Jan Burkins

Are you trying to take steps to incorporate the science of reading in your instruction? Jan Burkins is the co-author of Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom. We are excited to have her joining us at the 2023 conference so she can share more about the adjustments educators can make to align with the science of reading. Listen to Jan and co-author Kari Yates in their first podcast about Shifting the Balance here.

Nawal Qarooni

Nawal Qarooni is an educator, literacy coach, and writer who supports dozens of schools in a holistic approach to literacy instruction. Read more about her on the Heinemann website by clicking here. Her book, Family Literacy, will be out in February of 2023. Just in time for the conference! 

Kristin Ziemke

Kristin Ziemke is recognized as an international expert in literacy, inquiry and technology. She is a teacher, staff developer and co-author of Read the World: Rethinking Literacy for Empathy and Action in a Digital Age and Amplify! Digital Teaching and Learning in the K-6 Classroom AND she's going to be at the 2023 CCIRA conference! 

Charles R. Smith Jr.

Children's author Charles R. Smith Jr. will have several of his books at the 2023 CCIRA conference such as Bessie the Motorcycle Queen, Song for Jimi, Hoop Kings 2, 28 Days, Brown Sugar Babies, and I Am America. Here is a video interview of Charles from the Reading Rockets website. We can't wait to hear Charles speak in person and maybe get him to sign a copy of one (or all) of his books!

Here are just a few of the other CCIRA 2023 conference speakers and their books:

Aeriale Johnson - Currently working on Possibilities of Poetry with Clare Landrigan! Look for it coming from Stenhouse Publishers!

Clare Landrigan - Assessment in Perspective, It's All About the Books

Sarah Zerwin - Pointless

Ruth Ayres - Enticing Hard to Reach Writers

Dr. Don Vu - Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater - Poems Are Teachers: How Studying Poetry Strengthens Writing in All Genres, Read! Read! Read!, Write! Write! Write!, If This Bird Had Pockets: A Poem In Your Pocket Day Celebration, With My Hands: Poems About Making Things, Forest Has A Song, That Missing Feeling

CCIRA Literacy Conversations

Charles R. Smith Jr.

Cornelius Minor

New podcast alert!! Look for podcasts from Charles R. Smith Jr. and Cornelius Minor coming out this month!! There are several other editions already posted too including Whitney La Rocca, Krista Griffin, Melanie Conklin, Pernille Ripp, Gordan Korman, and more!  Click the button below and listen in!

Remember to check out the CCIRA Blog!

Reading CCIRA.blog every week—perhaps over lunch or a cup of coffee—builds a quick dose of professional learning into your routine. Who knows what ideas or inspiration this might spark!

CCIRA.blog features a wide variety of nationally renowned literacy experts, as well as talented practitioners from across Colorado. Check out the posts on https://ccira.blog/  

There is a new post from author and 2023 conference speaker Nikki Grimes titled The Portals of Poetry. Click the link provided above and read it today!

If you might be interested in submitting a guest post to CCIRA.blog, please contact Hollyanna Bates (hollyannabates@gmail.com).

CCIRA is a non-profit organization that works to empower literacy educators. As a non-profit organization, we appreciate support in a variety of ways:

• Donate
• Support a Conference Scholarship Opportunity
• Leverage fundraising programs to earn CCIRA money
• Volunteer with CCIRA

Click on the video to see how to join RaiseRight: 

CCIRA Partners in Empowering Literacy Educators

TOP REASONS TO PARTNER WITH CCIRA

• Over 2000 conference attendees will learn about your partnership with CCIRA.
• Our 1300+ members will see your support on our webpage.
• Visitors to the CCIRA website will learn about your organization and its events.
• Our combined support of literacy will impact students across our state and neighboring states.

Meet Members of the

CCIRA Executive Committee!

Rebecca Hoover- CCIRA Secretary

Hello CCIRA Educators! My name is Rebecca Hoover, and I am excited to be chosen as Secretary of this great organization for the next 3 years! I just completed my fifth year in education. I have taught Title 1 Intervention, and third grade, as well as environmental education at the Denver Zoo seasonally for several years. I am a Colorado native and grew up in the Lakewood, Belmar area but currently reside and teach in Greeley where I went to the University of Northern Colorado (UNCO). I graduated in 2017 Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies Elementary Education along with minors in Special Ed and Reading. I look forward to looking into a master's program and seeing how my career continues! I am a huge Disney fanatic and connect heavily with the optimism of Dory. As she just keeps swimming, swimming, swimming I hope CCIRA educators just keep reading, reading, and reading. For now, I’m very happy to continue teaching third grade and taking on this new role with CCIRA!

It was during my time at UNCO, where I was leading several student clubs as well as the Kappa Delta Honor Society, that I met professors who introduced me to CCIRA! I have been hooked on the fabulous mission of CCIRA ever since! I quickly became involved in the Early Career Network of CCIRA on my campus as we attended the conference together and upon graduation joined my local council leadership in Weld county. As co-president and president of the Weld Council, we have had several book studies and invited many authors and speakers during my time thus far. I love how CCIRA gives teachers the opportunity to seek out the professional learning we want and need as well as create a collaborative community of teacher friendships! Currently, I hold two “hats” with CCIRA as Executive Council Secretary as well as Weld Council President; I couldn't be more thrilled because being involved with CCIRA helps keep the teaching passion alive and strong within me. Thank you for the support and encouragement from the many mentors who have inspired me thus far in my career, many of whom I met with CCIRA! Let the journey continue together!