BOARD BRIEFSFrom the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 From the ILA State Coordinator . . . 2-3

IRC ACTIVITIESIllinois Reads Book Festival . . . . . . 4IRC Awards and Grants . . . . . . . . . 10 IRC Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11IRC Webinars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

IRC FORMSStatic Stick Decal Contest . . . . . . . 7-82019 Program Proposal . . . . . . . . . . 9

FEATURESHow to Expand PLN on Twitter . . . . . 5 Using a Checklist to Track Writing Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Flipgrid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Literacy and Technology: Reading in Two Mediums . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

CVolume 42 · Number 2 Winter 2019

ommunicator

2019 IRC CONFERENCEOctober 3-4, 2019in Peoria, Illinois

Program Proposals are due March 1, 2019

As I reflect on the 2018 IRC Conference, I am once again in awe of the amazing group of educators, authors and literacy professionals that come together in Peoria, Illinois, for three days of literacy learning. One of my favorite things about the IRC Conference is the educators that are “every day” educators, from classrooms all over the state, who come to share their knowledge, tips and tricks with others. I would like to highlight a couple of those sessions that stood out to me.

First, I attended a fantastic session specifically geared toward literacy coaches. It was presented by Jill Liapis of the South Cook ISC and Jen Gervase from SD 124. The session was entitled, “Coaching to Reach Optimal Instructional Practices.” Jill and Jen helped coaches with tips and tricks for handling various teacher personalities from the perspective of both the coach and the teacher. One of my takeaways was that most teachers are coming from a place of positive intent and that is something a coach should consider on days that aren’t going as planned when coaching. They gave ideas for ways to observe and debrief with teachers, including keeping track of time, word for word and modeling/co-teaching. They shared their own experiences and offered support to a packed room of coaches. If you are interested in reaching out to learn more, South Cook ISC is located in Chicago Heights and provides ongoing support for schools in the South Cook County area.

Another session that I want to highlight was a vocabulary workshop given by Region Five Director, Linda Robinson, and South Suburban President, Tanya Gambill. The session was entitled, “Words, Words, Words.” The wonderful thing about this session was that both Linda and Tanya gave the audience the opportunity to try out the vocabulary games and activities. By being a hands-on participant, my brain immediately connected to the activities and was set in motion designing additional ideas to use in my classroom. Right there is the magic of the IRC Conference; it is the sharing of ideas, making connections, and taking it right back to the classroom to implement!

I am so proud of IRC for continuing to bring quality professional development to our members each year during our annual conference. If you recently became a member of IRC, I invite you to head to our website to explore the many different ways we provide value of membership through professional development and networking with other educators across the State of Illinois. If you aren’t a member of IRC, I invite you to take a look at the website and become a member online. There is value in membership! All are welcome!

From the IRC PresidentPriscilla Dwyer

Hidden Gems at the IRC Conference 2018

The Illinois Reading Council Communicator

2 Winter 2019

Illinois Reading Council and its local councils have a lot to celebrate! One of the biggest accomplishments for IRC that has a direct impact on the local councils is the signing of the contract with International Literacy Association (ILA). At the November Board of Directors’ meeting, we voted to add an addendum to the contract voicing our concerns with the contract. ILA did reject the addendum, but since we had already voted to approve the contract for the Limited Affiliation with ILA, we signed the agreement and it was approved by ILA. The local councils applications for Honor Council that were submitted by the deadline were accepted. Many hours were spent reading the contract before it was signed and a lot of discussions took place throughout the state. This agreement would not have been possible if it had not been for Dr. Roberta Sejnost, our Ad-Hoc Transition Committee Chair. Of course, the finalization of this contract could also not have been completed without the hard work of Carrie Sheridan, the IRC Office Staff, the IRC Executive Committee, and the IRC Board of Directors.

