Literacy Leaders

Crack the Code

SAVE THE DATE!

November 15-16, 2012 

For planning purposes, please note that next year's conference  registration will be $150 for ARA members and $195 for non-members. In response to this year's evaluations, the cost will include lunch on Thursday and various refreshments throughout the conference.

Keynote speakers will be Linda Hoyt, Steven L. Layne, and Tim Shanahan.

ARA Board Nominations Sought 

It is time to nominate officers for the Arkansas Reading Association for 2012-13. 

Any person who is a member in good standing of the IRA and a member of a local IRA council shall be eligible to hold the office of Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, or Historian of the Arkansas Reading Association. In addition to the membership requirements, the Vice President must have served as a local council president. Self nominations are accepted.

To submit a nomination, visit:  www.arareading.org > Officers and Committees > Nomination Form

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Linda Eilers, Past President and Nominating Committee Chair at Linda@arareading.org.                                                                                      

Winter Retreat

ARA Board members met in Conway January 12-13 for a winter retreat. Pictured are (l) Brandi Wallace, parliamentarian, Debbie Hardwick Smith, president-elect, and Amy Simpson, treasurer.  

Special congratulations go to Amy and Brandi who recently received national board certification.  

The board accepted a budget review conducted by JPMS Cox and set long-term goals. 

They also met with Angela Duran of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation to discuss possible partnerships for the Arkansas Grade Level Reading initiative.

Congratulations, ARA!

Arkansas Reading Association was one of two state councils nationally that recently received a $2500 grant from the International Reading Association.  The aim of the grant is to support diversity policy initiatives.   ARA President Paula Findley, who wrote the grant, said that ARA will host two regional meetings. 

The first meeting is scheduled for February 18th from 10 am - 3:00 pm at ARESC and will involve reading councils in the area and education students from UAPB, although all ARA members may attend. Kareem Moody of Little Rock will be a featured speaker and participants will receive his book Raise Them Up.  

Where?  

Arkansas River Educational Service Cooperative in Pine Bluff - 912 W. Sixth Street

Who May Attend? 

ARA Members or Prospective Members

Why?

2 hours of Parental Involvement PD - Free book - Free lunch - Great information - Fun! 

How to Register

Register at ESC Works or Email    Paula@arareading.org

ARA Board Member to Participate in International Literacy Program

Melisa Rutherford, ARA Board Member and web master, will travel to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, Africa, to provide books and to teach literacy for three weeks this summer as a member of the Africa Reads Now project. 

Melisa, who works at Blytheville Intermediate School, stated, "I believe the power of education is enormous and even as I am going to teach, I will also be a student."

We wish the best of luck to Melisa on her upcoming literacy adventure and look forward to upcoming reports about her experience. 

You can find out more about the program at

AfricaReadsNow.org. If you would like to assist Melisa, email: Melisa@arareading.org to find out how you can help.

Arkansas Book Awards

Will your students cast ballots in April? 

The Charlie May Simon Book Award promotes reading, discussion of books and quality children's literature for students in grades 4-6.

The Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award made its debut in 1998 to encourage reading for students in grades K-3.

LINK TO ADE - Do you participate in this important statewide program? Click below to get reading lists and instructions:  http://www.arkansased.org/educators/curriculum/awards.html

BOOKMARKS - Arkansas Reading Association provides a template for you to print a bookmark listing this year's choices. To make copies for your school visit http://www.arareading.org/ar_book_awards_8.html 

OVERVIEW - For Perma-Bound Books' wonderful 32-page overview of this year's nominated books, click here: http://arareading.org/doc/Overview_2011.pdf

Celebrate Literacy Deadline Extended to January 31

Arkansas Reading Association's Celebrate Literacy Program honors literacy leaders throughout the state in three categories: Community Leader, Educator, and Organization.  It is a great opportunity for local councils to extend appreciation to those who have made significant contributions to literacy. 

Nominations may be completed by councils online.  Go to ARA's Awards page and scroll down to Celebrate Literacy Awards. 

Farrah Wilcox is the state committee chair and she will oversee the state celebration in July during ARA's Summer Leadership Workshop where one winner in each category will be honored.

IRA Coordinator's Corner:

Celebrating Teaching is the theme of IRA's Convention this year. I hope to see many of you in Chicago April 29- May 2 for the Convention. IRA members get a discount on registration like ARA members get a discount on our conference in November.

If you haven't checked your membership status in a while you might want to contact Billie Ann Dishongh to be sure you are current with your IRA/ARA/local council dues.

You get big rewards for a small investment!

Tanna Clark

IRA Coordinator, Arkansas Reading Association