Maryann Manning, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Literacy, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has been elected as IRA’s vice president for 2013-2014.

Three new board members were also elected: 

Bernadette Dwyer, Lecturer in Literacy Studies in Education, St. Patrick’s College, Dublin, Ireland

Laurie Elish-Piper, Professor, Department of Literacy Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois

Julianne Scullen, Teaching and Learning Specialist for Secondary Reading, Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools, Anoka, Minnesota

Their terms will run from 2013 to 2016.

The entire IRA community extends best wishes to the newly elected vice president and board members.

by Amanda Lister

The International Reading Association is going big this year by offering convention attendees an exclusive opportunity. You could be attending IRA’s 58th Annual Convention in sunny San Antonio as our VIP, an experience you won’t want to miss!

IRA’s “VIP Experience” package* includes a $100 gift card to Boudro's, a crowd-pleasing Texas bistro where the guacamole is made for you table-side and a $100 gift certificate to Paesanos Riverwalk, an old-world meets modern Mediterranean eatery that has been a local favorite for decades. The package also includes four tickets to the Rio San Antonio Cruises River Tour, a can’t-miss water tour led by guides who not only point out the sites but give you the history behind them. We’ll also upgrade your room reservation at your official IRA Convention hotel, because after all, don’t you deserve an upgrade?

As if that isn’t enough, the VIP winner will also receive spectacular treatment inside the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, including prime, up-front seating reserved at all three General Sessions, which means no rushing to secure your spot before each session begins! The winner also receives a VIP meet and greet with select speakers, a $100 voucher toward the purchase of books and merchandise at the IRA Bookstore, and a one-year online membership to IRA (existing members will receive a one-year extension to their current membership.)

Register on or before March 22, 2013 for a chance to win this package. Enter promotion code AC1309G when prompted. If you’ve already registered and booked an IRA Convention hotel, you’re already entered into the VIP contest. Our lucky winner will be notified by March 28, 2013.

The IRA 58th Annual Convention runs from April 19 to 22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit www.iraconvention.org and the iPlanner Program Grid and Event Search for details.

Amanda Lister is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.

* Prize package subject to change. Anyone who registers or has registered for IRA’s 58th Annual Convention and booked an IRA Convention hotel on or before 11:59PM PST, on March 22, 2013 will be entered to win. Enter promotion code AC1309G when prompted.

Jim Serger, Jr. has been compared to the “Energizer Bunny,” and we can see why. He not only decided to bike from Carmel, Indiana to Orlando, Florida with his friend Scott Golden, but he was determined that his 1,033-mile ride would make a difference for causes important in his life. The four nonprofits he donated to—the International Reading Association, The Prospect House, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation—all had personal connections for Serger. He loves to read, but the story of his bibliophilia is the product of his characteristic dynamism as well. Serger was a reluctant reader in school and admits to avoiding reading books for the 20 years after he graduated from college. Reading Today interviewed Serger about how he picked up reading again and why sharing the value of literacy is such a significant part of his life.

Reading Today: Thank you for your generosity to the International Reading Association! How did you hear about us?

Jim Serger, Jr.: I heard about International Reading Association through of course, reading a book on why to read. The book is called Read for Your Life by Pat Williams with Peggy Matthews Rose [HCI]. In this piece both authors talk about groups who promote the benefits of reading, and of course, yours was in there. Upon finishing the book I looked up your site and was really moved as to what your emphasis was—READING—and how to educate others on the importance of receiving that message.

RT: You say that reading "changed you." How so?

JS: I had not read a single book in 20 years. In February of 2010 I met an author/teacher who challenged everyone to read 15 minutes a day. That equates to 5,475 minutes in a year or 91.25 hours in a year. “Think of all the books you can read,” he said. We all have the time—just take 15 minutes out of your day, and watch the magic take over. I said I would give it a try. In the one year since I met the author I read 71 books. Then in 2011 I read 63 books, and so far this year I have read 43 books. I track from February to February. Reading has given me a new outlook on life—I am challenged daily by my reading. Now I read one hour a day, sometimes reading two books in one week. I find myself focusing on what is important, TV has gone to the wayside, and I am doing better in Jeopardy—I can't give that up. I go to bed earlier and I get up earlier. My family is now huge readers—my wife and I picked it up at the same time—and now our eight-year-old sees us and has been engaged from the word “go.” I speak clearer, I talk slower, I am a better writer, I can explain information to others better, and my confidence level has risen. I wrote my first book with my dad in 2011, called Go the Distance [Advantage Media Group]. I have always been outgoing, always willing to take a chance—but through reading they are now calculated risks—risks worth perusing and benefiting me and others. I go to church more. I read the Bible.  I have spoken with old high school and college friends, fraternity brothers, and old navy friends. I have seen a difference in my physical abilities as well—I worked out all the time in college and in the Navy—today over the last 24 months I have been on a regular routine—reading gave me structure, gave me meaning as to what is important and what is not.

