Curiosity guarantees a life of learning
Reading…The Teachable Moment
I can’t recommend attending this conference enough. It is always such a rewarding experience. Participants are friendly and eager to discuss sessions and what’s happening in their classrooms. New Orleans is an amazing host. They certainly know how to throw a party and celebrate.
Conference – May 10-12, 2014
Institute Day – May 9th
Early Registration ends April 14, 2014
Go to reading.org to register
LOMCIRA has always been synonymous with “committed literacy educators”. Over the years, many people have come together to talk books (for old and young), kids and classroom environments. Many of you may have attended meetings at Schou in Burnaby, sharing sessions at VSB schools or conferences in hotels. This past year, LOMCIRA has gone into dormancy. Although there are still a wealth of committed literacy educators in the Lower Mainland, a group of people have not stepped into the existing International Reading Association group structure.
A unique opportunity exists for a group of like-minded individuals to step forward and create a new literacy group that meshes with their needs and goals. In the past, LOMCIRA took on large projects and invited researchers and published authors to stimulate discussion about applications of research into the classroom. A new group may decide to meet periodically throughout the year to discuss the latest ReadWriteThink ideas or invite an author to talk about their writing process.
BC Literacy Council members could also be invited to support the group and share their wealth of knowledge. In my capacity as provincial coordinator, I’d be more than happy to work with International Reading Association members to familiarize them with the opportunities in the IRA or ways to organize sharing sessions or meetings. Certainly all of us can tell you about the amazing opportunity of going the IRA Annual General Meetings like the one coming up in New Orleans. I presented with The Canadian contingent at an AGM in New Orleans. The Jazz Festival, the food, especially the beignes were as amazing as participating in symposiums and meetings with the people have written the books we love to discuss.
Please let me know if you would be willing to work with educators in the Lower Mainland in meeting the goals of bringing current research and quality literature into our classrooms.
IRA and Rotary have joined together since 2002 to promote literacy and we are mutually encouraging each other to work on literacy issues close to home and internationally—whatever works for the local members. This year, the Pearson Foundation has funded two $2500 literacy awards towards literacy work that an IRA council or affiliate undertakes jointly with a Rotary club in 2014. Rotarians are eager to find ways to work with IRA on literacy projects. Rotary is a wonderful organization and one of their goals is to help improve global literacy. One more reason to work together with other International Reading Association members.
Mike Bowden will be going to the IRA AGM in New Orleans. He will be presenting with two other colleagues on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples Special Interest Group. They will be presenting a vocabulary research project they are doing within the Kamloops District in conjunction with Thompson Rivers University and Dr. Ramirez. Look for him and his team if you are heading down to New Orleans for the IRA Conference this May.
Since 1956, IRA has been a nonprofit, global network of individuals and institutions committed to worldwide literacy. More than 53,000 members strong, the Association supports literacy professionals through a wide range of resources, advocacy efforts, volunteerism, and professional development activities. Our members promote high levels of literacy for all by:
Improving the quality of reading instruction
Disseminating research and information about reading
Encouraging the lifetime reading habit
“Celebrating teachers and honoring effective literacy teaching in a changing world.”
Mission Statement
The mission of the International Reading Association is to promote reading by continuously advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide.
One of my first official duties as Provincial Coordinator was to go visit Michael Bowden at his new school, Dufferin Elementary School, in Kamloops. Mike is a long time and very committed member of The International Reading Association. He has been working with a group of colleagues in the South Central region of British Columbia to come together to form a IRA literacy council. Our conversation focused on ways to bring together passionate literacy educators to discuss current research and applications in our classrooms. Check out their site at South Central Literacy Council. I believe several members from the South Central region will be heading down to New Orleans for the IRA AGM / Conference.
The International Reading Association is a wonderful source of information for educators about both reading research and classroom practice. It is structured to allow groups to come together and create communities of literacy learners. The provincial association in British Columbia is called The BC Literacy Council of The International Reading Association (BCLCIRA). ReadingBC has been adopted as the user friendly name for this group. Check out the website to read about local happenings and perspectives. You can also follow me on twitter @CarrieFroese. Our hashtag is #rdgBC
LOMCIRA (The Lower Mainland Council of the IRA) was the first council to be formed in British Columbia. Although it is currently dormant, the structure exists waiting for a vital group to come together and to breath new life into it. There have also been active councils in Kelowna and Victoria.
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