I would also like to celebrate Boomer Crotty, the recipient of the 2018 IRC Service Award. Boomer is a long time member of both IRC and ILA. He has served on multiple committees at the state level including Newspapers in Education, Studies and Research, and Membership. Boomer is part of the IRC Speakers Bureau and has presented at the IRC Conference numerous times. Boomer is someone that shows his passion for literacy by being an active member of IRC and has truly made a difference in many lives. I was honored to present Boomer with this award at the 2018 IRC Conference after Christy Ziller nominated him. I was thankful to have this

From the ILA State Coordinator

April Flood

opportunity to recognize someone who is an integral part of IRC because I know, as well as many others do, that once you meet Boomer, you have a friend for life.

Speaking of the IRC Service Award, I am currently accepting nominations for this award. Please consider nominating someone who has been a member of IRC and ILA for a minimum of 3 years; served the IRC in a position of leadership as a state officer, committee member, or otherwise served in a responsible capacity for at least three years; supported the activities of the IRC by the commitment of time in working on committees, carrying out the duties of an office, attending meetings, and/or participating in conference; contributed to the IRC by way of expertise and ideas which have enhanced the program of the Council; worked to expand the IRC by promoting memberships and encouraging participation in the various activities and functions of the organization; and upheld the philosophy, purposes, principles, and ideals of the ILA and the IRC. Nominations are due to me by March 1, 2019. See http://www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org/images/Service_Award.pdf for details.

I would also like to recognize those councils who earned the Council of Excellence and were recognized at the IRC Conference. Chicago Area Reading Council, East Central-EIU Reading Council, Lewis and Clark Reading Council, MID-State Reading Council, Prairie Area Reading Council, South Eastern Reading Council, Southern Illinois Reading Council, Starved Rock Reading Council, Two Rivers Reading Council, West Suburban Reading Council, and Western Illinois Reading Council each received $100 and a certificate.

A Time To Celebrate

Continued on page 3

The Illinois Reading Council Communicator

Winter 2019 3

I would like to encourage all councils to review the criteria that is available online and consider applying for this award and be formally recognized for all of your accomplishments at the next IRC Conference.

There have been a lot of questions about Council Bylaws. I will have an updated schedule for revisions at the February Board of Directors’ meeting to share with all of the Regional Directors and Council Presidents.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the councils that have welcomed me to their professional development meetings. While I have not been able to attend every event, I have enjoyed those that I have attended so far this year. I am currently revisiting the calendar and scheduling to attend as many events as possible through July. As a reminder, please check the website to make sure your events are listed correctly and that you update the IRC office as soon as possible with any changes. As you are looking at your calendars, I hope to see many of you at the Illinois Reads Event in Waukegan on March 16th. If you are in an elected officer position, please make sure you save July 10th and 11th for Leadership. It will be held at the I-Hotel in Champaign again this year. Lastly, please check out the Calendar of Events on the IRC website. Don’t limit yourself to one council. What professional development meeting do you want to attend next? Maybe I will see you there!

ILA State Coordinator continued from page 2

Illinois Reading Council 203 Landmark Drive, Suite BNormal, Illinois 61761 Phone: 888-454-1341 Fax: 309-454-3512

Email: irc@illinoisreadingcouncil.orgWebsite: illinoisreadingcouncil.org Join us on Facebook Twitter @ILReadCouncil instagram.com/ilreadcouncil pinterest.com/illinoisreading

MISSION

The mission of the Illinois Reading Council is to provide support and

leadership to all who promote and teach lifelong literacy.

ILLINOIS READSA READING STATE OF MIND

Birth-4Hope by Matthew CordellThe World Never Sleeps by Natalie RompellaWhat To Do With a Box by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Chris ShebanKitten and the Night Watchman by John SullivanThe Forever Tree by Tereasa Surratt and Donna LukasReady, Set, Sail! by Meg Fleming

K-2Through the Window: Views of Marc Chagall’s Life & Art by Barb RosenstockWhat Can A Citizen Do? by Dave EggersMy Heart is a Compass by Deborah MarceroHey Black Child by Useni Eugene PerkinsShark Nate-O by Becky Cattie and Tara LuebbeAuntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie Lo

3-5Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up by Sally M. WalkerDangerous Jane by Suzanne SladeStick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties by Tom Watson The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn HeiderField Tripped by Allan WoodrowThe Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell

