Save the Date!

Presentation Proposals Being Accepted!

Do you have a great idea for a presentation? Fill out the form below to submit a presentation proposal for the 2026 CCIRA Conference, Hit Refresh! We want attendees to walk away reenergized, equipped with fresh ideas and practical tools to support and inspire their students in new and meaningful ways. Proposals will be accepted through May 15th.

Colorado Children's Book Award Winners Announced!

​The votes are in and the winners of the 2025 Colorado Children's Book Award have been announced! In the Picture Book category, "No Fuzzball!" by Isabella Kung took the top honor, with "Chez Bob" by Bob Shea as the runner-up. For the Junior Book category, "Nugly" by M.C. Ross secured the win, while "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz was the runner-up.



A heartfelt thank you to all the young readers and educators who participated in this year's voting process. Your enthusiasm and engagement help foster a lifelong love of reading among Colorado's children.​

2026 Nominees

Here are the nominees for the 2026 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 2026 winners!

Click the button to find a PDF of the 2026 nominees

and information on how to have students vote.

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, Respond to the Creativity Crisis by Teaching Fantasy Writing by Carl Anderson. Reading Identity Matters: A Broad View of Foundational Skills,

written by former CCIRA presenters Hannah Schneewind and Dr. Jennifer Scoggin is also available. Other recent posts by our fantastic 2025 CCIRA presenters are Conferring With Young Writers by Ralph Fletcher, Student Agency: Strategies to Build a Strengths-Based Classroom by Dr. Towanda Harris, Sparks in the Dark: Returning to Joy, Love, Curiosity, and Passion by Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney, and From Empathy to Compassion: Reading to Make a Difference by Katie Kelly and Lester Laminack. You can also find 3 Ideas for Integrating Literacy into Science Lessons by Elizabeth Everett, Teaching the Writing That Students Need Now by Kelly Boswell, Building Novel Connections: How to Center Book Clubs in Today’s Literacy Classrooms by Dr. Sarah Valter, and Term Projects: Exploring Choice Writing in a World of Standardized Testing by Brent Gilson.

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

Local Activity Grant - Due August 1

Does your council have a great idea for an activity involving reading/writing instruction or promoting literacy in schools? If so, you can fill out the application for the Local Activity Grant (formerly the Council Development Grant). This grant is awarded three times a year. Due dates for applications are August 1, February 1, and April 1. Click the button below to go to the grants page of the CCIRA website. Contact Jessica Endres with any questions you may have.

Put it in your calendar now! CCIRA's next Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the Lone Tree Hub on September 13th from 9:00-1:00. Please plan on being there if you serve on your local council so we can have important conversations and make decisions. Lunch will be included! An RSVP form will be sent out as the date approaches. Reach out to Michele Warner with any questions.

Join CCIRA as a Volunteer – Make a Difference in Literacy Education!

CCIRA is 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.

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

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

📌 Other Key Tasks – 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!

CCIRA Partners in Empowering Literacy Educators

TOP REASONS TO PARTNER WITH CCIRA

• Over 1000 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