February 2013 IRC Communicator

Aloha. After two weeks in Hawaii at the Hawaiian International Conference on Education and off the grid on the island of Hawaii, I came back to Illinois, remindful of community. The “Aloha Spirit” truly encompasses the values of our literacy community. The “Aloha Spirit” includes all in the community. No one is left out: each has his or her important role on the island. Each is valued, for on an island, they are dependent upon each other for survival. Traditionally no one is punished: rather they are sent to the refuge center where they are taught the skills and values necessary for the survival of island people. Our literacy community leaves no one out. Professionals strive to support the literacy development of each and everyone in the diverse community of learners. The Illinois Reading Council leads these efforts in a myriad of ways. The local councils provide programs in the community. The state council provides services for members and is constantly seeking ways to broaden these efforts. The annual conference in Springfield is one of the best in the country. Struggling readers are supported by literacy specialists. All learners are included, regardless of their prior skills and knowledge. Illinois educators create warm and inviting environments where children learn to read and write.

I hope you are planning to attend Literacy for Life March 14-16, 2013. It is your opportunity to experience the “Aloha Spirit” as you participate in the community of dedicated teachers, administrators, librarians, para-professionals, and others who support literacy in Illinois. Tammy Potts is bringing together a cadre of people who intend to support our professional growth.

In addition, new this year is the Illinois Reads initiative. Imagine sharing thoughts about books with readers from Freeport to Cairo, from the Quad Cities to Chicago, from the country to the suburbs to the cities of Illinois. Books bind to each other and to the human experience. Hopefully you will be able to attend the launching of this event at the Old State Capitol, Wednesday March 13th. Meet the Illinois Legislator of the Year as well as Illinois authors whose books are on the Illinois Reads list. Experience history as you wander through the rooms of the Old State Capitol.

When the snow melts, and spring blossoms in Illinois, I wish you Aloha, and I trust that you will keep the spirit of community alive in your classrooms, schools, libraries, and homes.

IRC President

Pat Braun

Volume 36, Number 3 February 2013

In This Issue:

BOARD BRIEFSPresident’s Column . . . . . . . . . . 1IRA State Coordinator . . . . . . . . 2-3

IRC ACTIVITIES 2013 IRC Conference . . . . . . . 3Illinois Reads Launch . . . . . . . . 42013 Legislator of the Year . . . . 7IRC Publications . . . . . . . . . . . 11Awards and Grants . . . . . . . . . 16

FORMSIRC Conference Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Illinois Reads Marketplace . . . . 9

FEATURESKindergarten Book a Night . . . . 4 RtI Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Illinois Authors’ Corner . . . . . 6Illinois Title I Strand . . . . . . . . . . 7Literature Technology . . . . . 10-11 SRL’s 37th Day of Reading . . . 12Newspapers in Education . . . . 12Meet an IRC Researcher . . . . . 13Cool Studies . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15ILLC’s 39th Annual Young Authors Conference . . . . . . . 15

Registration and Housing is available now!

2013 IRC Conference March 14-16, 2013

February 2013 Communicator.indd 1 2/21/13 3:26:44 PM

Volume 36, Number 3 February 2013

IRA State Coordinator

Roberta Sejnost

2 February 2013

The Illinois Reading Council Communicator

Governing well is not easy. It takes knowledge, skills,

experience, courage, character and most

importantly, teamwork.

Leading in 2013: Meeting Council

Challenges

A new year brings n e w a c t i v i t i e s , new successes and s o m e t i m e s n e w challenges. I am so proud of our councils a s t h e y p r o v i d e support, services and

collegiality for their members. It was especially thrilling to visit Western Illinois Reading and Northern Illinois Reading to see how they have embraced pre-service teachers and tailored meetings to focus on their needs as they enter the teaching profession. And, how fantastic to see councils like Black Hawk, East-Central-EIU, Illini, Mississippi Valley, National Road, and Vermillion Valley willing to devote their Saturday mornings to council meetings. It works, folks; attendance grows; try it sometime.

But, to accomplish new activities and success, we sometimes face challenges, and during 2012, several councils have shared the challenges of working together in a collegial fashion. An excellent book that has great implications on ways to accomplish this is: The Imperfect Board Member: Discovering the Seven Disciplines of Governance Excellence by Jim Brown. The Governance Excellence Model (GEM), which is highlighted in the book, includes 6 disciplines organized into diamond-like facets. They are:

REFLECT1. : Understand the results of organizational operations and rationale for deviations. RESPECT2. : Listen, understand, and elicit input from members. SELECT3. : Choose leaders with skills, values, and credibility to fulfill key responsibilities. DIRECT & PROTECT4. : Focus on vision, mission, and values. Determine key results and monitor progress. EXPECT5. : Clarify board expectations, encourage open communication, and promote effective team dynamics. CONNECT6. : Agree upon, understand, and comply with expectations for healthy board relations.

Governing well is not easy. It takes knowledge, skills, experience, courage, character, and most importantly, teamwork. This book is a great way to support your council’s leadership team in the journey toward governance excellence!

Meeting Honor Council ChallengesNow that we have some new parameters for the IRA Honor Council Award, I have received many questions for clarification. Here is a summary of questions most councils ask.

