CCIRA January Newsletter 2020
Just 35 days to go
until CCIRA 2020 Innovation:
Imagining the Future of Literacy!
February 5-8, 2020
By Sharon Miller, #CCIRA20 Conference Chair
Thank you to all of you who have registered for the conference!

You still have time to sign up to attend this year’s conference. But time is running out! Many amazing speakers still have room in their sessions.  

An innovative group that we have the opportunity to collaborate with is PEBC, Public Education and Business Coalition .

Check out all the sessions at #CCIRA20 featuring PEBC's incredible literacy leaders!
We also have some amazing authors coming to #CCIRA20. Check out their websites, linked below each photo. We will have times for authors to sign copies of their books at the conference!
For a full list of featured speakers, click here !
Our registration book is online under the Conference tab.
Ready? Register here !
I nterested in volunteering at #CCIRA20?

We are looking for friendly, energetic members to help out at the registration table all three days of the conference. If you would be willing to donate a couple of hours to welcome fellow attendees, please add your contact info to this Sign up Genius , and we'll be in touch.

Thank you so much!
A Message from CCIRA President,
Jessica Rickert
Happy New Year!!!

According to ellipticalreviews.com, these are the top 10 New Year's resolutions:

But what if we made our New Year's resolution to make personal connections in 2020? Perhaps making a collective effort to personally invite someone to our conference or encourage someone to become a member of CCIRA? For 2020, let’s harness the power of the human connection and make our resolution to bring power to the greater good!

Jessica Rickert
CCIRA President

Heads up, Members!

We have excellent candidates for our two open Executive Committee positions: Vice President and State Membership Chair. If you are currently a CCIRA member, you will receive a separate email with the link to the ballot later today. Results of this election will be announced at the CCIRA General Assembly on Thursday, February 6, 2020.

If you are a member of the CCIRA Board of Directors, you will also receive an email to vote to approve the new Partnership Chair, appointed to the position by the Nominating Committee. Again, we are so excited to have found such an amazing candidate for this new role.

We are thrilled to share more details with our membership once the results of these important votes have been completed.

Thank you!

Amy Ellerman
CCIRA Immediate Past President
(and Chair of the Nominating Committee)
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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January Teaching Tip
from TPS
American Folklife Songs Offer Insight Into Historical Context and Culture

A recent grant from TPS Western Region brought over 100 Library of Congress field recordings of folk songs from the western United States to Holy Names University’s online American Folk Song Collection (AFSC) at the Kodály Center. 

This online resource provides free access to over 600 traditional folk songs from primary sources, including field recordings with transcriptions (music and text), background information, and a database allowing users to search for songs by any combination of musical and general categories. Originally created for music teachers, the website now serves thousands of classroom teachers, conductors, composers and parents wishing to acquaint students with the rich historical and musical treasures of American folk song.


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
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.