Donalyn Miller

Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp have paired up to write The Commonsense Guide to Your Classroom Library. We all know managing classroom libraries can be quite a challenge, so we can't wait to hear more from them about this important topic at the 2023 conference!! Donalyn has also recently written The Joy of Reading with Teri Lesesne in which she shares how to create conditions that foster a love of reading.

Colby Sharp

Along with The Commonsense Guide to Your Classroom Library, Colby Sharp and Donalyn Miller have also written Game Changer: Book Access for All Kids. The two authors share strategies to get more books in the hands of children; something every educator wants to do! Colby has also authored The Creativity Project in which he invites over 40 famous authors to write prompts for each other. The result is a collection of work students will love! 

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Jamilah will join us at the 2023 CCIRA conference with her books Your Name is a Song, Abdul's Story, and Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children. We are really looking forward to hearing her share the fundamental principles of love-centered and anti-biased education!

Kristine O'Connell George

Poet Kristine O'Connell George loves sharing some of her favorite Colorado memories within the verses she writes. She is the author of The Great Frog Race, Toasting Marshmallows, and Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems. Come to the 2023 CCIRA conference to hear some of the stories behind her poetry!

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

Matthew Kay - Not Light, but Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom

Lester Laminack- The King of Bees, Three Hens and a Peacock, The Ultimate Read-Aloud Resource 2nd edition, Writers ARE Readers, Reading to Make a Difference

Jan Burkins - Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom

Nawal Qarooni - Family Literacy (Coming in February 2023!)

Kristin Ziemke - Read the World: Rethinking Literacy for Empathy and Action in a Digital Age, Amplify! Digital Teaching and Learning in the K-6 Classroom

Click the book titles to read more about them.

CCIRA Literacy Conversations

Podcast alert!! In the newest episode, listen to Charles R. Smith, Jr. discuss his craft and journey as an author. There will be another podcast from Cornelius Minor coming out in mid-September!! Several other editions are 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 are two new blog posts!! One is by past CCIRA President Vicki Collet titled Mentoring and Coaching to Support Colleagues. The other, by Gravity Goldberg, is Combatting Aliteracy: Mentoring Today’s Students to Become Tomorrow’s Avid Readers. Click on the links to read them now!

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

Local Council News!

Join Jeffco Literacy Association for their Fall Festival and Get Inspired!

Lori Conrad and Patrick Allen, the 2023 CCIRA Conference Chairs, will motivate educators through the use of one of our conference author's books, Your Name Is A Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow.

Date: September 22nd

Time: 4:30-6:30p.m. 

Location: The Arbor House 

14600 W 32nd Ave.

Golden, CO 80401

Join us for drinks, apps and PRIZES! It's free!

RSVP

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.

Check out our newest partner, Knowledge Bound!!

Meet Members of the

CCIRA Executive Committee!

Cathy (left) with teammates Shawn and Katie

Cathy Lansky - CCIRA Treasurer

Hi CCIRA Friends,

I am Cathy Lynskey, and I am your treasurer, but I am ending this wonderful experience in May 2023. I have been on EC for a few years, first working with membership and then moving to treasurer when Kathy Livingston moved to Idaho. I am old, but have only been in education for 17 years. I began my career in California when my church presented the possibility of a K-12 school, which did not happen. However, it made me think about being in education, while I sat at my staff accounting desk not wanting to reconcile any business bank account for the next 30 years. I have a BS in Bible and Missions, which I use everyday, but especially while I lived in Ireland, and worked in a small church. I went back to school when I decided to go into education and earned an MA in interdisciplinary studies which focused on educational leadership and elementary education. I hope to see you all at the amazing Conference on February 9-11, 2023!