6-8Out of the Wild Night by Blue BalliettThe Unsinkable Walker Bean and the Knights of the Waxing Moon by Aaron RenierThe First Rule of Punk by Celia C. PérezSpeechless by Adam P. SchmittDrum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn BigelowIt’s Not Me, It’s You by Stephanie Kate Strohm

9-12A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 byClaireHartfieldI Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. SánchezLove, Hate and Other Filters by Samira AhmedHow to be an American: A Field Guide to Citizenship by Silvia HidalgoFatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All by Various AuthorsAmerican Panda by Gloria Chao

AdultThe House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto UrreaThe Great Believers by Rebecca MakkaiThe Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace JohnsonThe Girl from Berlin by Ronald H. BalsonMurder in the News: An Inside Look at How Television Covers Crime by Robert H. Jordan Jr. A Word for Love by Emily Robbins

Bradbury – A Tribute to Ray Bradbury, An Author from Waukegan, Illinois Something Wicked This Way Comes Dandelion Wine Fahrenheit 451 The Martian Chronicles The Illustrated Man Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales

Saturday, March 16, 2019Waukegan High School2325 Brookside AvenueWaukegan, Illinois10:00 am – 2:00 pmEveryone is invited to the attend the 2019 Illinois Reads Book Festival. Many authors will be present. Bring your books and have them signed at this event! Books will also be available for purchase from Anderson’s Bookshops.

Visit our website for more informationwww.illinoisreads.org

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Winter 2019 5

Trying to expand your Professional Learning Network (PLN) on Twitter?

Many people have made great connections with other educators on Twitter. Most of these people would tell you these connections have had a positive impact on their teaching. Can you say the same?

Here are some suggestions for how to expand your PLN on Twitter. First, it is important to follow people who will challenge your thinking and who are leaders in the educational field. Who are some of these people? We suggest the following people who are only a few of the many great educational leaders in Literacy today.

Pernille Ripp @pernilleripp Living a fantastic life being a 7th grade teacher, author, and creator of the Global Read Aloud. pernillesripp.com

John Schu @MrSchuReads Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic, lecturer at Rutgers University, 2014 Newbery Committee member, and writer.mrschureads.blogspot.com

Donalyn Miller @donalynbooksReader, teacher, author of The Book Whisperer, #nerdybookclub co-founder, #titletalk and #nerdybookcast co-host, and #bookaday founder. bookwhisperer.com

Penny Kittle @pennykittleI love teaching. The reading and writing and thinking that happens in a classroom is just magical. pennykittle.net

Kelly Gallagher @KellyGToGoI teach, I write, I travel, I talk — to help kids become better readers and writers.kellygallagher.org

How to Expand PLN on TwitterSheila Ruh and Sherry Sejnost

Larry Ferlazzo @LarryferlazzoUrban High School teacher – ESL & Mainstream, author, Education Week Teacher advice columnist, and writes about ELL for New York Times.larryferlazzo.edublogs.org

Silvia Tolisano @langwitchesBridging the gap between 20th century learners and 21st illiteracy. Learning how 2learn 2teach and educate children who will live 2see the 22nd century. #documenting4learning.langwitches.org/blog

Sylvia Duckworth @sylviaduckworthGoogle Certified Innovator, Apple Distinguished Educator, and creater of Connect, Collaborate, Create.http://flickr.com/sylviaduckworth https://sylviaduckworth.shop/ sylviaduckworth.com

Bob Probst @BobProbstEnglish Teacher, Professor Emeritus at Georgia State University, and now lives in Marathon, Florida where he writes and dives when weather allows.

Kylene Beers @KyleneBeersEducator, speaker, author, tech-savvy wanna-be, 2008-2009 NCTE President, collector of books, wine, and moments with friends, and sometime blogger at http://KyleneBeers.com.

Another important tip is to check your Twitter feed at least once a day. When you find a good tweet, like it. You can also email it to yourself to go back to at a later time. It is helpful to follow some of the same people that the people you are interested in follow. That way you will expand your PLN even further.

We encourage you to make Twitter a daily part of your life. The rewards of making this change will have a lasting positive impact on your classroom instruction.

