Save the Date!

In addition, Erik Palmer, Peg Grafwallner, and Rebecca Harper

will also be presenting at the 2027 CCIRA Conference on Literacy

held at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Denver, Colorado!

Registration and hotel information will be coming soon!

Book A Speaker!

Don't Miss This Opportunity!

Register for the webinars below featuring five exceptional literacy experts:



Ellin Keene, Cris Tovani, Anne Goudvis,

Stephanie Harvey, and Debbie Miller.

This is an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the most respected voices in literacy education—all at an outstanding value. Don't miss the chance to gain practical insights and inspiration from their wealth of knowledge and experience.

Join literacy experts for the Comprehension Matters Webinar Series, a four-part professional learning experience designed to help educators deepen comprehension instruction and create more opportunities for meaningful learning throughout the school day.

Kickoff to Series: How and Why We Teach Comprehension (FREE)

August 12 | 4:30–5:30 PM MDT | 6:30–7:30 PM EST

Revitalizing Think Alouds: Showing Kids How to Think, Not What to Think

September 16 | 4:30–5:30 PM MDT | 6:30–7:30 PM EST

Reimagining How to Squeeze More Meaning Making Into Our Day

September 29 | 4:30–5:30 PM MDT | 6:30–7:30 PM EST

Rethinking Comprehension Across the Curriculum

October 20 | 4:30–5:30 PM MDT | 6:30–7:30 PM EST

Each session offers practical strategies, fresh insights, and classroom-ready ideas to support students as thoughtful, engaged readers and learners. Early bird pricing of $100 is available through July 31.

2026 Colorado Children's Book Awards

​The winners of the 2026 Colorado Children's Book Award

have been announced!

Thank you to the students and educators who took part in this year’s voting process. Your excitement and participation play an important role in nurturing a lifelong love of reading for children across Colorado.

2027 Nominees

Here are the nominees for the 2027 Picture Book and Junior Book categories! Be sure to have these books available in your school so your students can read, enjoy, and cast their votes for the 2027 winners.

Click the button to find a PDF of the 2027 nominees

and information on how to have students vote.

Become a CCIRA Ambassador

CCIRA Ambassadors are passionate, lifelong learners who bring our mission and vision to life. We’re looking for classroom teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators who are eager to connect, inspire, and support literacy education.

By volunteering just six hours of your time, you’ll receive free registration to the 2026 conference as a thank-you for your service. Join us in advancing literacy through research-based instructional practices and helping ensure every learner has access to the power of reading and writing.

Visit CCIRA.org to sign up today and make a difference in literacy education!

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!!📢

Read our newest blog posts, Finding the Joy, by Krista Griffin, Teaching Students What To Do Instead of Asking the Chatbot, by Sarah Zerwin, and School Morning 2026, by Louise Borden. You can also read Writing Ideas: Keeping it Real, by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, The Weight We Carry, the Hope We Hold: Building Resilience and Renewal, by Ashlee Saddler, and Purposeful Read-Alouds to Build Comprehension, by Katie Kelly. We were excited to have these amazing authors and educators presenting at the 2026 CCIRA Conference!

Additional posts by previous and upcoming speakers include:

• We Are Teaching Writers by Jen Vincent
• Ice Cream, Penguins, and Other Thoughts on the Growth Mindset by Cara Mentze
• Digging Deeper with Sentence Level Instruction: Teaching the Reading and Writing Connection by Amy Buckner Haisten
• Respond to the Creativity Crisis by Teaching Fantasy Writing by Carl Anderson
• Boost Student Comprehension Through Intentional Movement by Gravity Goldberg
• True Student Voice: Helping students be better speakers by Erik Palmer

Previous blog contributor Ralph Fletcher let us know he is now doing a newsletter. Check it out here and sign up: https://ralphfletcherbooks.com/newsletter/

Please also take time to read this poignant tribute to an amazing educator and fierce advocate for teachers: In Honor of Karen Hartman

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

Make a Difference in Literacy Education - Volunteer With CCIRA!

CCIRA is always looking for passionate volunteers to help support literacy education in meaningful ways! There are many opportunities to get involved, including:

📌 Executive Committee & Board of Directors – Help shape the future of CCIRA through leadership roles.

📌 Annual Conference – Assist in running one of the most impactful literacy conferences in the country.

📌 Local Councils – Engage with your community to promote literacy initiatives.

📌 Ambassador Program – From outreach to event coordination, there’s a place for everyone!

Volunteering with CCIRA is a fantastic way to connect with fellow educators, develop leadership skills, and contribute to a cause that transforms lives through literacy.

Interested? Contact CCIRA President, Michele Warner, today!

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

Raise Funds for CCIRA!

We're Using GoFundMe Too!

Click the button below to go to our GoFundMe. Once there, you can donate and share to help promote our mission of collaboratively encouraging, supporting, and advancing literacy through research-based instructional practices to increase literacy access to all.

CCIRA Partners in Empowering Literacy Educators

TOP REASONS TO PARTNER WITH CCIRA

• Over 600 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