University of Central Oklahoma Assistant Professor Julie Collins was just appointed an IRA Government Relations Committee Co-Chair with Pamela Hamman. In this Reading Today article, she shares her passion for teaching, her excitement for the upcoming IRA Annual Convention, and what she thinks legislators need to know about the education field today. 

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?

I know that this will seem like a cliché, but one of my strongest memories from growing up is playing school in the basement. I had a desk set up and would use the school supplies that we were allowed to bring home from school at the end of the year. I remember always being the teacher and playing with neighborhood children, or stuffed animals and dolls, as the students. While I cannot say for sure that I knew at that point that I wanted to be a teacher, I know that it was the beginning of my intrigue with the art of teaching, copying what I observed my elementary school teachers doing every day in the classroom. Later, my love of working with children led me to major in Elementary Education, and then my desire to learn more about teaching my students to read proficiently led me back to graduate school.

Which books (from children's literature to professional) influenced your decision to become an educator? 

The first book that influenced me to become a teacher is Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. My third grade teacher read this book aloud to our class and it created a happy memory for me, and an enduring example of the impact of teacher read alouds.

While I cannot think of any professional books that influenced me prior to becoming an educator, there are quite a few that have helped shape me into the teacher I have become during my practice. One that stands out to me is Invitations by Regie Routman. This book was selected to use as a book study with my elementary school faculty, and helped to shape meaningful changes in my literacy instruction, including strategies for spelling instruction that I teach to my graduate students today.

How did you begin your career, and what led you to your current position?

I started my teaching career in Oklahoma City Public Schools, teaching half day kindergarten at two different school sites. I taught in Oklahoma City for five years, teaching kindergarten and 2^nd grade. I changed districts to teach in Norman, OK, where I live, at that point, and taught 1^st grade and Transitional 1^st grade for three years at Jefferson Elementary School, before becoming the Title I Reading Specialist at that site. After fourteen years of teaching, I worked for three years at the Oklahoma State Department of Education in the Federal Programs Division and then in the Curriculum Division as the Director of Literacy. Following this, I spent three years as the Director of Elementary Language Arts in Putnam City Schools in Oklahoma City, OK. During this period I completed my Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum in Literacy Education. I was able to teach as an adjunct instructor at the University of Oklahoma during these time periods as well. In August of 2008, I began my current position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK.

You are the Reading Program Coordinator/Advisor at the University of Central Oklahoma. What does that role entail?

My role as Program Coordinator connects me to my students and to the International Reading Association. This position involves advising the students in our Masters of Reading Program from the time that they are admitted to graduate school through completion of their degree and completing their path to certification as a Reading Specialist. The position also involves overseeing the curriculum and assessment of our program to be sure that we are meeting the IRA’s Standards for Reading Professionals, Revised 2010. These standards are used for accreditation of reading programs across the country.

You just became an IRA Government Relations Committee Co-Chair (working with Pamela Hamman and Rich Long). What brought you to this position?

I am delighted to serve the International Reading Association as co-chair of the Government Relations Committee. Advocacy is a professional interest of mine, and I am thrilled to be involved with this committee. Committee membership is a terrific way for members to become more involved in IRA. I previously served on the IRA Classroom Teacher Award Committee. This experience provided interesting work for me on several levels. I was amazed that such a small number of applications were received for each of the awards that the committee facilitated. After serving on this committee for several years, I was appointed to the Government Relations Committee, and then was appointed Co-Chair for this year. Committee work provides an opportunity to work with members with a range of experience to facilitate the important work of IRA. I encourage members to check out this site which provides information about each of IRA’s committees, as well as a link to the form to volunteer or nominate a colleague to serve: http://www.reading.org/general/AboutIRA/Governance/Committees.aspx.

One of the responsibilities of the Government Relations Committee is scoring the Advocacy Award submissions from state councils. This is an important initiative encouraging IRA’s state councils to be involved in the advocacy process. We have quite a few state councils doing a terrific job with advocacy, but we have room for growth in this area. Information about the Advocacy Award can be found at http://www.reading.org/Resources/AwardsandGrants/council_advocacy.aspx. If you are involved with your state council and would like to help them become more involved in advocacy efforts, I encourage you to check out the information!