RT: Which genres do you like to read?

JS: I read self-help books. I enjoy the Bible, business, motivational, sports, biography, and memoirs. I had not read the Bible in over 25 years since leaving McNicholas High School in Cincinnati—I just thought there was one version and one version only. Through reading I found out there are thousands of versions, from Fellowship of Christian Athletes to Leadership. Now I can narrow down which type I would like to read. It is fun and challenging, and I can learn more easily.

RT: Do you like to read books just the "old-fashioned way" in paper, or do you also like to read books on devices like Kindles and SmartPhones and listen to recorded books?

JS: I enjoy reading the old-fashioned hard copies of the book. When I started reading I just read the book from start to finish, but as I continued on reading I started to highlight and take notes in the book, which I dog-ear for reference. I also enjoy looking in my office at the stack of books I finished—it is a symbol of my efforts to read. Reading did not come easy to me, so to look at my efforts is rewarding. I have a 25-minute drive to work, and I started listening to books on CD. That is 50 minutes a day and 4.16 hours a week I can listen to books as well. I have heard all the songs over and over, plus with an eight-year-old who loves Radio Disney, I still can catch up on the popular music. I have not listened to audio books through smart phone or shuffle, but I would be willing to give it a try.

RT: Can you offer any advice to people who were "reluctant readers" in school and are starting to read again as adults?

JS: When I was a reluctant reader, I would rather watch a movie, sports game, TV show, or whatever else to take up my time. I hated to read—reading is what doctors do, lawyers do, and of course teachers tell you that you have to do. Basically I was fighting the cause, I was the rebel. “Reading, who has time for that?” Boy, I sure was wrong. I missed out for 20 years. If I started 20 years ago, today I could say I have read 1,400 books instead of almost 200. Better late than never! The best advice is this: give up one thing you can live with out in your daily routine and fill it in with 15 minutes of reading—not one hour, just 15 minutes. Give it 30 days, and 15 minutes will be 20, 25, 30 minutes. Soon, after 60 days, it will be 60 minutes or even 90. Stay on course—everything takes 30 days to become routine, and it works.

RT: IRA's Annual Convention theme is "Celebrating Teachers Making a Difference." Did any of your school teachers make a difference in your life? If so, how?

JS: Teachers are the reason I can read. We see the sign "If you can read this, thank a teacher." It is so true. I was fortunate to have excellent teachers through grade school and high school, two of which stand out: Mr. Pierson and Mrs. Horning. Each one of them made a difference in my life. As a matter of fact I am still in contact with them today. They brought out the best in me, and also were not afraid to challenge me. They new when I was giving it my all or when they needed to add a spark or two. Today I have another great teacher whom I learn a ton from through his actions and through his writing: Pat Williams, SR VP of the Orlando Magic, author of 75 books, motivational teacher, and father of 19 children (14 adopted). I have only met him two times, but he teaches people through his writing, through his actions, and through his commitment to educating people on the benefits of reading. Teachers never stop—even at 75 years old, they still continue to make a difference year in and year out. Another great teacher I had passed away a few years ago—Mr. Fanning. He was my dad's teacher as well as mine. He was a people person, a down-to-earth type teacher, not too hard and not too easy, but one that brought the best out of each student and understood each student is different than the other. He worked with the gifted and the ones who needed more efforts. He was very even-keeled, and up to his passing he was touching people’s lives. That is the difference teachers make—they never give up touching peoples hearts and of course minds.

RT: You say your second-grade daughter is an avid reader. How have the adults in her life—you, her teachers, librarians—helped her?

JS: The biggest reason my daughter is an avid reader is because she makes a choice at eight years old to read books. But why does she make the choice? Because she sees mom and dad are enjoying reading and her teachers love reading. Monkey see, monkey do. It all started with her in kindergarten. Her teacher said, “read to your kids every single day.” Today Maggie is in second grade, and she has an excellent system to follow, which is set up by the school and followed by her teacher Miss Nevogt. Miss Nevogt shares the program of what is called the daily five. All children do five work stations: Read to self, read to another student, listen to reading, work on writing, and word work. Miss Nevogt also reads aloud to the students for 20 minutes a day, but it is not just reading it is engaging the students. In that 20 minutes the children ask questions, understand the meaning of the book and the story line. So this exercise is not teacher to student—it is student to teacher, and teacher back to student. BOTH are tied up in the exercise, and it is fun for the students and the teacher to engage this atmosphere daily. 

RT: Do you have any advice for parents trying to get their children to read more often?

