Register Now!!

Go to CCIRA.org to register or simply click the registration book and registration link below to get started! Sessions are selling out so register soon!!

We can't wait to see you at the conference!!

Cost to Attend the

2024 CCIRA Conference

Full Conference - $395

Friday & Saturday - $315

One Day Only - $275

Student - $95

Retired - $180

The vision for the 2024 conference, Branching Out, Staying Rooted, is to help teachers explore, grapple with, and maybe reconcile their literacy roots with all of the changes that are happening in education today. We are offering a balance of sessions that will encourage teachers to explore their beliefs, but also challenge them to branch out - try new things, explore a new perspective, or reach their audiences just that much better. There are three main branches that we are exploring at the conference, and the speakers will each be connected to a branch. In this Communicator, we'd like to share with you the Technology branch:

To learn more about the branches, go to ccira.org!

Join Casey Veatch from Apple for a technology session!

Bridging the Literacy Gap: A Prescriptive Approach

Session 286: Explore a prescriptive approach to supplementing your literacy instruction. Utilize technology to support oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.

You don't want to miss an opportunity to see our amazing luncheon speakers! Did you register for the conference and forget to select the luncheons? It's not too late! Go back to your confirmation email and find the link to update your registration!

Kate & Maggie Roberts

Join us for the Thursday luncheon featuring Kate and Maggie Roberts! With their extensive experience, they've encountered the full spectrum of highs and lows in the realm of educator professional development. Prepare to be captivated as Kate and Maggie unveil their strategies for optimizing professional development programs, ensuring they align precisely with educators' needs to conquer the ever-evolving demands and challenges in our field. Let these two speakers rekindle your passion for teaching and empower you to discover your teaching soul once more. Don't pass up this opportunity!

Pam Muñoz Ryan

Attend Friday's luncheon with renowned author Pam Muñoz Ryan! As a Newbery Honor recipient and New York Times Bestselling Author, Pam will share her diverse childhood experiences in the San Joaquin Valley, her journey to publishing, and the influence of teachers and librarians on her path to writing Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi Leon, Riding Freedom, Paint the Wind, The Dreamer, Echo, Mananaland, and Solimar. Imagine the awe in your students' eyes when you can proudly declare that you shared a lunch with Pam Muñoz Ryan. Secure your spot today and be part of this experience!

Be sure to attend the 2024 CCIRA Conference on Saturday! You will learn so much from this lineup! Read the session descriptions below.

Kylene Beers & Bob Probst

Next Practices with the Notice and Note Signposts

This session is designed to help teachers with their pedagogy and practices. The Notice and Note Signposts, a next practice in creating independent readers, helps teachers develop close reading practices with students for fiction and nonfiction texts.

Ellin Oliver Keene

Branching Into a New Conceptualization of Literacy Workshop

We long for more time to create space for independent reading and writing. Facility in reading and writing requires lots of practice and depth in instruction, but there is never enough time. Explore the possibilities when integrating reading and writing.

Here are some great sessions for you to consider:

134 - Trusting Readers: Affirm, Shift & Expand Reader Identity

Hannah Schneewind and Jen Scoggin

How are reader identity, motivation, engagement and achievement related? We provide three distinct moves for centering students and for expanding or changing how they see themselves. We highlight the role of the teacher as expert and decision maker. Grades 3-6

171 - Local Authors and Illustrators - Middle Grade and Young Adult

RMC - SCBWI

Join the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and their member authors for a roundtable discussion. Learn about the organization, hear about the process of book publication, meet amazing local authors, get tips and tricks for using their books, and make connections for authors to visit your classroom! Grades 3-12

233 - Leading Powerful Discussions in the Age of AI

Matthew Kay

In this interactive session, we will discuss how classroom discussion facilitators can lead meaningful conversations about race (and other tough issues) in this current age of generative AI. Grades 3-12

273 - Leading Powerful Race Conversations in Elementary Classrooms

Matthew Kay and Jennifer Orr

This session encourages teachers to examine the pedagogical choices that we all make when discussing race in the elementary classroom. Grades PK-6