What do you think are the most important education issues and concepts for legislators to understand?

Wow, this is a loaded question! I believe that it is extremely important for teachers to become active in advocating for their work and their students. I think that it is important for legislators at the state and federal level to hear from teachers and know about their commitment to the work that they have chosen and to the students that they teach. There are important issues involving education being discussed at local, state, and federal levels, and it is important for policy makers to hear from the dedicated teachers across our country who are implementing the curriculum and assessment mandates. I have found that citizens are often hesitant to contact their legislators as people often do not think that their single voice will make a difference; however, legislators often do not hear from constituents and hearing from even a small number of contacts can influence them.

On a general level, the implementation of the Common Core State Standards is an important topic at the moment at the federal and state level as the majority of states have adopted the standards. Personnel in these states are currently working to transition to implementing these standards and the related assessments, which are being developed by two consortia. One of the most important things a teacher can do is to make personal contact with their legislators. Offer to provide information. Invite them to your classroom. Personal relationships can grow into advisory relationships through the trust developed. This contact can illuminate and personalize the information that the legislators are reading about in the bill proposals coming across their desks.  It is important for teachers to remember that they are the ones with daily experience with curriculum and assessment and their views are important! Share your opinions with your legislators about the investment of time that you have in ongoing professional development and preparation for teaching. As a teacher, educate yourself about the current conversations going on at your local and state level, as well as on the national stage. It is better to become informed and share your opinion through the process, than to learn of a new requirement after the fact when a bill proposal becomes a law.

What do you consider to be your proudest career moment?

My proudest moments are hearing from students about their accomplishments and how their education has influenced their careers. Hearing or reading a “thank you” from a student absolutely makes my day and is a reminder of the important work that I am involved with on a daily basis.

Will you be attending the IRA Annual Convention in San Antonio in April? If so, which sessions are you looking forward to attending?

Yes, I am looking forward to attending the annual convention in San Antonio.

The session that I am most looking forward to attending is the IRA Government Relations Committee Symposium: The latest updates from PARCC and Smarter Balanced Consortia - Important Common Core State Standards Connections for You! This session will feature representatives from both PARCC and Smarter Balanced discussing their progress in creating the assessments for the Common Core State Standards.  This is an important topic for all educators. Dr. Rich Long will also be providing information about legislative updates as well as updates on IRA Advocacy Activities. This symposium is scheduled for Monday, April 22 at 9:00 a.m.

Additionally, I am looking forward to the Research Sessions included throughout the convention. The Research Address, featuring Brian Cambourne, and two sessions featuring updates from the IRA Literacy Research Panel will be held on Saturday, April 20. Participants should also check the program for other research sessions scheduled throughout the convention.

As a teacher educator, what's the most valuable advice you can give to someone entering the field?

My first advice to new educators is to remember the passion that brought you to the profession to begin with, as that is what will help you find joy in your day to day work.

Second, do not forget the importance of life-long learning and ongoing professional development. Your initial teacher education prepared you to be an excellent beginning teacher. Do not feel that you need to have the answer to every question. A professional home in the International Reading Association can provide support for you throughout your career. Involvement at the local and state level will provide networking with colleagues and opportunities for growth in knowledge and leadership. Membership provides resources to support your ongoing learning through journals, books, and conference opportunities.

What do you like to do when you're not wearing your educator hat?

I enjoy reading, traveling, college sports, and spending time with my husband and son.

Registrations for the IRA 58th Annual Convention are pouring in as literacy educators rush to attend the anticipated professional development event. No wonder they’re excited: the 2013 convention features keynotes LeVar Burton, Rick Riordan, Mo Willems, Debbie Silver; hundreds of sessions led by veteran and emerging leaders in the field; and opportunities to network with nearly 10,000 colleagues from around the country and the world. Teachers looking for practical, research-based guidance from expert speakers will be flocking to San Antonio in April.

IRA launched a new, streamlined Annual Convention website in November and opened registration for the convention and housing in early December. Literacy professionals can register using one of four different methods: online, mail, fax, or phone.

The online process is the fastest and easiest way to register and book a hotel. Just go to www.iraconvention.org and click the link for online registration.