What changes were made to the 2012 - 2013 Honor A. Council Award?

Local, student, and special interest councils must 1. include their accomplishments from July 1-June

30, 2012 only.Honor Council Award applications 2.

are due on or before February 1.Councils must give a brief 3.

summary of programs, projects, and activities to support each required and optional criteria. Councils do not need to scan and include newsletters, checks, or documents.

There are revisions to the required 4. and optional criteria. Check the IRA website for these as well as specific examples

Can some items submitted last year be submitted B. again this year?Councils may use documentation from the July 2011-June 2012 council year, including activities that may have been submitted previously. Additional documentation occurring in the fall of 2012 may also be used to meet the criteria for achieving the Honor Council award if needed.

If a council achieved Honor Council award C. status last year, must they resubmit the same documentation from last year? What criteria must be updated and submitted this year in order to be eligible for Honor Council? Councils that achieved Honor Council last year do not need to resubmit documentation. (IRA already has this information.) However, councils will still

Continued on page 3



February 2013 3

MissionThe mission of the Illinois Reading Council is to provide support and leadership to educators as they promote and teach lifelong literacy.

Illinois Reading Council203 Landmark Drive, Suite B

Normal, IL 61761Phone: 888-454-1341

Fax: 309-454-3512E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.illinoisreadingcouncil.orgNing: illinoisreadingcouncil.ning.com

and join us on Facebook!

need to complete the online application and meet the following expectations to earn Honor Council this year:

10 IRA Members•1 New IRA Member (NOTE: If a council did not •meet this requirement last year, they must add at least one new IRA member between July 1 and January 31, 2013. SubmissionofOfficerReportFormfor2012-13•totheIRCofficebyApril15,2013

What if a council did not achieve Honor Council D. last year? If a Council did not apply for or achieve Honor Council last year, they should include progress from last year along with the new accomplishments this year to meet the required/optional criteria. Any council activities scheduled through January 31, 2013 may be used to fulfill criteria this year.

What is the required council membership increase E. for a council to be considered for the Honor Council award?

1. Councils should compare the total number of members from June 2011 to that of June 2012. There must be an increase of at least one member.

2. If a council did not meet this requirement last year but has increased council membership between July 1 and January 31, 2013 they will meet the criteria for this year.

What do we need to know about the online F. submission form available on the IRA website? It is strongly recommended that a login account be established so that the process can be finished in phases and accessed again at a later time.

Our councils are strong and growing stronger, and I am confident we will meet these challenges during the 2013 year. I wish you all the best as you implement new activities and collect great successes.

Yours in Literacy,

Bobbie Sejnost

2013 IRC ConferenceLiteracy for Life

By Tammy Potts, 2013 Conference Chair

IRA State Coordinator continued from page 2

Considered to be one of the preeminent conferences in the country, our 45th annual conference has something for everyone: classroom teachers K-12; reading and ELL specialists; librarians and media specialists, special educators and administrators.

Our professional development needs will be met by some of our country’s most practical and well-regarded speakers. Steeped in stories, our authors will delight with tales of their passion for writing and joy in their books.

There is no doubt that the 45th annual Illinois Reading Council Conference has something for every educator! Registration is open now!


4 February 2013


The Illinois Reading Council’sLegislative Committee and Illinois Reads Committee

Cordially invite you to the

2013 LEGISLATIVE RECEPTIONWednesday, March 13, 2013Old State Capitol Building

6:00- 8:00 p.m.

Honoring Kimberly A. Lightfordand the

Launch of ILLINOIS READS

Invited guests: Secretary of State and State Librarian,

Jesse WhiteLt. Governor Simon

Four years ago, as I became a Preschool for All teacher, I had a persistent feeling that I needed a plan for family literacy. I wanted a book in the hands of every family, each night. The mom of four children, I knew how busy family life was.

Being a literacy advocate, I realized I might be able to help. The final project: Book a Night. With the help of my parent coordinator, Book a Night is going strong. Last year I received the Adult and Family Literacy Grant through the Illinois Reading Council, allowing us to expand the program to the three Kindergarten classrooms and primary instructional special education class in our district.

In the Book a Night Program, the students select a book to take home each day. They fill out a small slip of paper telling who read the book, along with their opinion of the book—did they like it? Yes or No. Each classroom has a tub of developmentally appropriate, high quality books. The teachers rotate their tubs each quarter. Span-ish books are available for bilingual families.

While it was the initial plan four years ago to eventually expand the program through each grade, a Kindergarten parent at her October parent/teacher conference last year became the catalyst to applying for the IRC Grant. “Do you have Book a Night in Kindergarten?” she asked. “It really makes it easy to read to my child each day.”

Book a Night helps the child always have a book, eas-ily accessible. If a child is sitting in the car at an older sibling’s soccer practice, the book is there. If the child is at the sitter’s, the book is ready to read. I’ve heard stories of children pulling their books out of their bags and asking their special grown-up to read to them.

Thank you to the Illinois Reading Council and the Adult and Family Literacy Grant for helping me to expand my simple, yet often so powerful, Book a Night Program into Kindergarten. It is a project that will continue to serve many children in Kindergarten, year after year.