JS: Reading: if you do it, they will do it. If you don't, they won't. School and home are two different things—like peanut butter and jelly—separate they are no good on a sandwich, together it is the best thing in the world (to me). So we have to do the same at home as they would in school, fuse the two and become one, make home like school, make reading a part of home life as it is in their daily activity in school, allow children to read what they want to read as long as they are reading. Trucks, lizards, homes, countries, Presidents, fossils, dinosaurs, snakes, birds, Dr. Seuss, poems, plays, etc....Let them pick the subject matter and watch them soar. Read along side with them, help them understand the content, but also encourage them to read in their rooms, on their own. Unplugging the TV is so easy, just set up a time to do homework, and reading is right there with it. 15 minutes of that is it on reading, then 15 minutes turns into 45. Make it fun, ask questions when they are done. Ask who the author was, look them up on the computer, look up the publishing company, look up where the author lives. Engage them to look beyond the book, look at 365 degrees of the book, what it is made of, is it recycled material, who took the pictures, who edited the book, where are the books made? Look far down the road, be creative and your child will be creative. Teachers are always searching for new material to keep kids eyes and brains focused. We as parents can do the same. Read the book, and then go outside. Take what they read and put it in motion—play time can still be learning time. Children still need to be children, so make reading FUN.

RT: Any plans for future long rides?

JS: Riding a bicycle down to Florida from Indiana was an experience beyond anything I could describe to anyone. It took me places I have never seen, down roads and towns I never thought existed. I learned first hand on what it means to be out among mother nature—the hillsides, the farms, the small towns we read about, the countryside, the lay of the land. It was so much fun. As far as future rides, yes there is a vision. But it is about giving back that made this ride so special. Giving back to others and putting myself second are what I learned about this adventure. This is like anything else we do, something has to give in order for us to get the results we want. With picking up a book and starting, something else has to be put down. I logged 1,400 miles for training, in that time I had to put other interests to the back burner. I had to focus on the task at hand. Reading a book is like the bicycle journey, we can be taken anywhere, any time to any place. We just have to pick up the book and read to get there. 

RT: Wouldn't it be great if you could read while biking?

JS: It would be wonderful if we could read while biking. It would be wonderful if we could read while driving a car and while running a marathon. READING is so much fun; I only wish I had taken it up years ago. I saw it as a burden, instead of a need. I need reading, like a doctor needs to scrub his hands. I need reading in my life, like a dog needs to be walked. Thankfully, with today's technology we are able to read or listen to books anywhere at any given time—SmartPhones, iPad, shuffle, CD, Kindle, Nook, and good old fashion hard copies. As far as reading while riding a bicycle, I don't think technology can catch up with that, but if we listen [to a recorded book] with one bud in and the other out for safety, we can still listen to a book and exercise at the same time.

Read more about Serger on his website at http://jimserger.com/.

The International Reading Association is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization, and your contribution will help us in our goal to promote reading and literacy for all. Any gift, regardless of the amount, is greatly appreciated.  Please mail contributions made out to “IRA” to: International Reading Association, PO Box 8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139.

Gerri Settoon is the newst state coordinator for the Louisiana Reading Association. She shares what the role means to her and her excitement about the upcoming convention in nearby San Antonio with Reading Today.

When did you decide you wanted to become an educator?

Modeling by wonderful teachers who really made a positive impact on students such as myself influenced me to become an educator. When I entered college as a freshman, my goal to make a difference in the lives of young people was already established.

Which books influenced your decision to become an educator?

Roland Barth’s books helped guide my decision to be an educational leader. His stories beguiled me in a vicarious manner to experience the same effects in my art and craft as a Teacher Leader, which is the Principal’s true role. By mentoring and guiding the classroom instructional leaders to become the best they could be in their own craft, students would be impacted through exposure to quality educational practices. Effective teaching ensures that students are truly engaged in learning and encourages them to become life-long learners.

When did you become involved in IRA, and how has your involvement influenced your career?

My first attendance at an IRA conference was the most memorable and life-changing educational experience that I had ever had in professional development at that point in my life thirty years ago. I immediately came home and joined my local reading council and the Louisiana Reading Association. Professional development became vital to me and enabled me to reach my educational goals over the years. That scenario probably would not have occurred without that awesome awakening/happening achieved at my very first IRA conference.

Congratulations on being elected IRA state coordinator for the Louisiana Reading Association. What are the state coordinator's responsibilities, and how does the role differ from council board members and other officers?