The Illinois Reading Council Communicator

6 Winter 2019

Tracking frequency of errors can help teachers differentiate instruction and measure growth. Teachers often use checklists to monitor skills that have been mastered, and checklists can also be used to monitor writing errors in formative assessments. Furthermore, using this method over a short time period can eliminate the need to mark individual errors on student papers.

Create a spreadsheet, either digital or paper, of your class roster. As you read through your first set of written assignments, whether short answers or essays, label a wide column for errors in conventions and traits you note, such as comma splices, incorrect capitalization, misuse of semicolons, and redundant transitions. Use a system for marking errors in the column: a check-mark to indicate an error or a plus sign to indicate multiple errors in the same category. In this way, a student doesn’t have an assignment returned with multiple error markings, and the teacher can limit comments to content. As you read each new assignment, add a mark in the wide column for that error on that student’s paper.

After five or six assignments, determine which students need instruction by noting who has multiple marks in a column. Some errors may necessitate simple reminders of rules: Always capitalize I. Although in some languages like Spanish and French, names of days and months aren’t capitalized, as they are in English. Others may require updating: Now that you are using MLA format, a number is written as words unless it requires more than two words. More complex confusions may warrant a mini-lesson and repeated instruction, as with students who write fragments or who separate complete sentences with commas instead of periods. After a specific error has been addressed, the rule can be posted as an expectation and then assessed as part of a summative grade in subsequent written assignments.

Using a Checklist to Track Writing Errors

Carol Ricker, Waukegan High School

Today, technology offers many tools that may be used to enhance literacy instruction.

One tool is the Flipgrid website. This website is a video discussion/social learning platform. Flipgrid is an engaging tool that creates interest and ignites discussion. On this free website, educators can create an account for a classroom or group by receiving a grid code and creating a grid password that takes students into the account. The engaging feature of this website is the ease in ability to record a 90-second video in response to a prompt from a teacher or peer. Navigation of this website is easy and has a default video length of 90 seconds; however, length may be adjusted from 15 seconds to 5 minutes. This website also allows discussions to build upon one another as anyone in the group may post a video in response to the last video post in the thread. In addition, Flipgrid can be used with any device that has a camera and may be accessed from any location.

Just as a discussion board is utilized in many classes as a mode for ongoing discussion of a topic presented, flipgrid may also be used by educators as a digital response to prompts such as introductions, summaries, reflections, book talks, debates, and even exit tickets. This platform creates classroom community while putting a spin on collaborative learning. Flipgrid allows all students to have a voice and share their own ideas without worry of domination. For timid students, the opportunity to be heard may not occur within the classroom preventing the growth of confidence and higher-level thinking. Giving all students the opportunity to have a voice is one of the most powerful tools an educator can offer.

Go to this website to learn more and create a free account:

https://flipgrid.com/

FlipgridKristine Wilke, Director,

Jerry L. Johns Literacy Clinic

The Illinois Council for Affective Reading Educationand

The Illinois Reading Council

The Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education (ICARE) and the Illinois Reading Council (IRC) invite YOU to design a STATIC STICK DECAL that encourages children to read.

QUALIFICATIONS You must be a student in grade 4, 5 or 6 in a school in the state of Illinois.

GUIDELINES Make your original design in the 4 inch square on the back of this sheet. (Teachers may copy the application form as many times as needed.) Invent an original character(s) to include in your design. You may NOT use any published cartoon or comic characters (including characters such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Super Heroes, Pokémon, etc.) nor any computer-generated art. Develop an original saying or slogan. You are limited to three colors plus black and white. The label with Illinois Reading Council and Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education must be on the STATIC STICK DECAL design but it may be moved from the location on the application form. Complete the application form on the back of this sheet. Mail it with your design to: Kathleen Sweeney c/o Illinois Reading Council 203 Landmark Drive, Suite B Normal, IL 61761

ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 1!

THE STATIC STICK DECAL CONTEST WINNER WILL RECEIVE: An autographed book by a well-known children’s author. An invitation for the winner and his/her parents to be our guests at the Friday Luncheon at the annual Illinois Reading Council Conference. The winner will sit in a place of honor and be introduced during the luncheon. 30 STATIC STICK DECALS with the winning design to distribute to classmates.

