A Message from CCIRA President,
Jessica Rickert
|
|
Learning
While recording the kick-off of our CCIRA Podcast, I was inspired by a recent conversation with our Immediate Past President Anne Cook, where the topic of conversations was, gasp!.... Covid-19, but more so about education during this time. Instead of talking about the negative aspects, she looked through a positive lens and the development of new opportunities for educators. Now, there are many new ways educators can access professional development. Teachers might not have had the opportunity in the past to attend a national conference but now can, because they are virtual. This boom in online networking gives us all the opportunity to connect with other educators not only in your state but nationally as well; expanding our learning and broadening our perspective of teaching practices.
Speaking of technology...we are recording new episodes for the CCIRA Literacy Conversations Podcast. We hope you give it a listen on your walk outside.
Also, another quick learning opportunity available to you is our Blog, featuring local teachers and national speaker’s tidbits. For people who never have enough time to read a professional book, this is where you can get some great ideas in a condensed format.
Stay tuned for other CCIRA learning opportunities that will be coming this fall.
|
|
A Message From Pam Minard,
#CCIRA21 Conference Chairperson
|
|
Welcome Back to a very unique school year: 2020-2021!!
As I return to my school, mostly in-person, I know many teachers who are doing the same and others who are starting the year with remote teaching. Either way you return I have faith that you will return with deep empathy for your students. You will let each student know that you care and that they matter! Check out Angela Maiers’ Ted Talk from 2011 to hear ways to let your students hear these powerful words (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FHdHUzRnms). You won’t want to miss her current thinking and advice at the 2021 CCIRA literacy conference.
You’ll also have a chance at the conference to hear the powerful voices of Julia Torres (Denver Public School language arts teacher and librarian), Lorana German and Dr. Kim Parker as they talk about the power of literacy to drive positive social transformation. You won’t want to miss this presentation on how to 1.) Challenge the traditional canon to make it more inclusive and 2.) anti-racist/anti-bias teaching practices.
|
|
Julia Torres gives us an inspirational Evening Keynote |
|
I was lucky enough to attend a panel discussion of the @disrupttext initiative at NCTE 2019 in which Julia participated. During our Friday evening Keynote at CCIRA Julia and friends will share their initiative for choosing books that enable all students to see themselves in text, regardless of the color of their skin. Along with encouraging teachers to choose books that highlight the traditionally oppressed and marginalized population. I hope you join us for this informative and inspirational evening keynote! |
|
Invited Speaker: Erik Palmer |
|
Join us as Erik asks us; "How well do students speak?" If we want to be effective with all forms of oral communication, we have to give students specific, guided instruction. All students can improve. We just have to commit to helping them on the road to becoming well spoken.
|
|
Featured Author:Troy Hicks |
|
Dr. Troy Hicks is a professor of English and education at Central Michigan University. He directs the Chippewa River Writing Project and, previously, the Master of Arts in Learning, Design & Technology program. A former middle school teacher, Dr. Hicks is an ISTE Certified Educator and has authored numerous books, articles, chapters, blog posts, and other resources broadly related to the teaching of literacy in our digital age. Follow him on Twitter: @hickstro
|
|
|
Meet the Executive Committee! |
|
Every month we will introduce you to one of the leaders on the Executive Committee to help you get to know this part of the CCIRA leadership better. |
|
Anne is currently serving on the Executive Committee as the Immediate Past President for a second time. Anne graciously came back to work in this role again and we appreciate her knowledge, perspective, and calm demeanor. She has served in many different roles for CCIRA including Read Aloud Committee Chair, Thelma Pett Continuing Education Chair, and Program Chair. In later years she served as the Site Chair for the conference, was in the presidential line, and helped us celebrate our 50th year at the annual CCIRA conference in 2017 as Conference Chair. In her professional life, Anne was an elementary classroom teacher, literacy coach, and assistant principal in Colorado Springs for 34 years until she retired. She now works part time at the Broadmoor World Arena selling tickets for various events, loves being a grandmother, hiking, and is an avid skier and a diehard CU Buffs fan as a season ticket holder for football games. To hear more about Anne’s thoughts on different educational topics, check out our Podcast episode with Anne as she sheds a positive light on our current situation and how we can use this time to connect with others. |
|
Remember to check out the CCIRA Blog!