As State Coordinator, I envision this position as a more global role than the other council board members and officers. According to IRA, the basic job is one of assisting with the formation and maintenance of local and special interest councils in the state/province. Each officer has a designated job to perform. It may be to organize and run the meetings, record the minutes of the meeting, or pay the bills of the association. However, after reading all the requisites for the State Coordinator, the position is more of a generalist. I really believe the true encompassing role of the State Coordinator is to serve the LRA members and especially support the work of the State and Local Reading Council Officers such as offering ongoing support and guidance to local/student/special interest council officers. A team approach is vital in all working together to achieve the goals of the organization. As a team, we have the power of many brains working on solutions for the good of the state and local reading councils. Organizations today seem to struggle in their ability to attract younger members. The State Coordinator can help by increasing her/his visibility and communication throughout the state in promoting the benefits of our organization for all members. By doing so, we hope to stabilize established councils and our state organization and generate interest in the formation of new local councils in un-served areas. Encouraging interest in the organization by appealing to the interests of new members whether through social media exchanges, virtual conferences, or other communication events which excite or motivate younger members to participate in will hopefully grow our organization.

We hear you're going to the IRA Annual Convention in San Antonio. Which sessions or events are you looking forward to attending at the convention?

My interest in sessions and events at the IRA Annual Convention has changed over the years. In my early years as a teacher, I was glued to sessions on improving literacy in my instructional practices. When I became a Principal, I attended similar sessions to acquire information to share with my staff as well as sessions useful to school leaders. Now that I am retired, I look forward each year at the IRA convention to attending the leadership sessions, legislative advocacy sessions, technology sessions, community literacy involvement sessions, as well as the instructional practices events.

What's the most valuable advice you can give to someone entering the literacy education field?

For beginning teachers, I would recommend looking for the highest quality professional growth activities that you can participate in to become knowledgeable in literacy education. A college degree is only a beginning. To hone your skills as a literacy educator, read professional books, network with your fellow teachers in job-embedded activities, observe highly skilled educators’ instructional practices, attend professional development opportunities such as your State Association Annual Conference and the IRA Annual Convention, and become receptive to new ideas that help you to involve your students in meaningful learning experiences each day in your classroom.

What do you consider to be your proudest career moment?

My proudest moment as an educator was being selected as “Outstanding Achiever in Education” by the Bureau of Government Research Organization in our area. A beautiful framed award and $1,000 monetary gift accompanied the recognition. This selection was based on my high-poverty school’s turnaround academic achievement. Over a period of several years, we went from a score of around 38 to a score of 98. We were in competition with the top scoring schools across the district and managed to come in first or second during the years I was at the school.

What do you like to do when you're not wearing your educator hat?

Even when you retire, you can’t take the love of reading away. Reading for pleasure as well as knowledge is a daily practice. Many years ago, I met a man who was successful at everything that he achieved but he never attended college. For years, he worked as a self-trained engineer before becoming interested in the silver mining process. He learned all his knowledge in the library as a voracious reader. Where there is a will, there is a way, through reading and determination! For more active fun, I enjoy fishing. Even if the fish “aren’t biting”, it is lovely being on the water, rocking in a boat, and daydreaming in the sunshine!

Author Joan Bauer’s latest young adult novel, Almost Home, was released in September 2012 to critical acclaim. Kirkus’s review of the novel suggested that Bauer had “created one of her strongest young women yet,” but the success of Almost Home won’t come as much of a surprise to Bauer fans. Her previous novel, Close to Famous, was the recipient of the ALA's Schneider Family Book Award, the Christopher Award, the Judy Lopez Memorial Award, and was a YALSA/ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick.

Her novels’ true-to-life themes and uplifting resolutions have made Bauer a favorite with young readers and teachers alike. Bauer is the featured presenter at the Young Adult Literature Luncheon at IRA’s Annual Convention on Sunday, April 21, 2013. During the session, the award-winning author will talk about some of her writing inspirations and the importance of laughter in young adult literature.

Bauer was inspired to write her first novel, Squashed, after a serious car accident left her with a lot of time and a lot of healing. The novel touches on the power of agriculture and the challenges that unite families with the help of a uniquely unrelenting humor. Bauer makes it clear that “the laughter in Squashed” was a critical factor in her recovery.

Despite the fact that much of Bauer’s writing explores serious issues, she is still able to instill her novels with a sense of wit and hope. Many of her novels serve as great introductions to important topics, like resilience and honesty. Bauer makes implementing her work in the classroom easy with a number of teaching guides and activity resources. 

Registration for IRA’s 58th Annual Convention is open and tickets for the Young Adult Literature Luncheon with Bauer on Sunday, April 21st are available on a first-come basis. The Annual Convention will take place in San Antonio, Texas from April 19 to 22. Visit www.iraconvention.org and the iPlanner Program Grid and Event Search for details.

Elizabeth Bleacher is the strategic communications department intern at the International Reading Association.