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February/March 2011

  • IRA and PAIUnet partner in e-learning venture
    In a first for IRA and the Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit high-speed computer network (PAIUnet), which serves schools across the state, professional development sessions with noted IRA experts are being offered at downlink sites via high-definition video streaming.
  • Creating caring classrooms
    IRA President Patricia A. Edwards describes how to create a safe place for students to learn, especially in these times when the threat of violence and bullying are pervasive in many schools.
  • Back to school: a first grader at heart
    A 73-year-old first grader in the classroom of IRA member Alesia Hamilton at Edison Elementary School in St. Joseph, Missouri, brings smiles, wisdom, and his love for learning to his fellow students in a remarkable story of caring, courage, and the importance of literacy at all ages.

December 2010/January 2011

  • What's hot for 2011
    Find out the hottest (and coldest) topics in literacy education as determined in the 15th annual "What's hot" survey, which was conducted by Jack Cassidy, Evan Ortlieb, and Jennifer Shettel.
  • Working together, pooling expertise
    Cooperation among educators is vital for Response to Intervention program success.
  • NCATE, TEAC plan to consolidate
    A newly created unified accrediting body, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), will offer several options for accreditation.
  • Tapping the power of parents
    IRA President Patricia A. Edwards offers ideas for effectively involving parents and the community in children's education.
  • In reform debate, racial discrimination gets short shrift
    Eric J. Cooper and Yvette Jackson of the National Urban Alliance discuss racial discrimination in education and ways we can raise expectations for all children.
  • Giving through writing
    Students write books, and the money raised supports education projects in Uganda and Kenya, through the Write to Give program developed by Ontario first-grade teacher Amy McLaren.
  • Lessons learned by young and old
    Children's book review columnist Susan Dove Lempke reviews books that hinge on some aspect of learning and growth.
  • Reading Across the Decades links history, technology
    High school reading teacher Kerry Carrico helps students develop and enhance 21st-century skills through a technology-based project that earned regional honors in the International Reading Association's Award for Technology & Reading contest in 2010.

October/November 2010

  • International Literacy Day: Reading sparks the fire of learning
    An International Literacy Day celebration on September 8 at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, featured the release of a report titled Early Reading: Igniting Education for All, by RTI International. A distinguished panel of literacy experts, including IRA President Patricia A. Edwards, discussed the report, followed by a Q&A session.  
  • Taking account of accountability
    The focus on teaching and teachers is intensifying, as evidenced by recent news articles on the link between test scores and teachers; the controversial Waiting for Superman documentary; and numerous polls and reports on teachers and the validity of teacher evaluation methodology.
  • IRA–Rotary partnerships promote literacy locally and globally
    IRA and Rotary International members were urged to celebrate International Literacy Day by initiating local projects. Some ongoing projects, including Tales from a Dilly Bag from Australia and others, are featured.
  • President's Message: South African odyssey
    IRA President Patricia A. Edwards describes her journey with a People to People delegation of 48 IRA members through South Africa in August. The goal was to gain a better understanding of literacy challenges facing girls and women in South Africa, but ultimately the visit addressed many other issues concerning post-apartheid education—both progress made and challenges remaining.
  • Katherine Paterson: An ambassador for life
    The two-time Newbery winner ( Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob have I Loved) is the current National Ambassador for Young People's Literature in the United States. Her theme, "Read for your life," highlights the importance of literature and literacy to the development of responsible citizens in a democracy.
  • Autumn heralds season of sharing…so many books
    From trick-or-treating to harvest celebrations to Thanksgiving, fall is the perfect time to share delightful books for young and older readers alike. Children's Book Reviews columnist David L. Richardson outlines his choices for some of the best books of the season.

August/September 2010