Contents
LITERACY TODAY
Volume 37, Issue 1
July/August 2019
EDITORIAL STAFF
Managing Editor Colleen Patrice Clark
Editors Christina Lambert & Alina O’Donnell
ILA LEADERSHIP
Executive Director Marcie Craig Post
2019–2020 BOARD MEMBERS
Kathy N. Headley, Clemson University,
President; Stephen Peters, Laurens County
School District 55, Vice President; Bernadette
Dwyer, Dublin City University, Immediate
Past President; Juli-Anne Benjamin, Marion
P. Thomas Charter School; Kia Brown-
Dudley, The Education Partners; Wendy
Carss, University of Waikato; Rachael Gabriel,
University of Connecticut, Storrs; Beverley E.
Harris, Mico University College, University of
the West Indies; Kenneth Kunz, Monmouth
University; Susan Paasch, Sauk Rapids Public
School District; Julia Reynolds, Allendale Public
Schools; Laurie Sharp, Tarleton State University
ADVERTISING
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ABOUT US
Literacy Today is the bimonthly membership
magazine of the International Literacy
Association, a nonprofi t that strives to
empower educators, inspire students, and
encourage teachers with the resources they
need to make literacy accessible for all.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
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7900, Online) is included in the cost of ILA
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© International Literacy Association
2
EDITOR’S NOTE
4
LIT BITS
6
ILA UPDATE
LITERACY LEADERSHIP
8
Keys to a Culture of Literacy: Equity, Access,
Relevance, and Joyful Interaction
Online Exclusive: Beyond Teachers and
Principals: Creating Districtwide Eff ective
Literacy Programs, by Mark Weakland and
Carrie Zales
RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE
10
Decoding Digital Literacy: Developing 21st-Century Skills for Today’s Learners
ILA 2019
12
Creating a Culture of Literacy: The ILA 2019 Conference Preview
16
Behind the Scenes: Creating Your Conference Experience
20
Chelsea Clinton: In Her Own Words
24
Sound Bytes From Pedro Noguera
28
Fortifi ed Through Words: Renée Watson on Owning Our Stories
32
One More Round With Hamish Brewer
36
The ILA 2019 Research Address
THE ENGAGING CLASSROOM
38
The Power of the Classroom Library: Why Every Classroom Needs This Well-
Curated Resource for Students
40
Disrupting Your Texts: Why Simply Including Diverse Voices Is Not Enough
42
Literacy and Democracy: Engaging Readers, Nudging Humanity
Online Exclusive: STEM Collaboratory: Grounding STEM Lessons in Literacy
and Literature, by Denise Frazier
THE ILA NETWORK
46
Sharing Successes in the Keystone State: Inspiring Literacy Initiatives Across
Pennsylvania
48
EVENTS
50
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
16
Behind the Scenes
On the cover:
Adora Svitak on the screen
during the ILA 2016
General Session