CCIRA February Newsletter 2020
Just 5 days to go
until CCIRA 2020 Innovation:
Imagining the Future of Literacy!
February 5-8, 2020
See you there!
Sharon Miller
#CCIRA20 Conference Chair

What a coincidence! This year's conference kicks off on World Read Aloud Day! There are many resources online with ideas for celebrating on February 5 with students. Here are just a few to get you started:

  • Visit LitWorld.org to register and to find free resources.
  • Watch Colby Sharp's video with his top five ways to read aloud with kids.
  • Try four easy steps for celebrating World Read Aloud Day from Scholastic.
  • Visit Kate Messner's blog to connect with an author to skype with your class on World Read Aloud Day.
  • Share what you and your students do with the hashtag: #worldreadaloudday.
A Message from CCIRA President,
Jessica Rickert
The Conference is Here!!!

The annual CCIRA Conference is a highlight of the year for me and many other educators. It is a time to learn, recharge, and connect with literacy leaders. 

If you are attending the conference, consider the following to enhance your experience: 

  • What is one thing I can take back to my classroom or school next week and implement to improve student learning?

  • Who am I going to share my learning with?

  • How can I capture the energy I have at the conference and carry it through the next month? 

For those of you who are attending the conference, I hope you have a wonderful time learning. If you are not able to attend this year, I encourage you to find professional development that sparks your interest and helps you recharge.
Meet CCIRA's New Partnership Chair!

We are thrilled to introduce Stevi Quate, CCIRA's new Partnership Chair, to our membership. For many, Stevi will be a familiar face. As an educator and a literacy leader in Colorado, she has served as a high school teacher, a published author, literacy coordinator at CDE, co-director of Colorado Writing Project, CCIRA President, President of CLAS, professor at the University of Colorado at Denver, and staff developer with PEBC.

As Partnership Chair, Stevi will collaborate with the Partnership Committee, the Executive Committee, and with local councils to build and to strengthen connections with other organizations with missions similar to CCIRA's. Stevi's deep expertise and expansive professional networks make her the perfect person to lead this important, collaborative work.

In Stevi's own words, "Because I know that CCIRA has shaped my professional life for over a quarter of a century, I want our organization to continue being strong and able to support the professional life of all literacy teachers not only in Colorado but also in the region."
What's New on the CCIRA Blog?

CCIRA.blog features a wide variety of nationally renowned literacy experts, as well as talented practitioners from across Colorado. Check out our most recent posts:


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!

If you might be interested in submitting a guest post to CCIRA.blog, please contact Hollyanna Bates (hollyannabates@gmail.com).
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February Teaching Tip
from TPS
Teaching History Through Music

Music is often a fun and engaging way to introduce students to history. Though seemingly simplistic, some songs offer insights into the historical context of the song’s audience. 

“ This Land, ” a.k.a. “ This Land is Your Land, ” was written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 as a critical response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.” Guthrie’s folk music style and lyrical mastery was heavily influenced by his upbringing in rural Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Because of this, his songs can be paired with many of the images and other primary sources from the 1920s-30s on the Library of Congress website.

Consider having students draw insights from the different versions of “This Land,” as well as having them listen to and contrast Guthrie’s song with the original melody from Berlin’s . You could also use the Listening Levels to highlight the discriminative, precise, strategic, critical, and appreciative aspects of the songs. 

Like these Teacher Tips from the TPS Western Region? We want to hear from you! Please fill out this short Google Form with your honest reflections.
Participate in the TPS survey for a chance to win
a $25 gift card
to Barnes and Noble from CCIRA!
Upcoming CCIRA Grants
(Pssst! These are easy to write, we promise!)


Foreign Affiliate Grant: Due March 15
Award: Up to $500

Purpose: To support literacy projects and to promote professional exchange with colleagues in foreign countries.

STAR Grant: Due March 30
Award: Up to $500

Purpose: To provide encouragement and support for CCIRA members who want to try new reading/writing experiences with their students.

Teacher as Reader Grant: Due March 30
Award: Up to $500

Purpose: To encourage CCIRA members to be involved in a Teacher as Reading Reading Group


Check out a complete list of CCIRA's Grants and Awards on our website.

CCIRA Executive Committee

Jessica Rickert, President : jessrccira@gmail.com
Sharon Miller, President Elect:   slmiller90@gmail.com
Pam Minard, Vice President: pam.minard@gmail.com
Amy Ellerman , Immediate Past President: ellermanamy @gmail.com
Michele Warner , State Coordinator:
bmwarner1227@comcast.net
Corina Kaskey , Secretary: Corina.Kaskey@summitk12.org
Sue Goodenow , State Membership Coordinator: smg970@gmail.com
Emily Bradley, Marketing Coordinator: emily.bradley@weldre4.org
Stevi Quate, Partnership Chair : steviq@gmail.com
Cathy Lynskey , Treasurer: clynskey2000@gmail.com
Lisa Kahn, Administrative Assistant: lisakahnccira@gmail.com
Is your local council, state committee, school, or community doing something extraordinary for literacy in Colorado? Do you have a great idea to share with other educators on how to enhance literacy in the classroom? Do you know of a conference or event that CCIRA members might be interested in attending? If so, please contact Amy Ellerman (ellermanamy@gmail.com) to submit information for publication.