Contents
LITERACY TODAY
Volume 34, Issue 2
September/October 2016
EDITORIAL STAFF
Managing Editor Colleen Patrice Clark
Editors April Hall & Christina Lambert
Intern Samantha Brant
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
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800.336.7323 x 417 or advertising@reading
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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
20
2
EDITOR’S NOTE
4
LIT BITS
6
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
8
ILA UPDATE
10
OUR VIEW
LITERACY LEADERSHIP
12
Barbara Comber on the Importance of Teacher–Researcher
Collaboration
14
How Classroom Culture, Language, and Literacy Can Foster Self- and
Global Awareness
16
One Professor’s Story of the Life-Changing Decision to Come Out of
Retirement
18
The 2015 U.S. Teacher of the Year on Lessons She Learned as an
Educator Advocate
THE ENGAGING CLASSROOM
36
Gaining Valuable Insight Through Literature Circles and Response
Journals
38
Ideas for Fully Incorporating the Arts Into Your ELA Classroom
40
Encouraging a Love of the Classics Among Today’s Reluctant Readers
THE ILA NETWORK
42
What ILA’s Honor Society Students Are Doing to Mentor the Next
Generation
44
How Advocacy Eff orts in Texas Are Paying Off in Award-Winning Ways
GLOBAL IMPACT
46
Celebrating International Literacy Day in Jamaica and Around the World
48
EVENTS
50
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
ILA’s 2016
30 Under 30 List