Kindergarten Book a Night

By Sarah Jecks



February 2013 5

Dr. Mary Howard is a nationally known author on the topic of Response to Intervention (RtI). A featured speaker at the Illinois Reading Conference, March 14-16, in Springfield, Illinois, Mary Howard has the reputation of being a “teacher’s teacher.” The RtI/Common Core Committee Book Review highlights two of Dr. Howard’s companion books addressing the framework and implementation of RtI.

Title: RtIFromAll Sides:What Every Teacher Needs to KnowAuthor: Dr. Mary HowardPublisher: HeinemannISBN: 978-0-325-02670-1RtI: Tier 1, 2, & 3CCSS Standard Strands Addressed: Reading , Wr i t i n g , S p e a k i n g & ListeningReviewer: Gail Huizinga

Mary Howard’s book, RtIFromAllSides:WhatEveryTeacher Needs to Know, is a valuable read for educators responsible for Tier 1, 2, and 3 RtI implementation. Mary’s RtI philosophy and structure are backed up with solid research from educators such as Richard Allington and Sharon Taberski. The book’s content is presented in a very clear manner. Beginning with a thorough explanation of high quality Tier 1 instruction, the author uses the foundation to examine strong Tier 2 and Tier 3 implementation. Educators new to RtI, as well as those familiar with the framework, will find the information clear and concise. Key ideas are highlighted effectively using a traffic light analogy.

As one moves forward with RtI, providers need to be aware of when to take a step back (RED light), when to proceed with caution (YELLOW light), or when to move forward (GREEN light). In addition, the book contains excellent chapters on assessment and successful school-wide implementation. A chapter-by-chapter study guide is also included. The book promotes strong

RtI/Common Core Book ReviewsByGailHuizinga,RtI/CommonCoreCommitteeCo-Chair

instructional best practice that does not rely solely on packaged programs and assessments. Mary Howard strongly advocates teacher ownership and competence. She continually refers to the importance of “the you factor.” Her purpose for writing this book is to provide teachers with a guide to help them make good decisions for themselves, their students, and their schools.

I found RtIFromAllSides:WhatEveryTeacherNeedsto Know helpful and worth reading to gain a clearer understanding of successful RtI implementation.

Title: Moving Forwardwi th R t I : Read ing , & Writing Activities for Every Instructional Setting & TierAuthor: Dr. Mary HowardPublisher: HeinemannISBN: 978-0-325-03040-1RtI: Tier 1, 2, & 3CCSS Standard Strands Addressed: Reading, Writing, Speaking & ListeningReviewer: Gail Huizinga

In RtI from All Sides: What Every Teacher Needs to Know, Mary Howard provided thoughtful and effective RTI framework for one’s intervention tiers. Moving ForwardwithRtI: Reading&WritingActivities forEvery Instructional Setting & Tier is the follow-up to RtI from All Sides providing flexible literacy activities to implement the framework provided in the companion text. MovingForwardwithRTI is intended to be a “day-to-day” classroom guide for teachers at all grade levels and tiers. A CD-ROM with 100 customizable reproducibles in English and Spanish is included. With a background in special education, Mary Howard’s activities are strongly rooted in sound differentiation techniques. However, she wisely points out again that any intervention or core program is dependent on the most important component: “the you factor”…the teacher is what will ultimately make or break the intervention/program and not the activities in the book.


6 February 2013


Presidents from the Prairie State: Lincoln Grant Reagan Obama

Written by Pamela J. Farris Mayhaven Publishing January 2013Category: Biography Grades: 4-9Short biographies of Illinois Presidents provide glimpses into four unique periods of U.S. history. Well known facts are combined with little known information about each President and their contributions to the U.S. and the world at large. The book provides an objective presentation of facts about each President, making it a valuable addition to any library.

Bob Beetle Book BugThe Magical World of Books

Written by Phyllis GriggsIllustrated by Carlos Lemos Mirror Publishing January 2012Category: Picture Book Ages: 3-9Bob Beetle is a book bug that lives inside a magical world. The Magical World of Books. Bob Beetle Book Bug captures the attention and sparks the imagination of children, inspiring them to develop a lifelong love of reading and to spend time reading with their families.

Chances AreWritten by Susan Bangert-Wood Illustrated by Jack FosterGuardian Angel Publishing October 2012Category: Alphabet Book Ages: 2-9An entertaining alphabet book with unusual animals doing zany things. Look inside for aardvarks, komodo dragons, and many more incredible creatures. The comical illustrations will capture the imagination while building reading skills at many levels. Also included are activities for parents/teachers to do with children. A whimsical book that will delight children of all ages.

Welcome to the “Illinois Authors’ Corner,” showcasing new releases from our fabulous Illinois Authors and IRC members. If you’d like to include your new release, please visit the IRC website to find out how to submit information.

Nominations for the 2014 Prair ie State Award for Excellence in Writing for Children are being accepted until June 14, 2013.

This award recognizes an Illinois Children’s/

Young Adult Author whose body of work demonstrates excellence, engenders a love of literature, and embraces an important part of the mission of the Illinois Reading Council—to promote lifelong literacy. The Nomination Form is available at www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org.


