Their proximity to Washington, DC, isn’t the only thing that gives the members of the State of Maryland International Reading Association Council (SoMIRAC) their passion for policy. This council, which is over 40 years old and over 1,800 members strong, boasts many active movers and shakers who invest in the future of literacy in many ways. The following two articles exemplify Maryland’s unique legislative efforts. Visit www.somirac.org to fi nd out more about SoMIRAC.

Dr. Suzanne Clewell shares that the Government Relations Committee of SoMIRAC has been actively involved in promoting literacy causes through outreach to both the US Congress and the Maryland General Assembly over the past ten years. Recently, they met with members of Congress and have communicated with them regarding the landmark literacy bill called LEARN Act, Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation. This legislation responds to the clear need for literacy instruction and high quality support for students at all ages (birth to grade 12) to ensure that students have the literacy skills to succeed in school and their future careers. It provides for comprehensive literacy programs as well as professional development opportunities for instructional staff. Finally, this act supports promising and innovative practices to improve literacy and writing, especially for students reading and writing below grade level.

The Committee has also advocated for the rewriting of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the inclusion of assessmentsthat inform instruction. Although this legislation has not been reauthorized in three years, they are hopeful that fl exibility with federal funding and multiple methods of assessment will be a part of ESEA. In the past, the Committee has been successful with advocacy for many bills including the Early Learning Challenge Fund and the Educator Jobs Bill. Their voice has also been strong with the Maryland General Assembly when they meet with delegates and communicate concerns. They are pleased to see the results of the educator effectiveness academies with Race to the Top and are heartened to see the importance of critical thinking in the Common Core Standards and in Maryland counties’ curricular alignments. Currently, the Government Relations Committee has posted a policy statement of formative assessment that aligns with the Common Core Standards on their website (at www.somirac.org).

Through their work, they are continually striving for the improvement of literacy education and for student selfrefl ection that leads to lifelong learning.

Dr. Suzanne Clewell is the IRA and SoMIRAC Government Relations Chairperson, and is the former Coordinator of Reading for Montgomery County Public Schools, MD.

Dr. Carolyn L. Cook explains that Literacy Educators of Maryland (LEM) is a special interest group of SoMIRAC that acts as a liaison between SoMIRAC and the higher education community of the state. Carolyn Cook from Mount St. Mary’s University chairs this committee of dedicated faculty from various universities across the state. The value of IRA and SoMIRAC is immeasurable for staying current with literacy policies and practices. Involvement in these organizations is vital for higher educators because they produce research and train future teachers. SoMIRAC becomes the platform for connecting research from higher education with teachers in today’s classrooms and for introducing pre-service teachers to quality professional development. LEM is the bridge for this interaction to occur.

LEM’s goals are to increase SoMIRAC membership, to involve pre-service teachers in professional development, and to create a teacher education strand at the annual conference. The committee divides the state’s higher education institutions among its members and personally sends emails with information about SoMIRAC’s membership and conference. Receiving regular emails from the same person concerning SoMIRAC personalizes the connection. In this way, it is much easier for the professor to make an inquiry about the event or the organization. With the support of the SoMIRAC president and board, our goals were met last year. At the annual conference committee members and their students or colleagues presented nine concurrent sessions and one feature session which enabled LEM to create a higher education strand. SoMIRAC was awarded the IRA Gold Award for increased student membership. This successful year encouraged the committee members to strive even more to reach out to faculty and students in Maryland higher education institutions.

This year LEM continues with its goals to increase membership and participation in SoMIRAC. The 2012 annual conference is spotlighting Poster Sessions so that university students can share their literacy research with teachers across the state. The committee will invite professors to encourage their students to share their action research. Carolyn Cook looks forward to working with LEM’s committee members: Glynis Barber from Coppin University, Kelly Bull from Notre Dame of Maryland University, Cheryl North-Coleman and Nancy Rankie Shelton from University of Maryland Baltimore Campus, Patricia Dean from Salisbury University, Vicki McQuitty from Towson University, Debra Miller from McDaniel College, and Joyce Wheaton from Frostburg State University as they unite literacy professors across the state of Maryland.

