Colorado Council International Reading Association Newsletter
 

August 2015
   CCIRA    
Calendar

AUGUST 21 AND 22
 Board of Directors and Leadership Meeting - at the Hilton Garden Inn. Please RSVP by Aug. 7 at noon.


AUGUST 21
SLRP meeting at 4:00 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn 


AUGUST 22
Community Service Grant
(Councils only)


AUGUST 22
Supplemental Grants Deadline
(Councils only)
  
AUGUST 31
Family Reading Celebration Grant Deadline 
(Councils only)
 
 
SEPTEMBER 30
Technology Grant
 
 
 
 
 


 




Resources and Info

CCIRA Adopts
a local elementary  school!

CCIRA leaders are asked to bring school supplies or books to our meeting in August to support this community service project for Paris Elementary School.





  
Mark your calendars 
February 3-6, 2016!  
 

2016 ILA Conference - Boston, MA 
July 9-11



 


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August 1, 2015

Creating Lifelong Readers  

by Susan Hutchens, Immediate Past President

       I headed to Missouri for the ILA Conference a day early - so I could surprise my grandmother on her 101 birthday! It was wonderful to celebrate this special day with her. While sitting in Mimi's room at the care center, I noticed the many piles of books on the table next to her reclining chair, along with baskets of magazines on the floor near her. Mimi was thrilled to admit that she refuses to watch television in her room - but that she loves to read and does so for hours every day.

     I was instantly curious about what had made her a (truly!) lifelong reader!

     Mimi confessed that her teachers and parents always encouraged her love of reading. Even though her family struggled financially, Mimi said she was always given at least one book every birthday and at Christmas.

     "Then I would disappear," she laughed. "If someone was looking for me, they'd find me behind a door or crouched down by my bed...reading my new book!"

     What a wonderful opportunity we, as educators, have to instill such a lifelong love of reading in our students! Although we might not be around to see it, we can all hope our students continue to enjoy reading long past the time they are in our classrooms.

2016 Conference Update
by Amy Nicholl, Conference Chair

      

     Your heart begins to beat faster. Your mind begins racing. Students running around the classroom suddenly invade your dreams. Yes, it is the beginning of another school year! Oh, such a sweet time of year! Everyone is filled with anticipation for what is to come, what the year holds, the connections that will be made, the new learning, trying new things, and relying on some tried and true methods. The magic of a new school year never ceases to amaze me.

     As you plan for this coming year, don't forget to set aside February 3-6, 2016! It will be a time of inspiration, a time to re-energize, and a time to grow professionally by attending the 2016 Conference on Literacy. The theme this year is "Illuminating a World of Wonder with the Light of Literacy." Speakers and authors at this event will encourage, captivate, and inspire all educators at all levels!

     Ruth Culham, the author of 6 Trait +1 Writing and The Writing Thief will be presenting this year on Thursday and also providing a small group session to twenty-five participants on Wednesday evening! Ruth's ideas on writing continue to transform classrooms around the world. Thursday night will hold another special session by Harvey "Smokey" Daniels. Smokey has written many books on reading from Literacy Circles to the second edition of Inquiry Circles. Regie Routman will also hold a special session on Friday evening. Regie's insights on literacy have proven to be a staple for classrooms everywhere to engage students in the lifelong love of literacy! These sessions will fill up fast, so be ready to register early!

     Registration booklets will be online this year, with registration opening on November 1.

     To view the incredible speakers who will be at the 2016 conference, go to: http://www.ccira.org/ccira-conference.html 

Meet a Member of the Executive Committee!
by: Sue Goodenow

      Sue Goodenow is the CCIRA State Coordinator from Craig. She taught there in the capacity of first, third, and fourth grade teacher, as well as a Literacy Interventionist.

     She presently is the Literacy Coach for Moffat County School District. Her passion is reading. The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure is her latest favorite book.

ILA Conference Delivers!
By: Susan Hutchens,
Immediate Past President

     The ILA Conference in St. Louis July 17-20 was certainly hot - and yet still provided a great opportunity to learn and connect with old (and new) friends about literacy! Scheduling the event in the summer proved beneficial to many educators, and I heard lots of folks comment how nice it was to attend without having to write sub plans.

     General session speakers were worth getting up early to hear, and included Shiza Shahid, Shaquille O'Neal, Stephen Peters, and Octavia Spencer. Interesting sessions throughout each day and evening made it hard to choose which ones to attend!

     The exhibit hall was packed with venders promoting books, reading programs, and other "teacher" goodies. I enjoyed meeting many new authors and getting books signed. It was fun running into past CCIRA presenters as well.

     ILA has already announced that the 2016 conference will be held in Boston July 9-11. Start planning now to attend!

New Emails for Executive Committee Members
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]
Jessica Rickert, State Coordinator: [email protected]
Sue Goodenow, Assoc. State Coordinator: [email protected]
Amy Ellerman, Membership Development: [email protected]
Cathy Lynskey, Treasurer: [email protected]
Jennifer Lindbo, Membership Coordinator: [email protected]
Nicole Bonato, Operations & Events Mgr.: [email protected]