276 - Redesigning Lessons and Units for Authentic, Real-World Work

Scott McLeod

This hands-on session will help us connect students’ learning to outside, relevant communities and contexts. We will redesign an elementary and a secondary lesson together, and learn how to use the free 4 Shifts Protocol for instructional redesign. All Grades

283 - Writing Workshop: Writing Characters You Disagree With

Alex Gino

Join Alex Gino for a guided workshop on developing and writing characters who are unlike you. The concepts from this workshop can be used with writers and learners of all ages. Bring your brain and a way to write! Grades 3-8

Author and funny guy, Alan Katz, is presenting at the 2024 conference and would love to visit your school while he's in Colorado! He's written for multiple kids' TV shows and is the author of numerous books including the Liographies series, the Society of Substitutes series, and most recently, Got Your Nose. Go to alankatzbooks.com to learn more!

Local Activity Grant - Due February 1

Does your council have a great idea for an activity involving reading/writing instruction or promoting literacy in schools? If so, you can fill out the application for the Local Activity Grant (formerly the Council Development Grant). Click the button below to go to the grants page of the CCIRA website. This grant is awarded three times a year. Due dates for applications are August 1, February 1, and April 1. Contact Jessica Endres with any questions you may have.

The Colorado Children's Book Award (CCBA) was established to encourage a love of reading by conducting an annual contest in which the children of Colorado vote for their favorite picture book and their favorite junior novel. Voting for the 2024 nominees is due March 1st. Click the buttons below to get more information and to vote. You can also nominate books to be considered for the 2025 award. Please direct any questions to ccbaward@gmail.com.

CCIRA Literacy Conversations

Learn from some of our 2023 conference speakers and more in our library of podcasts! There are episodes from Cornelius Minor, Charles R. Smith, 

Whitney La Rocca, Krista Griffin, Melanie Conklin, Pernille Ripp,

Gordan Korman, and more! Click the button below and listen in!

CCIRA Professional Development Blog

All Things Literacy

The 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/  

📢New Blog Alert!!📢

We have not one, but TWO new blog posts to share with you: Inviting Growth: The Teacher’s Role in Affirming, Acknowledging, Shifting, & ExpandingStudents’ Literate Identities by Dr. Jennifer Scoggin and Hannah Schneewind along with Scott McLeod's Student (dis)engagement. You can also find Holding on to the Axe by Kylene Beers, Word Histories in Your Word Study-Stories and Processes by Shane Templeton, Making the Case for Slow Reading by Maria Nichols, and Reflection is Where the Learning Sticks: A Conversation and Resources for Sustainable Movement-Making in Schools by Kass Minor. Carl Anderson's Teach Writing With Mentor Texts! and Look After Your Twisted Ankles: Professional Development in Troubled Times by Kate and Maggie Roberts are also there for your reading enjoyment. What's exciting is that most of these authors are 2024 CCIRA Conference presenters!!

📃If you are interested in submitting a guest post to the CCIRA blog, please contact Hollyanna Bates.📃 hollyannabates@gmail.com

Please read CCIRA's very important statement regarding membership linked below. It outlines an important change that our community needs to be aware of.

CCIRA's next Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the 2024 conference on February 8th from 6:00-7:00 at the Westin Hotel. Please plan on being there if you serve on your local council so we can have important conversations and make decisions. Look for an RSVP form in January.

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

Featured Fundraiser!

CCIRA Partners in Empowering Literacy Educators

TOP REASONS TO PARTNER WITH CCIRA

• Over 2000 conference attendees will learn about your partnership with CCIRA.
• Our educator community 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.

CCIRA collaboratively encourages, supports, and advances literacy through research-based instructional practices to increase literacy access to all.

All people will be empowered to critically engage in our changing world by developing and utilizing literacy skills throughout life.

CCIRA.inc. | ccirainfo@gmail.com | ccira.org