Dr. Carolyn Cook, an assistant professor in the School of Education and Human Services, teaches reading courses to graduate and undergraduate students at Mount St. Mary’s University.

Photos:

SoMIRAC President Donna Michel and Second Vice-President Gayle Glick accepting the Honor Council award at the 2011 IRA Annual Convention

Members of the Government Relations Committee at their symposium at the 2011 IRA Annual Convention: Julie Collins from the Oklahoma Reading Association, Suzanne Clewell from SoMIRAC, Cynthia Clingman from the Michigan Reading Assocation, and Pam Hamman from
the Oklahoma Reading Association

Carolyn Cook and Mount St. Mary’s University senior elementary education students Ellen Rocha, Elizabeth Smith and Selene Rayho presented “Motivating Students to Write: The Sky is the Limit” at SoMIRAC Conference 2011

 

International Reading Association Councils Literacy Action Team Join the International Reading Association

As part of our series featuring state councils, we spoke with Kim Burris, President of the West Virginia Reading Association (WVRA). Their annual conference is fastly approaching: it will be held in White Sulphur Springs on November 17 and 18. You may have read about West Virginia on Reading Today Online or in the August/September issue of Reading Today. (IRA Members click here to read the interactive digital version of the magazine.) Kim shared her passion for the Association in her answers to the following questions. 

1. Are you especially proud of any of your council's projects? 

I'm proud of WVRA for achieving the IRA Five Star Award of Excellence for nine years. We work well with our state department of educaiton and we want to continue the strong ties between our organization and our state department of education. I'm also proud of the following council projects: 

• Studies and Research Committee (This is a very active committee that picks something current in education, studies it, and disseminates information out to members. The committee chair involves people from all over the state with various backgrounds.  She is my shining start in mentoring and branching out to people.)  
• Parents and Reading Honor Council (Local councils are awarded this status if they complete projects/activities involving parents with reading.) 
• WVRA Honor Presidents (This is awarded to local council presidents who have completed several projects promoting their local councils and reading within their county/community.) 

2. What are the benefits of joining your council?

Our association is the largest curriculum based organization in the state. Members receive the "Interchange" (our council's newsletter) four times a year, information from the Studies and Research Committee, and a reduced registration rate to the annual conference. 

3. Are there any future projects in store for your council?

We are working hard on expanding our association by "Connecting, Communicating, and Collaborating." We also have started a new membership category this year for students in middle school and high school. We are hoping to build this throughout the state. Our first student council has a goal of becoming an IRA Council!

4. How does one join your council?

Membership information is on our website at wvreading.com. 

5. Is there a website, newsletter, or another way to find more information about your council? Is there a person that prospective members can contact? 

Our website is wvreading.com. You can find information about our annual conference and most of our projects and awards. There is contact information for all our officers and committee chairs. Our Director of Membership Development is Ering Albaugh and her email is erin_albaugh@hotmail.com. People can also contact me at wvra@suddenlink.net for information.

 

 

 

Featured Special Interest Group: TILE-SIG

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IRA State Councils

IRA 2012 Convention in Chicago

The year 2011 marks the 19th time that the Central Jamaica Reading Association has engaged educational institutions and communities in observing International Literacy Day. 

The association distributed copies of a message from Ms. Irina Bokovo, Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and informative comments from the International Reading Association to educational institutions in the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, and St. Elizabeth. Educators were encouraged to utilize the message and comments to refl ect the theme “Literacy for Peace.”Additionally, members of community organizations were involved in reading to children. 

