Colorado Council International Reading Association Newsletter


June 2015
   CCIRA    
Calendar

June 5 Extension!
Attention Committee Chairs! Please submit End-of-Year Reports and updated charges to 



AUGUST 22
Community Service Grant
(Councils only)



AUGUST 22
Supplemental Grants Deadline
(Councils only)

AUGUST 31
Family Reading Celebration Grant Deadline
(Councils only)

JULY 18-20
ILA CONFERENCE
ST. LOUIS
NEWS AND UPDATES


Contact CCIRA Immediate Past President,
if you would like to attend the CCIRA event in St. Louis
on July 18. We'd love to have you join us!

 




Resources and Info

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Have you always wanted to present at the CCIRA annual conference? Do you have something you want to share with your colleagues? Research project? Great teaching strategy? CCIRA is now accepting proposals for the 2016 Conference. 



Summer Professional Learning Opportunities





Registration Deadline--
June 1st!!!


Find out more about this online professional learning opportunity here!


Summer Writing Institute: K-8
July 20-23
Click here for flyer.
Contact 
for more information.

children-globe.jpg

Interested in visiting Finland this summer to learn about their educational system.
Click here!











  
Mark your calendars 
February 3-6, 2016!  



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June 1, 2015

Summer Professional Learning

by Jan Killick, CCIRA President

Learning is like rowing upstream:  Not to advance is to drop back.

                                                              Chinese Proverb

 

 

     It is summer and time for rest, fun, and renewal. Part of that renewal is the continual learning we do as educators. So plan for some true rest and deeply satisfying enjoyment. But also plan time and activities to keep you "rowing upstream" and advancing your skills as a master teacher-leader. There are a variety of ways to access professional development.  One way is to focus on an area of professional development that you feel you need. Focus on one area of teaching/learning such as a deep understanding of data gained from the myriad of assessments given. Read articles, books, or attend a workshop devoted to explaining the purpose and use of a certain set of assessments. What is the profile of the learner you get when all the assessments given are analyzed? This is just one suggestion of study. You select an area of focused learning and begin your own self-paced and individual professional development plan.

     Advance your learning by attending a workshop or conference. Sign up for CCIRA's online book study. Some conferences offered this summer are: 

  • Teacher Leader Institute & Leadership Academy, June 23-26, in Kansas City, MO.  Reading Recovery of North America sponsors this conference.
  • ILA (International Literacy Conference), July 18-20, in St. Louis, MO. 
  • 2015 ASCD Conference on Teaching Excellence, July 22-26 in Austin,TX
  • Teacher's College Reading and Writing Project- 4 full days in metro Denver. Additional information here. Contact Kimberly Hartnett for additional information.

     Take advantage of local resources such as the Denver Art Museum, History Colorado, Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Botanic Gardens.  Visit these places with the idea of building in a high-quality field trip into one of the units of study you teach. Plan the pre-visit lessons, field trip learning activities, and the post-visit lessons. Review the reading, writing, listening, and speaking standards you will be addressing. Plan the assessment(s) of the learning outcomes stemming from the field trip. Don't forget these institutions also offer workshops for teachers.  Check out what courses and workshop are available to teachers.

     Keep learning by catching up on professional reading.  Select a book to read and discuss it with colleagues. Read articles from the Reading Teacher. Access the Colorado Reading Journal to read the current issues as well as past issues. Better yet, why not submit an article to this publication? Keep a summer learning journal and write about the learning or ideas gleaned from reading articles, books, or on-line resources. Write how you will apply new learning and new ideas to your instructional practice. Put that writing in a visible place to re-read in mid-August. 

     Keep rowing and have a summer of joy and learning. It is a time for rest, fun, and renewal!

IGNITE YOUR SPARK FOR LEARNING!
*2016 Conference Update*
by Amy Nicholl, Conference Chair

        

     Sometimes it is a spark, something we hear, see, or read that ignites in us a sense of wonder that leads us to new learning.  On February 3-6th, the 2016 CCIRA Conference on Literacy - "Illuminating a World of Wonder Through the Light of Literacy" may serve as a spark to ignite a new passion for teaching in you! Each month we are highlighting featured speakers and authors that will be at the 2016 Conference to share their expertise and share their passion with you! These are the speakers we are highlighting this month:

      Do you remember why you chose to go into teaching?  Whether it was just this year or over thirty years ago, Jan Burkins and Kim Yaris will remind you. Jan and Kim will be sharing practical ideas from "Reading Wellness" the focus of their newest book.  Their framework of four intentions - alignment, balance, sustainability, and joy will help you bring back the "love of reading" with your students. 

     Linda Hoyt stated, "in classrooms that are driven by curiosity and wonder, learners erupt with literate vigor and writing becomes a natural extension of the learning."  This idea fits in perfectly with our theme for the 2016 Conference.  Anyone who has the opportunity to hear one of Linda's presentations will leave with many ideas to take back and use in their classrooms to improve both reading and writing! She will definitely share a spark of excitement about literacy with you that you will carry back to your classroom!

     Don't miss the chance to set ablaze your passion for helping middle and high school students engage in their learning from Cris Tovani. Cris has a heart for teenagers and will share strategies to challenge all students at any level to pursue their interests.

     These are just a few of the many speakers and authors that will be featured at the 2016 Conference on Literacy!  Make plans to attend on February 3-6th, 2016! 

 

CCIRA News & Email Changes
Susan Hutchens, Immediate Past President
     As the CCIRA year comes to a close, I'd like to thank everyone in the organization for the support that was provided to me throughout the year. I was truly honored to be president of such a dynamic organization, and know the dedication from members will continue to grow and thrive as new leadership steps in. I'm looking forward to serving in the position of Immediate Past President in the coming year, and taking on the duty of producing the Communicator each month. Please contact me at with any news/information you think might be appropriate for CCIRA's monthly newsletter. 
     Jan Killick looks forward to serving as CCIRA president in the next year, as Amy Nicholl continues to organize the 2016 conference and steps into the role of president-elect. Anne Cook is already hard at work on the 2017 conference (yes - 2017!) in her position as vice president. Continuing on with their roles on the Executive Committee are: Kathy Livingston, treasurer; Jessica Rickert, State Coordinator; Sue Goodenow, Associate State Coordinator; Michele Warner, secretary; and Amy Ellerman, Director of Membership Development; Cathy Lynskey, State Membership Coordinator. Nicole Bonato will continue in her role as Operations and Events Manager.
Website Updates and New Emails for Executive Committee Members
 Thank you for your patience as we continue to update and upgrade our website. 
During this process, please contact our Operations and Events Manager, Nicole Bonato with questions or concerns. Thank you! 
Also, note our updated E.C. email addresses:

Jan Killick, President: [email protected]
Amy Nicholl, President-elect: [email protected]
Anne Cook, Vice President: [email protected]
Susan Hutchens, Immediate Past President: [email protected]
Michele Warner, Secretary: [email protected]
Kathy Livingston, Treasurer: [email protected]
Jessica Rickert, State Coordinator: [email protected]
Sue Goodenow, Assoc. State Coordinator: [email protected]
Amy Ellerman, Membership Development: [email protected]
Cathy Lynskey, Membership Coordinator: [email protected]
Nicole Bonato, Operations & Events Mgr.: [email protected]