We are fortunate this year to recognize Senator Kimberly A. Lightford, 4th District, and Assistant Majority Leader as the Legislator of the Year! Since the beginning of her political career, State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford has been a vocal champion of her strongest passion: promoting

quality educational and development programs for Illinois’ youth. As either Chair or Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee for over a decade, Senator Lightford has been able to pass landmark legislation providing specialized curricula in bullying prevention and a universal preschool program for at-risk three- and-four-year-old children.

After becoming Senate Assistant Majority Leader in 2009, Lightford has enhanced her role as an advocate for education reform. Through her leadership, the Senate has passed legislation reforming and increasing the cap on charter schools in Illinois. Her expertise positioned her as the top negotiator on legislation developed as a part of President Obama’s Race to the Top Program, leading to the establishment of stronger methods of evaluating teachers and tracking student progress. In addition, Senator Lightford has worked tirelessly to pass legislation aimed at re-enrolling high school dropouts. The Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) program will offer classes to students who have dropped out of high school, allowing them a second chance at earning a high school diploma. In 2011, she led negotiations on a landmark education reform bill and succeeded in passing the bill through the General Assembly.

Senator Lightford currently represents much of Chicago’s West Side as well as the communities of Bellwood, Berwyn, Broadview, Forest Park, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park, North Riverside, Oak Park, River Forest, Riverside, and Westchester. Currently in her fourth term representing the 4th Legislative District,

Senator Lightford serves as an active member of the Assignments, Education, and Executive, Executive Appointments, Financial Institutions and Redistricting committees. She resides with her family in Maywood. Senator Lightford received the Chicago Teachers Union Certificate of Commendation for Support of Public Education. Lightford started Saturday University as a free program to improve academic performance for Illinois children. This community-based program provides opportunities for students, parents, and community agencies to take control of their children’s education and features math and reading courses taught by instructors that fully engage each student as active learners. It is supplemental education designed to boost children’s academic success and to raise communities’ academic expectations and performance.

Senator Lightford will receive the Legislator of the Year Award at the annual IRC Conference Welcome Reception that will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. All conferees and Illinois Legislators are invited to attend.

Legislator of the Year AwardMike Ellerman, Legislative Chair


February 2013 7

The Illinois Title I Association (ITA)will sponsor the

Title I StrandMarch 15, 20138:00-4:00 p.m.

2013 IRC ConferenceSpringfield, Illinois

Please visit the ITA Council Webpage on the IRC Website at

www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org for more information.


Check (payable to IRC)

METHOD OF PAYMENT (Sorry, no P.O.’s accepted!)

Return this form with payment to:Illinois Reading Council

203 Landmark Drive, Suite BNormal, IL 61761

Or fax to: (309) 454-3512Or register online at

www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org

Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover)

Special Accommodations – Individuals who need special accommodations must make specific requests in writing to the IRC office at least three weeks prior to the conference. Cancelation/Refund Policy – Requests must be made in writing by March 1, 2013. Please see the complete policy under General Conference Information or at the IRC Website. Unless notified in writing, this registration constitutes an agreement that the registrant’s image, likeness, and appearance can be used in photographs of such events and activities.

2013 IRC ConferenceRegistration Form

March 14-16, 2013 Springfield, Illinois

ONE NAME ON EACH FORM Please print or type. Form may be reproduced.

Name (Last)________________________________________ (First)____________________________________________________

School/Business_____________________________________ City_____________________________________________________

Home Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________

City_______________________________________________ State_____________________ Zip____________________________

Home Telephone ( ) _____________________________ Business Telephone ( ) _________________________________

Email ___________________________________________________________________ Presenting at Conference? ___Yes ___ No

Are you an IRC member? ___Yes ___No Council Affiliation _____________________ Are you an IRA member? ___Yes ___ No

REGISTRATION includes meetings on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On or Before February 1, 2013 After February 1, 2013

____IRC Member (Membership Number ___________________________________) $150 $175

____Retiree (Member) ____Preservice Teacher with ID (Member) $25 $50

____Non-Member (If you join now with your conference registration, register as a member!) $225 $250

____Retiree (Non-Member) ____Preservice Teacher with ID (Non-Member) $50 $75

MEALS Meals are optional. Mark choice of menu. Include payment with registration.____Thursday Breakfast (A. Lincoln) . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . Neal Shusterman $18 $23 _____Scrambled Eggs & Bacon _____Vegetarian____Thursday Luncheon (A. Lincoln) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . Jeff Anderson $22 $27 _____Chef Salad with Ham & Turkey _____Vegetarian Salad with Chickpeas ____Thursday Luncheon (Hilton) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . Sharon M. Draper $22 $27 _____Pesto Chicken Tortellini _____Pesto Tortellini ____Thursday Prairie State Award Banquet (A. Lincoln) . . . Richard Peck $30 $35 _____Chicken Marsala _____Vegetarian