TIPS Don’t forget – The work MUST BE ORIGINAL. You may not use any published trademark, cartoon, comic characters or computer-generated art. Keep the art work simple and positive. Too much detail within the space provided may result in a smeared look when the cling is reproduced. Fine line markers, pens and pencils work the best. Crayon is usually difficult to read. A white background provides a cleaner design. Spelling must be standard and correct.

STATIC STICK DECAL CONTEST

The Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education and The Illinois Reading Council

Illinois Reading CouncilIllinois Council for Affective Reading Education

Name ______________________________________________________________________________

Grade _________________________________ Age __________________________

Teacher’s Name ______________________________________________________________________

School _____________________________________________________________________________

School Address _______________________________________________________________________

City ______________________________ Zip __________________________

School Phone Number (with area code) ___________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Name _______________________________________________________________

Home Address _______________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________ Zip __________________________

Home Phone Number (with area code) ____________________________________________________

Mail entries no later than March 1 to: Kathleen Sweeney c/o Illinois Reading Council 203 Landmark Drive, Suite B Normal, IL 61761

APPLICATIONSTATIC STICK DECAL CONTEST

Submit Program Proposals Online at www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org

PROGRAM FORMATThe Illinois Reading Council is accepting Program Proposals for the 52nd Annual Reading Council Conference from October 3-4, 2019 in Peoria, Illinois. The Program Committee is planning many outstanding professional and social opportunities. Proposals are encouraged for small group sessions which will be scheduled for 60 minutes. A few proposals requesting a double session will be considered.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION• Proposalsthatemphasizeinteractionacrossdisciplines,interactionacrossroles,newissuesortopics,innovative

ornovelwaysofviewingtraditionalissues,topics,materialsormethodsandevidenceoffamiliaritywithcurrentpracticeand/orresearchwillbegivenpriority.

• Proposalsthatpromotecommercialmaterialsorprogramswillnotbeaccepted.• Proposalsthatcontributetotheachievementofanoverallprogrambalanceintherangeoftopics,thegradelevels

covered,andtheprofessionalandgeographicdistributionoftheparticipantshavepriority.• TheProgramCommittee reserves the right to disqualify proposals that are not legible, concise,well-worded,

complete, and submitted on time.

GENERAL INFORMATION• Teachers,researchers,librarians,administrators,andothersinterestedinpromotingreadingandrelatedliteracy

areas are encouraged to submit program proposals. • Presentersmaysubmitmorethanoneproposal.• Asaprofessional,nonprofitorganization,theIllinoisReadingCouncilisunabletoprovidehonorariatoprogram

participantsortoreimburseformaterials,travel,meals,orhotelexpenses.• Allpresenterswhoseprogramproposalshavebeenapprovedmustpre-registerandpayconferencefeesnolaterthan

the last day designated for pre-registration (September 5, 2019).Ifnot,nameandpresentationmayberemovedfromthefinalConferenceprogramduetoprintingdeadlines.

• Thepersonsubmittingtheproposalmustreceiveadvanceconsentfromeachlistedpresentationassociate.• EachpresentationroomwillbeequippedwithanLCDprojectorandscreen.Allotheraudio-visualequipmentis

the responsibility of the presenter(s).• UsingtheInternetinapresentationcancreatetechnicalcomplicationsthatmaydisruptasession.Unlikeanoffice

orschoolenvironment,Internetinconventioncentersandhotelsisnot100%reliableduetonumeroustemporaryusersconnectingatanygiventime.Pleasedownloadandsavevideotoyourcomputerifyouareusingitinapresentation.

• Pleaseobservethewordlimitsforpresentationtitlesandabstracts.Onlyconcise,clearlywordedproposalswillbeconsidered.

• Proposalsmustbesubmittedonlineatwww.illinoisreadingcouncil.orgby March 1, 2019.Eachpersonsubmittingaproposalwillbesentanacknowledgmentbyemailwhentheproposalisreceived.Subsequentcorrespondencewill also be sent by email.