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/
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).
|
|
Make sure you check out the Shop With Scrip website and do some shopping online for a gift card.... and benefit CCIRA at the same time! *
|
|
Do you buy gift cards for your friends and family? Give a card to Starbucks or Amazon as a thank you to your favorite aunt? What if at the same time you could support CCIRA without spending an extra cent? That’s what you can do now by participating with Shop with Scrip, an online fundraising site. Since 1994, ShopWithScrip has been supporting schools and other non-profits in this unique way to fundraise. Just buy a gift card at one of the 750 retailers and know that a percentage is sent to CCIRA. It’s an easy way to support our work with literacy while you shop. For more information, visit https://www.shopwithscrip.com/ and then sign up to become a supporter of our organization.
When you are ready to make your purchase please use this enrollment number:
A34A3B6D69223
*We endorse this fundraising activity.
|
|
Building Educational Partnerships |
|
TEA K-8 Online Workshop: Teaching Korea through Children’s Literature. September 15 – October 6.
Explore exemplary children’s literature about Korea and consider cross-curricular teaching activities for integrating Korea into your K-8 literacy and social studies curricula. Teachers will participate in two synchronous live webinars and one two-week asynchronous online learning module with specialists in Korean children’s literature. Flyer and application.
NCTA Book Group: Japan through Children’s Literature: World War II Picture-book Biographies. September 25 – November 30. In this book group, K-8 teachers discuss the integration of biographies in social studies and literacy curricula about wartime Japan and human rights. The course considers three picture-book biographies that depict a Japanese diplomat, an atomic-bomb survivor, and a staff person in the Occupation General Headquarters. Includes an author webinar. Flyer and application.
|
|
The Celebrate Literacy Award is designated to recognize an individual, organization, or institution for significant contributions to literacy in a community, the state or nation. Local councils may choose to use this same form, process, and guidelines to select a Celebrate Literacy recipient. That designee may or may not then be a nominee for the state level award. Individuals may make nominations as well. A council or individual may only submit one nomination per year. A $300 cash award will be given to the recipient. Nominators must be a member of CCIRA.
Deadline for nominations is November 2. Material received after that date will not be considered. Send to:
Misty Jones
1103 Barclay
Craig, Colorado 81625
Nomination information and supporting document attachments can be found on the CCIRA website under Grants and Awards. The paperwork may be submitted via email to: misty.jones@moffatsd.org
Candidates can be suggested from any of the following areas for consideration as the celebrate literacy award recipient:
1. Designing literacy experiences that are highly engaging and effective in fostering a love of reading and writing in children.
2. Organizing local literacy programs.
3. Promoting support from the public relative to enhancing literacy.
4. Producing teaching materials or special media for literacy programs.
5. Modeling exceptional practices in a school setting to promote literacy.
6. Disseminating current literacy practices to colleagues from conferences attended and other professional resources.
7. Heightening literacy practices in a school through library/media specialist's contributions to promote literacy.
8. Carrying out informal educational activities of a social, cultural, economic nature, in which literacy and related literacy activities are included (radio and television programs, publications and press, library programs, and projects for special populations, such as the handicapped and the aged).
|
|
 |
CCIRA Executive Committee
Jessica Rickert, President: jessrccira@gmail.com
Pam Minard, President-Elect: pam.minard@gmail.com
Christi Walker, Vice President: christimwalker@gmail.com
Anne Cook, Immediate Past President: annecook59@gmail.com
Michele Warner, State Coordinator:
warnermichele4@gmail.com
Corina Kaskey, Secretary: Corina.Kaskey@summitk12.org
Jessie Meeks, State Membership Coordinator: jessie.meeks@jeffco.k12.co.us
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 Anne Cook (annecook59@gmail.com) to submit information for publication. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