____Friday Breakfast (A. Lincoln) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . Jordan Sonnenblick $18 $23 _____Cinnamon French Toast _____Vegetarian ____Friday Luncheon (A. Lincoln) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steven L. Layne $22 $27 _____Grilled Chicken Club _____Vegetarian _____Fried Walleye Sandwich ____Friday Luncheon (Hilton) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Hoyt $22 $27 _____Trio of Salads _____Vegetarian ____Friday Night Pizza Party for Preservice Teachers Only! FREE FREE

____Friday Banquet (A. Lincoln) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katherine Paterson $30 $35 _____Stuffed Pork Loin _____Vegetarian _____Tilapia with Butter Sauce____Friday Night Entertainment Event (Hilton) . . . . . . . . . . Adventure Stage Theatre $10 $15

____Saturday Breakfast (A. Lincoln) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Gallagher $18 $23 _____Three Cheese Omelet _____Vegetarian____Saturday Author Luncheon (Hilton) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosemary Wells $25 $30 _____Mama’s Meatloaf _____Vegetarian

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $_____________ $_____________

Credit Card Expiration DateSignature ________________________________________

Mo. Yr.


BADGE HOLDER ............................................................$5.00 X ______ = _____________

LANYARD ..........................................................................$5.00 X ______ = _____________

LICENSE PLATE FRAME .............................................$5.00 X ______ = _____________

TOTE BAG .........................................................................$5.00 X ______ = _____________

TUMBLER ..........................................................................$5.00 X ______ = _____________

T-SHIRTS: Small..........................................................$18.00 X ______ = _____________ Medium.......................................................$18.00 X ______ = _____________ Large..........................................................$18.00 X ______ = _____________ XL..............................................................$18.00 X ______ = _____________ XXL............................................................$18.00 X ______ = _____________ XXXL..........................................................$18.00 X ______ = _____________

TOTAL DUE __________

Illinois Reads Marketplace Order Form

Make checks payable to IRC and return to:Illinois Reading Council

203 Landmark Drive, Suite BNormal, IL 61761

online at: www.illinoisreads.orgor fax to: (309) 454-3512

Name: _________________________________________________ Council: ___________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip: __________________

Phone: _________________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________

Thank you for supporting Illinois Reads!

Check (payable to IRC) Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover)

Signature _______________________________Credit Card Expiration Date:

Mo Yr.

Method of Payment: (Sorry, no P.O.’s accepted.)

License Plate FrameBadge Holder TumblerLanyard Tote Bag


10 February 2013


Now that the winter season is upon us, it’s time to turn our attention to some good children’s literature and activities to keep our students engaged as the snowflakes fall. Winter brings with it thoughts of not only snow, but penguins, snowmen, and of course, Martin Luther King’s birthday.

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, Cinderella Penguin by Janet Perlman and the timeless classic, Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and F l o r e n c e A t w a t e r a r e delightful penguin themed books to begin the New Year. Performing a web quest about penguins would

further enhance student’s knowledge about these lovable and unique animals.

2013 marks the 50 th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech. Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport and a beautiful new book I Have A Dream by Kadir Nelson which includes a CD of Dr. King’s speech will bring additional meaning to the study of Dr. King. The National Park Service www.nps.gov has a wealth of information on Dr. King.

February arrives with thoughts of Groundhog and Valentine’s Day intertwined with African American History month and of course, President’s Day. To learn more about Groundhog Day head on over to www.groundhog.org to see what Punxsutawney Phil is up to as well as teacher lesson

plans. For a history of the day go to www.stormfax.com. Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather by Bruce Koscielniak and Groundhog Day by Gail Gibbons are two good reads. Visiting www.gailgibbons.com will provide you with lesson plans, not only for this day, but Valentine’s Day as well.

Studying African American historical notable people and America’s past and present presidents might be a good time to invoke the latest computer activity, creating a “Face Book page.” Directions for creating this page, similar to a Face Book Page, can be found at www.readwritethink.org. An online version or a pkg. of 30 can be found at Teacher’s Discovery. The books FreedomRiver by Doreen Rappaport and True North by Kathryn Lasky will enhance the study of the Underground Railroad as part of this integrated unit. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at www.freedomcenter.org is a fine resource for teachers and students.

Living in The Land of Lincoln wouldn’t be complete without including some current books about our 16th President. To name just a few: The Lincolns by Candace Fleming, Abe’s Honest Words by Doreen Rappaport, Abraham Lincoln Comes Home by Robert Burleigh, Lincoln’s Last Days by Bill O’Reilly and Lincoln by Harold Holzer. This book is the student version of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book Team of Rivals which is the basis for Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln movie. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum www.alplm.org offers teachers a free CD of lesson plans and teacher resources. The Lincoln Institute www.abrahamlincoln.org is a site to assist students studying the life of Lincoln

Literature, Curriculum, and TechnologyBarbara Ashton, West Suburban Reading Council

Continued on page 11


and his impact on the Union. Teachers can sign up for access to lesson plans and receive newsletters about Lincoln. There are also links to other Lincoln sites as well. Mr. Lincoln’s White House www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org is devoted to Lincoln’s life in the White House. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency www.illinoishistory.gov has a wealth of information on Illinois history as well as a link to Build Your Own Lincoln Sites. Download the patterns, cut out and assemble to have miniature copies of Lincoln sites in Springfield.