Many schools emphasized the importance of the day and the theme: “Literacy for Peace” during morning assemblies. Later, teachers engaged students in creative activities reflecting the theme.

deCarteret College, Mandeville

One highlight of the day’s activities began with the visit to deCarteret College by Mr. Calvin Lyn, Acting Custos Rotulorum of Manchester, and Dr. V. Elaine Carter, President of the Central Jamaica Reading Association and International Consultant in Education. Here, Acting Principal Ms. Angela Walker extended welcome. Dr. Carter spoke of the signifi cance of the day, highlighting the theme “Literacy for Peace,” and encouraged teachers to engage students in creative activities reflecting the theme. She read the poem entitled “All We Want is Peace,” by Gordon David, highlighting the relationship between literacy and peace.

Mr. Lyn read the message, which included the following salient points:
• International Literacy Day places a focus on literacy and peace.
• Peace is founded on human rights and social justice.
• Literacy is a pre-requisite for peace. It cuts social boundaries.
• Illiteracy is an infringement on human rights and promotes poverty, which can lead to criminality. 

Some benefits of literacy are:
• It enables people to develop their cultural identity and diversity.
• It promotes respect and tolerance.
• It gives people the skills needed to seek meaningful employment.
• It enables countries and governments to achieve sustainable development.

Mr. Lyn encouraged the students to be peaceful, compassionate, understanding, and they should try to settle conflicts in a non-violet manner. Using the acronym R.O.A.D., he elaborated on:
• R - respect for teachers, themselves and others
• O - obedience to teachers, parents, and the rules of the institution 
• A - ambition: students should strive to achieve their ambition while in school
• D - discipline: students should be disciplined in their study habits and display good behavior at all times

Hatfield Primary and Junior High School, Hatfield, Manchester

Ms. Elsa Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Manchester Division, Mandeville, addressed the students of Hatfi eld Primary and Junior High School on the theme “Literacy for Peace.” Assistant Superintendent Smith expressed her appreciation to join with the Central Jamaica Reading Association in observing International Literacy Day. Referring to the Mission of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (the Police), she indicated that the preservation of peace is a major responsibility. However, the Police cannot do it alone. International Literacy Day provides the opportunity to help in promoting literacy as a means of being proactive in helping to preserve the peace in schools and the wider community.

Assistant Superintendent Smith expressed the thought that, “If we are able to get more of our students to become literate, that is, being able to read for knowledge, write well and think critically, then we are definitely on our way to achieve a more peaceful society.”

She continued, “Through literacy, you will be able to achieve your goals and potential and participate fully in your community and wider society. When you are literate, you are able to handle information effectively, express ideas, make decisions, and solve problems as family members, workers, citizens, and lifelong learners.” 

Smith informed the students and teachers that in keeping with the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, students have the right to:

• Free primary education
• An education in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, and equality
• Protection against unlawful arrest

Kendal All Age School, Kendal, Manchester

The Reading Room at Kendal All Age School was an ideal environment to foster literacy. Dr. Carter gave parents and teachers an overview of the rationale for International Literacy Day, emphasizing the “Literacy for Peace” theme. Earlier, teachers and students discussed the relevance of the day to education.

In extending congratulations to the teachers of Kendal for establishing the Reading Club, Dr. Carter reminded parents that reading forms the basis for all other areas of learning and asked parents to support the club. Parents were also reminded that they were the fi rst teachers for their children, and involvement in their children’s education would help them to increase their knowledge base and help to attain success for their children.

Mandeville Regional Hospital

At the Mandeville Regional Hospital, Mr. Calvin Lyn and Dr. Elaine Carter read to children in the hospital wards. Retired teachers and members of community organizations offered guidance to young mothers in the Pediatric Ward of the hospital on their roles of reading to their infant children. 

International Literacy Day 

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Global Operations at the International Reading Association

Barbara Moore, who passed away in September, had a passion for life and education, a genuine commitment for social justice, and a willingness to put children at the centre of learning. She had a singular ability to work with people–to make each person feel special, to honour the work of people before her that contributed to her work, to instil a great sense of confidence in people, and to create a strong sense of cooperation rather than competition. Barbara became a raging virago when confronted with political and education injustices–and seeing this gentle woman "morph" was a sight to behold!