• ApplicantswillbenotifiedoftheProgramCommittee’sdecisionsbyMay1,2019.Itistheresponsibilityofthepersonsubmittingtheproposaltorelaythecommittee’sdecisiontoeachpresentationassociatelistedontheprogram.

Individuals seeking conference information should contact:Illinois Reading Council

203 Landmark Drive, Suite BNormal, IL 61761

Phone: 309-454-1341 Email: irc@illinoisreadingcouncil.org Toll Free: 888-454-1341 Web: www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org

2019 PROGRAM PROPOSAL52nd Illinois Reading Council Conference

October 3-4, 2019

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10 Winter 2019

Barack Obama Library AwardDana Hendricks

Family Literacy AwardTambree Krouse

Pamela J. Farris Rural Library AwardCindi KoudelkaAmy Steidinger Daley

IRC Council of Excellence:Chicago Area Reading AssociationEast Central-EIU Reading CouncilLewis and Clark Reading CouncilMID-State Reading CouncilPrairie Area Reading CouncilSouth Eastern Reading CouncilSouthern Illinois Reading CouncilStarved Rock Reading CouncilTwo Rivers Reading CouncilWest Suburban Reading CouncilWestern Illinois Reading Council

IRC Service AwardBoomer Crotty

Prairie State Award for Excellence in Children’s WritingBarb Rosenstock

Jerry Johns Reading Educator of the Year AwardStephanie Yearian

QR Code Scavenger Hunt WinnersMegan KellyLucinda Register

Hall of Councils1st: Two Rivers Reading Council2nd: East Central-EIU Reading Council3rd: Fox Valley Reading Council

Council Anniversaries50 years: Illinois Valley Reading Council, Macon County Reading Council, Secondary Reading League25 years: Illinois Title I Association

Speaker GrantsCollege Instructors of Reading ProfessionalsWestern Illinois Reading Council

Static Sticker Decal Contest Winners First: Hannah Marie Pecoraro, Lena-Wilson Elementary School, LenaThird: Noah Boyer-Edwards, Columbia Middle School, ColumbiaHonorable Mention: Maggie Silk, Millburn Middle School, Lindenhurst; Evan Mossman, Teutopolis Grade School, Teutopolis; Isabelle Anna Elrod, Hoopeston Area Middle School, Hoopeston; Grace Klein, Columbia Middle School, Columbia; and Alyssa Daughenbaugh, Lean-Wilson Elementary School, Lena

Illinois Reading Council Awards and GrantsOctober 4-6, 2018

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Winter 2019 11

As my kids file into our room, the bell rings; they open their choice books. It’s time for Book Love, Penny Kittle style. Almost every student produces a paper copy for the choice text. There are two who open their Chromebooks to electronic versions. For this book, they choose both the title and the medium.

As a whole class, we read Into the Wild in print. Of Mice and Men follows in a digital version through a tech tool called ActivelyLearn.

As 1:1 classrooms proliferate, many questions arise for English teachers. One important one – should students be reading on screens or on paper?

The longer I am in education, the more I know that the best answers to all of our questions require balanced responses. For questions on technology and literacy, I find balance to be equally important.

Recent research seems to suggest that overall, students may comprehend reading better in print rather than digital mediums (Singer and Alexander, 2017). While that may be true, there is still a need for strong digital reading skills; today’s world demands that we move fluidly between digital and print texts.

For this reason, we must deliberately design instruction to equip students with the strategies needed to navigatethe requirements of each type or reading. We must provide opportunities to practice and develop both.

As my freshmen finish Of Mice and Men, they are highlighting and noting on the screen. They are using some strategies that they used for Into the Wild and practicing new strategies for navigating a digital text. They need both.

Singer, Lauren M. and Alexander, Patricia A. (July 21, 2017) Reading on Paper and Digitally: What the Past Decades of Empirical Research Reveal. Review of Educational Research, 87(6), 1007-1041.

Literacy and Technology: Reading in Two Mediums

Kimberly WilliamsIRC Publications

The 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 ReaderParents 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 ParentsAs 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 ReaderThis 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.