Teachers who read To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee with your students could consider doing a web quest on The Depression and Jim Crow Laws to enhance your student’s knowledge of the time period. Team this book with John Grisham’s series Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer. Bring the courtroom to your classroom by visiting www.theodoreboone.com to not only download a teacher’s guide, but also for activities that will explain what a courtroom looks like and the people involved.

Other activities involve literature, curriculum and technology. Google Earth is a free download that can be used for creating Lit Trips while reading a novel, picture book, or studying a social studies topic/theme. Google Sketch Up is another free download. It is a 3D drawing

program for middle school and above. Team it with your study of Mythology or Rick Riordan’s books such as The Mark of Athena. Have the students draw the Parthenon or Roman Forum.

Creating book trailers, screen savers or a Volkie - avatar can be used to advertise books read by students. These can then be put on your school’s web page. Wordle www.wordle.net or Tagxedo www.tagxedo.com can be used for a review of a topic/theme, as a summary of a novel, or various other ideas you or your students create.


February 2013 11

IRC PublicationsThe Illinois Reading Council offers many resources to their members. Take advantage of these great materials to share with organizations, parents, or teachers! The items listed below can be ordered from the IRC Office by phone at 888-454-1341. Prices and order forms are available at www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org/ircservices/ircpublications.

Some ABC’s for Raising a Reader

Parents are their child’s first teachers, and it’s never too soon to introduce your child to books. By reading aloud to your child, you provide the sounds of written language, demonstrate book handling skills, develop your child’s expectation that the print and pictures carry a message and build positive attitudes toward reading. Use this ABC listing of ways that you can encourage a love of reading and make reading fun for your child.

Attempting Unknown Words: Suggestions for Parents

As the parent of a young child, you are a very important person for your child’s reading and language development. You are your child’s first teacher! This tri-fold brochure will provide strategies to aid your child as s/he attempts unknown words.

Help Me Grow To Be A Reader

This little 16-page booklet helps parents understand how children grow to be readers, as told from the child’s point of view. Strategies for helping young readers develop their reading skills are outlined in a fun format.

Reading Strategy Bookmark

This bookmark lists strategies for young readers to use when they come to words they don’t know. On the back side of this bookmark, students can list their personal strategies. Use this in classrooms or with parents as a tool to assist their efforts at home!


12 February 2013


An Exclusively Secondary Literacy Conference For All Teachers & Administrators of Grades 6-12

Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, IL

37th Day of Reading Saturday, November 1, 2013

8am – 3:30pm

Featured Speakers:

JAY ASHER

Young Adult Author, International Speaker

Author: Thirteen Reasons Why The Future of Us

NY Times bestseller Best Books for Young Adults (YALSA) Movie release of 13 Reasons Why - TBA

Luncheon Address and Two Breakouts

CRIS TOVANI

Internationally Known Staff Developer, Consultant

High school reading specialist / English teacher National acclaim for work in reading

comprehension Author: So What Do They Really Know? I Read It, but I Don’t Get It Do I really Have to Teach Reading?

Keynote Address and Two Breakouts

Pre-Conference Workshop Friday, November 1, 2013

9am – 3pm with

Cris Tovani

For more information contact: Barb Chrz-White [email protected] Terry McHugh [email protected]

Continental breakfast & lunch included – both days Team Discounts Available CPS Vendor # 80827 www.dayofreading.org

Newspapers In EducationByLeslieForsman,NIECo-Chair

In “Summarizing in any subject,” Rick Wormelli suggests making “Bloom’s Taxonomy Summary Cubes.” Using a standard paper folding cube pattern, have the students label each side with one of the six levels (recall, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation). Once the cubes are completed, have the students work in groups to select an article from the newspaper to read. Then have the students take turns rolling the cubes and answering questions or discussion prompts about the article based on the cube side that comes up.

This activity can be adapted to use the “Webb’s Depth of Knowledge” chart by using those categories (extended thinking, strategic thinking, skills/concepts, and recall/reproduction), and adding cube sides for whether the students agree with the author’s assessment of the information and for words/phrases/terms the students are unfamiliar with (in that context). Another idea would be to have the students select an article from their local newspaper and an online newspaper on the same topic (a world or national event), then compare the coverage and validity of the sources of information. The students should list their topic/event/problem, their sources (a quick introduction to citing might be needed), then quote the sources and compare the information presented. They can then create a summary of the event using information from all of their sources. To adapt this for using the Common Core strands, you might choose to label the cube’s sides with prompts such as “determine the central ideas of the text,” “interpret words and phrases as they are used in the text,” “make logical inferences from the text,” or “summarize the key supporting details and ideas.” These are just a couple of ideas for activities to help reinforce the concept of summarizing. Hopefully they will serve as a springboard for further activities as well.

As I watched coverage of the damages done by super storm Sandy, I happened upon an item about the amount of water in the New York subway tunnels and what the process might be for removing that water. I provided my students with the facts that I knew and asked them to brainstorm suggestions for how to remove the water and for what to do with it once it is out of the tunnels. Some of their ideas were very creative, others were very functional. We were later able to watch an online news report tour of the tunnels and several realized that their ideas would need to be redesigned to be functional. It was an interesting project for them to consider. Items in the news can help provide these types of opportunities.



