Contents
LITERACY TODAY
Volume 35, Issue 2
September/October 2017
EDITORIAL STAFF
Managing Editor Colleen Patrice Clark
Editors Christina Lambert & Alina O’Donnell
ILA LEADERSHIP
Executive Director Marcie Craig Post
Associate Executive Director Stephen Sye
2017–2018 BOARD MEMBERS
Douglas Fisher, San Diego State University,
President; Bernadette Dwyer, Dublin City
University, Vice President; William Teale,
University of Illinois at Chicago, Immediate Past
President; Gwynne Ash, Texas State University;
Catherine Collier, Chesapeake Public Schools;
Beverley E. Harris, Mico University College,
University of the West Indies; Rachel Karchmer-
Klein, University of Delaware; Stephanie Laird,
Southeast Polk Community School District;
Susan Paasch, Sauk Rapids Public School
District; Stephen Peters, Laurens County
School District 55; Julia Reynolds, Educator
and Advocate, Michigan; Jennifer Williams,
Calliope Global Education Initiatives
ADVERTISING
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800.336.7323 x 417 or advertising@reading
.org. Acceptance of advertising does not imply
endorsement.
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
Literacy Today (ISSN 2411-7862, Print; 2411-
7900, Online) is included in the cost of ILA
membership. To join, visit literacyworldwide
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CONTACT US
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© International Literacy Association
2
EDITOR’S NOTE
4
LIT BITS
6
ILA UPDATE
ILA 2017
8
Our Orlando Five: Favorite Highlights From
ILA 2017
12
Refl ecting on a Literacy Educator’s
Responsibility to Be a Changemaker
LITERACY LEADERSHIP
14
Year in Review: Catching Up With Our 30 Under 30 Honorees
18
The PD Next Door: The Power of Observation in O ur Own Schools
20
One Middle School’s Journey to Create a Culture of Literacy
22
A Look at the Schoolwide Impact of Reading Specialists
24
Keys to Remember When It Comes to Being a Literacy Leader
COVER STORY
26
Celebrating Literacy Leaders: Shining the Spotlight on Our 2017 Award
Winners
THE ENGAGING CLASSROOM
30
What Every Teacher and Parent Should Know About Why Young Children
Need to Write
32
Using Multiple Methods to Energize Vocabulary Instruction
34
Transmedia, Politics, and Encouraging Youth Authorship Anywhere and
Anytime
THE ILA NETWORK
36
How One Community Is Helping Ensure Young Readers Have Access to
Quality Books at Home
GLOBAL IMPACT
38
Teaching a Pedagogy of Peace in Sri Lanka
40
EVENTS
42
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Celebrating
Literacy Leaders
26