Conference Information

2021 CONFERENCE PRELIMINARY PROGRAM  ~  Download the PDF!

Thousands of literacy advocates, educators, and researchers will gather from October 19-20, 2021 for the 53rd Annual IRC Conference, Rockin' Through the Pages, at the Bank of Springfield Center, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, and the Wyndham Hotel in Springfield, Illinois. Join IRC as we welcome and plan to learn from the below list of diverse featured speakers who will help teachers, specialists, and administrators from every grade-level and content area.

With the move of the conference due to COVID-19, IRC is sad to announce that some of the featured speakers were not able to make the new dates work for their schedules including Lucy Calkins, Sonja Cherry-Paul, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Jason Reynolds, and Brian Selznick.  The good news is that Sonja Cherry-Paul, Jason Reynolds, and Brian Selznick will be joining us at the next conference planned for March 10-11, 2022.

For October 2021, IRC is very excited to announce that the following speakers are able to join us and the updated Preliminary Program will be available soon!

Blue Balliett Jeffrey Brown Debbie Diller Lynne Dorfman Alison Gordon Jacob Grant Carol Jago Brendan Kiely Penny Kittle Donalyn Miller Raúl The Third Pernille Ripp Jan Richardson John Schu Matt Tavares Lauren Tarshis Becky Anderson Wilkins Ibi Zoboi 2021 Illinois Reads Authors

• Registering? Pre-register for the 2021 IRC Conference by returning the Registration Form by Mail/Fax or on the secured Online Conference Registration System. Please note that early registration with discounted prices ends on September 5, 2021! On-site registration is recommended for those registering after October 1, 2021. Please note that the meal functions require pre-purchased tickets and will not be available for purchase on-site. Individuals who need special accommodations must make specific requests in writing to the IRC Office at least three weeks prior to the conference. Please take a moment to read the complete General Conference Information Policy.
  
  
• Not an IRC Member?  Join IRC today for $45 and receive the member conference rate.  This is a savings of $30 off the non-member registration rate!
  
  
• Interested in Group Rates? Discounted rates are available for groups of 10+ participants. For more information, please see the Group Registration Form.
  
  
• Housing Reservations? Special rates have been negotiated at Springfield area hotels. To obtain these special rates, reservations must be made directly with the hotels either by phone or online by August 15, 2021. The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau will be providing a complimentary shuttle service from the off-site hotels to the Bank of Springfield Center. Downtown Springfield also has many public parking options that cost anywhere from $5 to $10 a day to park.
  
  
• Order a Conference Shirt? Preorder your shirts by August 15, 2021! Conference Shirts can be placed online or by mail/fax. Only preorders will be available for pick-up at the IRC Conference at the Registration Area in the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, Illinois. Shirts will not be available for purchase at the conference.
  
  
• Interested in PD Clock Hours? Forms for PD Clock Hours will be available at the conference in your Final Program Book.
  
  
• Interested in Volunteering? IRC is looking for volunteers to work at the 2021 IRC Conference in the registration booth, at conference events, and in many other areas. If interested, please take a moment to fill out the Conference Volunteer Form by mail or the online volunteer form by August 15, 2021. Thank you! Your help is much appreciated!

For more information, contact us at [email protected].