Contents
LITERACY TODAY
Volume 34, Issue 4
January/February 2017
EDITORIAL STAFF
Managing Editor Colleen Patrice Clark
Editors April Hall & Christina Lambert
ILA LEADERSHIP
Executive Director Marcie Craig Post
Associate Executive Director Stephen Sye
2016–2017 BOARD MEMBERS
William Teale, University of Illinois at Chicago,
President; Douglas Fisher, San Diego State
University, Vice President; Diane Barone,
University of Nevada, Reno, Immediate Past
President; Gwynne Ash, Texas State University;
Donald Bear, Iowa State University; Julie
Coiro, University of Rhode Island; Catherine
Collier, Chesapeake Public Schools, Virginia;
Lori DiGisi, Framingham Public Schools,
Massachusetts; Rachel Karchmer-Klein,
University of Delaware; Stephanie Laird,
Southeast Polk Community School District,
Iowa; Stephen Peters, Laurens County School
District 55, South Carolina; Jennifer Williams,
Calliope Global Education Initiatives, Florida
ADVERTISING
For information, contact Megan Ferguson at
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
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7900, Online) is included in the cost of ILA
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© International Literacy Association
18
3
EDITOR’S NOTE
4
LIT BITS
6
ILA UPDATE
LITERACY LEADERSHIP
8
The Diff erence a Caring Teacher Can Make
10
Tracking the Elementary School Journeys of
EL Students
12
The Reading Specialist: A School’s Very Own Jack-of-All-Trades
14
How a STEAM Culture Promotes a Foundation of Literacy
16
OUR VIEW
THE ENGAGING CLASSROOM
26
Close Reading as a Tool to Intertwine Literacy and Numeracy
28
Incorporating Digital Tools to Foster Global Connections
30
Rigor vs. Ease: What’s Most Important?
32
Revamping Traditional Reading Lists With the Diversity Our
Students Need
THE ILA NETWORK
34
The Path to Being Named an Exemplary Reading Program
GLOBAL IMPACT
36
How the Massachusett s Reading Association Is Helping to Improve
Literacy in South Africa
40
EVENTS
42
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
What’s Hot in
Literacy