When I was asked to join the International Development in Oceania Committee Barbara Moore was an existing member, and she was very quickly promoted to chairperson. At that stage Barbara was in charge of the Reading Centre at the Institute of Education at the University of the South Pacific, in Fiji. She spearheaded the development of the South Pacific Literacy Education Project which was initially a joint venue between the Reading Associations of New Zealand and Australia, and then incorporated into the Oceania Committee work. She drew skilfully on the work of Warwick Elley and Francis Mungubai and captured to essence of the book flood learning and the importance of acknowledging and using community stories. Barbara showed incredible leadership across the Pacific–promoting effective practice in literacy and a love of learning, enhancing leadership, encouraging International Reading Association (IRA) membership, and supporting learning in and the publication of resources in children’s first languages.

IRA benefited immensely from Barbara’s commitment. She worked tirelessly to foster IRA’s goals, which she did with integrity and enthusiasm. She guided the International Development Coordinating Committee with co-chair Alistair Hendry, and worked to build positive and constructive relationships with the IRA Board of Directors–relationships that have continued to this day. At the first IRA International Leadership Conference in 1993 Barbara joined the NZRA "delegation" in presenting a very real view of New Zealand education that acknowledged our international links. At the traditional Committee Chairs breakfast at IRA conventions Barbara frequently shared her introduction with stories that were real and inspirational. Barbara’s love of literature and education was always a significant guiding influence.

Barbara was awarded the NZRA Citation of Merit in 1996. This is NZRA’s highest honour, given sparingly, to a person who has contributed significantly to local councils, to reading and to New Zealand (and international) education. One of the criteria was evidenced through Barbara’s participation in sponsoring Pasifika teachers to attend conferences–to set up specific programmes within conferences so that their time was focused and useful. For the 4th South Pacific Conference on Reading, held in Fiji, Barbara held the organisation together way beyond the planning. Pasifika teachers reported that Barbara’s intervention made their participation genuinely educationally productive.

The current highly successful initiatives of the Oceania Committee are based squarely on the work of Barbara.  She enhanced the concept of language experience with texts developed by local people in their first language.  Barbara was an educator ahead of her time. I am privileged to have worked with her and to have learned from her.

Barbara’s contribution to education is summed up nicely in her book, Rescuing the Castaways, written with Teraaka Biribo for the 12th IRA World Congress on Reading on the Gold Coast in 1988. This quote is from Chapter 7: “If you are literate, you feel like a human being, for you can learn about the world for yourself; and communicate with different people in different places. You gain through reading and become part of the wider world.” 

Thank you, Barbara Moore. 

Heather Bell is a member of the International Reading Association's Board of Directors. 

Today we begin our series of articles featuring the innovative projects coordinated by Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of the International Reading Association. In this debut feature, we highlight the Technology in Literacy Education SIG (TILE-SIG) who has been contributing weekly articles to Reading Today Online for the past few months. President Julie Coiro shares what makes the SIG unique and fun. 

1. Are you especially proud of any of your SIG's projects?
One SIG project I am especially proud of is our efforts to more actively involve conference attendees in our TILE-SIG annual session. Beginning in 2010, we decided to combine our regular large group presentation offering with more interactive small group roundtable sessions.  We’ve gotten positive feedback from our members about this format as it enables attendees to enjoy a 40-minute formal presentation made by the winner of our annual Computers in Reading Research Award and then meet in several small group 30-minute breakout sessions to talk more intimately with researchers and other teachers wanting to share their ideas about how technology can be used to improve the quality of reading instruction. At the 2012 IRA convention, we will host Renee Hobbs, our 2011 research award winner, and 18 different roundtable sessions, in three groups of six breakouts each. 