February 2013 13

“… investigating whether the Word Wizard strategy …can be applied to

a one-on-one clinical setting.”

In writing about Peter Fisher, the Studies and Research Committee continues to inform IRC members of valuable research fellow members are pursuing. Many of you already know Peter Fisher through the articles and books he and Camille Blachowicz have published during his twenty-five years at National Louis University. You may also know him through his work with

College Instructors of Reading Professionals (CIRP). What you may not know is that Peter began his career as a high school math teacher in England. It was his discovery that many of his students were struggling with math because they couldn’t do the reading required to understand the problems they were being asked to solve that led him to shift his focus to literacy.

Peter’s current project, “Struggling readers becoming Word Wizards” investigates the effectiveness and adaptability of a strategy developed by Isabel Beck, Margaret McKeown, and Linda Kucan, and described in their book, Bringing words to life: Robust vocabulary instruction, (2002). The strategy is designed to teach core academic vocabulary. At the beginning of the week, teachers identify five significant words that they know students will experience that week and teach them via kid friendly discussions. Every time a student comes across that word in reading or hears it in discussion inside or outside the

Meet an IRC ResearcherByElizabethGoldsmith-Conley,StudiesandResearchCommitteeChair

classroom a checkmark is placed on a Word Wizard Chart. This is a chart which has three columns headed Student, Word, Location. The chart is used to record the location in which the particular student has found the word. Examples might include the newspaper, a TV program, or a conversation.

Peter and two colleagues, Ann Bates and Debbie Gurvitz, direct the National Louis University summer reading clinic held in three separate sites: Chicago, Skokie, and Lisle. The program admits students from grades 2-12 and includes twenty sessions of one hour. The three directors have been investigating whether the Word Wizard strategy, which has been used to teach words successfully in classrooms, can successfully be applied to a one-on-one clinical setting. For their study they trained tutors at each site. At the

program’s end, students were asked to write definitions of the words their tutors had picked and to use each word in a sentence. The results, Peter reports, were very encouraging. Students retained an understanding of about 60% of the words they had studied, even greater than the 40% rate Catherine Snow, according to Peter, claims is typical. The tutors who used the strategy were also pleased and said they would definitely be implementing the technique in their own classrooms. Their only caveat was that they would

implement it with third grade and higher and not with second graders, as finding appropriate words to study in first and second grade texts was difficult.

Kudos to Peter and his colleagues for highlighting an effective and adaptable strategy that most IRC members should find easy to implement whatever their teaching situation. For more details, email Peter at [email protected].

The IRC Studies and Research Committee recommends the following websites:

www.facebook.com/ExaminingEducation• : A place where people are invited to share multiple perspectives on the big debates in education and alert others to salient articles, videos, and so forth.Examiningeducation.org• : A place to listen to podcasts and read about the big debates in education with leading experts in the field. www.facebook.com/IRCStrugglingReaders• : A place where educators can share ideas, suggestions, and questions about how to support struggling readers in grades 5-12.


Cool Studies: Low Involvement InterventionBy Lou Ferroli

Continued on page 15

“... one wonders, what would happen if you began the summer by giving books to kids

who would be unlikely to have them otherwise.”

14 February 2013


“Someofthesixth-gradersjustthrewthemintothetrash.”“I heard some were even tossed out the school bus windows.Itwasthelastdayofschool,youknow.”

These statements came from several exasperated teachers from a nearby school district a couple years ago. The good news is that they were not talking about mistreatment of classmates. The bad news is that they were talking about dozens and dozens of beautiful, brand new books which had been given to the kids as they left for summer vacation. I haven’t, until now, been willing to talk to my friends in the Illinois Reading Council about this incident. It was just too embarrassing. I can talk about it now, though, because the superintendent who decided all on her own that this was a good idea has since been ridden out of town on a rail.

Another good thing came from this event. Some teachers who were angry about the book give-away fiasco did some investigating of the effectiveness of summer reading programs in particular and of summer school in general. And that’s how I learned of a study that Dick Allington and Anne McGill-Franzen had done on ameliorating summer reading setback.

The context for their work has to do with the large and persistent differences in reading scores between white and minority groups known as the “achievement gap.” You know what that is. That’s the gap that was going to go away because no child would be left behind. Well, NCLB is being dismantled, but the gap is still here.

Allington and colleagues claim that much of the achievement gap is attributable to summer setback, the “well-established phenomenon” based on the research evidence “that the reading achievement of economically disadvantaged students slides back a few months every summer” while middle-class students appear to have no such setback. The logic from there is that the setback might be caused in part by differences in summer

reading activity. Finally, they cite abundant research that documents “more restricted access to print” as a primary reason for differences in home reading activity by students from families at different income levels. Books just aren’t available to some kids.

So, in light of the restricted access to print, one wonders, what would happen if you began the summer by giving away books to kids who would be unlikely to have them otherwise. That’s the question this study addressed. As always, the beauty is in the details.

