.
The program invites
4th - 12th grade students to read a book that interests them and
write a letter to the author explaining how the book changed their
view of the world or themselves.
The contest consists
of three competition levels - Level I for grades 4 - 6, Level II for
grades 7 & 8 and Level III for grades 9 - 12. One state winner is
chosen for each level. State Level winners receive a $50 Target gift
card, a check from the Illinois Center for the Book and a plaque at
an awards ceremony. State level winners' letters are forwarded to
the National competition where six national winners (two at each
level) and twelve national honorable mentions (four at each level)
are selected. Each of the six national winners receive a $500 Target
gift card along with a $10,000 grant for their school or community
library for reading promotion for children and young adults. The
national honorable mentions will receive a $100 Target gift card and
a $1,000 grant for their school or community library.
Students can enter
Letters About Literature through their schools, youth programs,
libraries or individually. The entry form and
guidelines are available at http://illinoiscenterforthebook.org.
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Posted 8/14/09
By Scotti Cohn
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Would you like to win a free, autographed copy of my new book It Happened in Chicago? Head on over to my blog and answer the questions for Quiz #1. If you get them all right, you\'ll be entered in a drawing for the book.
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Posted 2/12/09
By IRC
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Visit the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) website for the latest information on:
- Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award
- Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Children's Choice Award (voting ends at Midnight on February 28th!)
- Rebecca Caudill Award Illinois' Children's Choice Award, Grades 4-8 (the 2010 list is availabe at www.rcyrba.org)
The latest nominees and book lists are available now!
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Posted 11/17/08
By Carol Owles
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10. Get free pizza and free teacher “stuff” at our annual Conference’s Pre-Service Teachers’ Pizza Party!
9. Can put your professional association with IRC on your vita.
8. Be eligible for reduced fee of $25 to attend our annual Conference.
7. Have opportunities to attend professional development workshops.
6. Get our IRA-recognized and prestigious journal, the Illinois Reading Council Journal.
5. Have networking opportunities with other literacy professionals and soon-to-be colleagues that may lead to future employment.
4. Meet children’s authors and other professional authors at conferences and events.
3. Meet face-to-face with some of the big “literacy gurus” in our profession.
2. Always have resources to help you.
And the #1 reason why you should join IRC is:
Learn more and have fun with other literacy professionals.
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Posted 8/31/08
By Elizabeth Goldsmith-Conley
Judy Barbour
Pamela Godt
Boomer Crotty
Fran Falk-Ross
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The Studies and Research Committee of the Illinois Reading Council is asking council members to help them create a list of good books for struggling readers in grades 5-12. To contribute to this list, go to the IRC webpage (www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org) and click on the link labeled Books for Struggling Readers. Respondents are asked to limit recommendations to books they have used personally and see really do engage such students as opposed to books about which they have only heard or read. Respondents may make up to five recommendations before exiting this survey.
IRC members who participate in this survey will have their names entered into a drawing for a $100 bookstore gift certificate. In addition two awards of $300 will be made to local councils. One award will be given to the council with the highest number of its members participating in this survey and the other will be given to the council with the highest percentage of participating members.
Announcements of the winners as well as a link to the bibliography that results from this survey will be posted on the IRC webpage in March 2009. We will also share our results at the IRC conference and in IRC publications.
Thank you for contributing to a project that we believe will be of real value to IRC members.
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