A second TILE-SIG project that I am proud of speaks to the amazing amount of expertise that lies within our membership. Our newsletter now boasts regular columns such as Voices from the Field (by Denise Stuart), Educational Blog Watch (by Mike Putman), Book Reviews (by Brenda Stein Dzaldov), and Summaries of TILE-SIG Presentations for SIG members unable to attend IRA’s annual convention. Elsewhere, this past August, seventeen TILE-SIG members volunteered to contribute to a blog series featured in Reading Today Online that posts weekly segments on topics including online composing tools, exemplary classroom websites, technology tips, research briefs, and professional development initiatives around infusing technology into the literacy curriculum. Recent posts by Jill Castek, Rick Ferdig, and Marjie Podzielinski, for example, illustrate just a few of the many ways that IRA and TILE-SIG members seek to support classroom teachers. 

2. What are the benefits of joining your SIG? 

The biggest benefit to joining the TILE-SIG is having regular access to formal and informal professional development opportunities and the insights of our over 190 members. Our membership is distributed mostly between classroom teachers and literacy researchers, although some hold positions as technology specialists, school administrators, or educational consultants. IRA members seeking to be more actively involved in initiatives related to technology and literacy are highly encouraged to join us and think about how you can help the SIG to better meet your needs. In addition to these networking opportunities, registered members receive our SIG newsletter two to three times each year; they can submit proposals to present at our annual TILE-SIG session; they work closely with members of IRA’s Technology Committee to assist with technology-related charges; and they can become more active as a SIG committee member. We are currently investigating opportunities to partner up with other SIGs for a social event at the annual convention as well.

3. Are there any future projects in store for your SIG?

One exciting new venture that TILE-SIG members Denise Stuart, from The University of Akron, and Paula Saine, from Miami University, are heading up this fall involves coordinating efforts to more formally connect our members who have volunteered to serve as liaisons between the TILE-SIG and their local/state reading associations. The TILE-SIG has members in almost every state in the United States as well as in at least six countries. Our hope is to find more ways to effectively share our resources and learn how our SIG can better meet the needs of classroom teachers seeking to improve the quality of reading instruction through the use of new technologies. Through these liaisons, we also hope to meet teachers doing exciting things in their classrooms and invite them to share their work with our members.

And finally, I think our most exciting future venture involves developing a professional, peer-reviewed journal for sharing research and teaching ideas related to literacy and technology. Beth Dobler, from Emporia State University, and Denise Johnson, from the College of William and Mary, have volunteered to head up this project and are hoping for the online publication for the inaugural issue of the Journal of Technology In Literacy Education to appear early summer, 2013.

4. How does one join your SIG? 
The easiest way to join our SIG is to visit IRA’s TILE-SIG website. From here, you can download the one page registration form and mail it with your $10 annual registration fee to our membership chair, Joan Rhodes, at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her contact information is included at the bottom of the form. Please note that you must be a member of IRA in order to join the TILE-SIG. There is also space on the form to indicate your interest in serving as a TILE-SIG committee member or liaison with your local reading association.

5. Is there a website, newsletter, or another way to find more information about your SIG? Is there a person that prospective members can contact?
To get a sense of our TILE-SIG offerings, you can download a recent newsletter or access several previous newsletters by selecting the Newsletters link at our TILE-SIG wiki. From the wiki, you can also explore handouts and presentation materials from previous TILE-SIG annual conference sessions and relevant resources connected to several years of Technology Pre-Conference Institutes, which are hosted collaboratively by members of TILE-SIG and IRA’s Technology, Communication and Literacy Committee. You do not need to be a member of the SIG to view the wiki; however, only SIG members will be given access to the wiki as content contributor.  To learn more about our SIG, you can contact me (Julie Coiro, President of the TILE-SIG) at jcoiro@mail.uri.edu or our membership chair Joan Rhodes at jarhodes2@vcu.edu. For more information about our newsletter, you can contact our co-editor Michael Putman at michael.putman@uncc.edu. 

If you would like Reading Today Online to feature your SIG, please contact readingtoday@reading.org.