Over 1300 kids from 17 high-poverty schools (defined by free and reduced lunch numbers), who were just finishing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Previous research had selected certain titles for the students, but Allington et al believe self-selection is extremely important, so they held “book fairs” at the 17 schools. Each spring the treatment group kids got to come to the book fair for about thirty minutes. They were “given clipboards and pencils and were shown how to indicate which books

they would like to receive (each book had a unique three-digit order number posted on the front cover).”

I love that description. It conjures an image of 7-year old kids in white lab coats, clipboard in one hand, pencil in the other, or maybe the pencil is behind the ear. They look through the shelves. “Yep. Yep. I’ll take this one, number 728. I kind of like the large red puppy on the cover. Ooh. Looks like #191 is a winner, too. Has something to do withunderpants,soitmustbegood.”How cool the book fairs must have been.

The kids had a lot of books to choose from; 400-600 titles “were selected with a concern for text difficulty and interestingness.” (Yes. That’s a word. I had to look it up. If, like me, you think “interest” deserves to be five



February 2013 15

syllables, then use “interestingness.”) The chosen books were boxed and delivered to each student on the last day of school. Although it’s not quite as simple as the goofy local superintendent tried to make it, it sounds pretty easy.

The only test result they used was the FCAT (Florida’s ISAT) when it was administered after three years of summer book distribution. The kids were in third through fifth grades by then. The other measure they used was a Literacy Habits Survey which included items “about summer reading, reading activity, access to books, and home reading support.”

The result was that the treatment kids had significantly better scores on the FCAT. The difference wasn’t huge, but some gains against summer setback had been made. To compare the kids who were most economically disadvantaged, they went one step further and separated the results of the free-lunch kids from the reduced-lunchers. The result was significant and even larger. “Book distribution had positive effects on the reading achievement of the children from the lowest income families in the study.”

On the survey, the groups differed on two questions. “How often did you read this summer? And where did yougetmostofthebooksyoureadthissummer?” The result was just what you would expect, the treatment kids reported that they read more, and the books they read were the ones they chose at the book fair.

What I like most about this study is how easy it was. They had the grant money. They helped kids pick books they might like, and they provided them. They used test scores that had to be gathered anyway. And they did an easy survey. The researchers called it a “low involvement intervention.” I love it. This project is an intervention that now has (Drum roll, please.) a research basis. So, your school district can try it this summer and you can promise that you’ll implement this intervention with fidelity. You won’t get very involved. You won’t work very hard. You’ll be doing it with fidelity.

On a more serious note, if one wanted to do an intervention like this with more involvement, check out the article in October 2008 Reading Teacher. White and Kim, who did some of the earlier research on summer interventions like this, were not successful in their study with just

giving the books to the students. They’re not such strong advocates of the low-involvement approach. (Allington, in contrast, thinks that they didn’t get a result because it was a one-year and not a three-year intervention.) They suggest preparing for the summer reading program by teaching kids some comprehension strategies, some partner reading procedures, and also sending postcards with each book to remind kids what they should be doing and for communicating in general.

In any case, I am beside myself with the idea of a low-involvement intervention in this era of our naïve interpretation of the word fidelity. I need to write a grant, get a gazillion dollars, and set up the Center for Low-Involvement Studies in Reading.

You can find the study at Allington, R., McGill-Franzen, A., Camilli, G., Williams, Graff, J., Zeig, J., Zmach, C., & Nowak, R. (2010). Addressing summer reading setback among economically disadvantaged elementary students. Reading Psychology, 31, 411-427.

Cool Studies continued from page 14

The Illinois Language and Literacy Council and the Illinois Reading Council

will co-sponsor the

39th AnnualYoung Authors Conference

May 18, 2013at Illinois State University,

Normal, Illinois.

The 2013 Guidelines and Registration packet is available online now and the

registration forms are due by April 5, 2013.

Please visit the IRC Website at www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org for more

information. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Christina

Podraza at [email protected].


Illinois Reading Council203 Landmark Drive, Suite BNormal, IL 61761

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDPermit No. 800Springfield, IL

Hall of Fame Award Pamela Nelson FridayBanquetwithKatherinePaterson IRC Service Award Susan Cisna Ronda Brown Saturday Breakfast with Kelly Gallagher

Legislator of the Year Award Senator Kimberly A. Lightford Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening

Barack Obama Library Award Stephanie Solbrig Thursday Luncheon with Jeff Anderson

Pamela J. Farris Rural Library Award Katie Wilkinson Shevawn Yochem Thursday Luncheon with Jeff Anderson

IRC Awards and GrantsMarch 14-16, 2013

Parents and Reading Award Juanita Scott Thursday Luncheon with Sharon M. Draper

Prairie State Award for Excellence in Writing for Children Eric Rohmann Thursday PSA Banquet with Richard Peck

Gene Cramer ICARE for Reading Award Debbie Samuelson FridayBreakfastwithJordanSonnenblick

Illinois Reading Educator of the Year Award K-5: Karen Biggs-Tucker 6-12: Ingrid Minger Reading Specialist: Barbara Malinger College Instructor: Donna Werderich FridayLuncheonwithStevenL.Layne


February 2013 IRC Communicator

Documents

Transcript of February 2013 IRC Communicator