Other options include printing the registration form from www.iraconvention.org and faxing it to 415-293-4399. Registrants can also mail the printed form to IRA Registration & Housing, c/o Convention Management Resources, 33 New Montgomery, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94105. Attendees who wish to reserve their spot over the phone should call 888-294-9167 (U.S. and Canada) or 415-979-2278.

What You’ll Need

Before registering online, it is helpful to have a few pieces of information handy. First, registrants should review the Annual Convention website at www.iraconvention.org. You’ll also want to take a look at the iPlanner, which offers detailed descriptions for the more than 500 sessions being offered in San Antonio. This is especially important when considering registering for an Institute and/or any of the luncheons, or planning on attending for a single day.

IRA members, or anyone who has created an account with IRA to purchase books, etc., should have access to the registration site with their IRA logins and passwords. If registrants don’t know this information, there is an option to click on “Forgot password” and have the information e-mailed to them. (Please note that registrants will need to create an additional password to use the iPlanner.) Students should have their student I.D. number accessible to receive the student discount. It also is helpful to have the name of an emergency contact and this person’s phone number. If you’re bringing a guest, it is useful to know this guest’s full name and phone number. Lastly, registrants should have a credit card nearby for payment.

Log In to Save Time

When beginning the online process, registrants are encouraged to log in first. This step saves time when entering information into the online form and it also allows registrants to view completed event details on their “My Account” webpage after the transaction is complete.

Complete Profile

The first step of online registration invites registrants to enter their names and contact information. Registrants can click on “back” at the bottom or any of the circles at the top of the page to return to a previous screen. Nonmember registrants can also add an IRA membership at several points in the process—the best option to save significantly on convention registration and other IRA products.

Register

The second step is to select Annual Convention registration options. Here is where registrants select an Institute, any luncheons, or a single-day rate.

This is also where registrants reserve for their guests and select their event options. Students should enter their school name and I.D. number here. They will be asked to show their student I.D. when they pick up their registration packet in San Antonio.

Book Hotel

The next page allows registrants to select a hotel. If a registrant would rather book accommodations themselves, he/she can skip this step and go directly to step 4 to “Review and Pay.”

If booking now, registrants can choose from 20 IRA-approved hotels on this page, reviewing in-page details about hotel features, location, and a calendar of available dates. They can even choose which kind of room (single or double) and leave requests for the hotel staff. We strongly urge registrants to reserve rooms early, as space is limited.

Review & Pay

The next step is to enter a payment method. The webpage displays a review of attendees’ registration information and hotel information. Registrants can scroll down to enter payment details.

My Registration Profile

Once the registrant has completed entering their contact information, registration preferences, hotel accommodations (if applicable), and payment method, the final step is a webpage showing an overview of the registrant’s convention details. Clicking on “Print Receipt” produces a printer-friendly summary with a barcode that can be used for reimbursement as well as to check-in at the registration booth in April. E-mails with the barcode and registration and housing details will also be sent to registrants when payment is processed. The barcode scanners can even read the barcode image on a smartphone screen at check-in.

And that’s it! IRA believes that this new registration process along with the efficient design makes it possible for even the “nontechnical” literacy professional to complete online registration with ease.

BONUS: Educators who register on or before February 15, 2013 (and enter promotion code AC13158* when prompted) will be entered to win a tablet and an IRA e-book package!

This is just one of the many reasons that it's a great idea to register today!

*Prize package subject to change. Anyone who registers on or before February 15, 2013, 11:59 PM PST will be automatically entered to win. One winner will be notified by March 1, 2013.

IRA's authors lead the way in research-based classroom practices. Attendees at the IRA 58th Annual Convention from April 19-22, 2013, in San Antonio have the unique opportunity to learn proven strategies from some of the best in the field in these dynamic sessions with featured IRA authors.

Regie Routman


Maureen
McLaughlin


Brenda J.
Overturf


Annemarie
Sullivan Palinscar


Linda Kucan


Lori D. Oczkus

Regie Routman

Through classroom stories, photos, video, and student work samples from diverse classrooms and schools, Regie Routman, author of IRA’s Literacy and Learning Lessons From a Longtime Teacher, will model what she views as the most crucial literacy and learning lessons from her lifetime of teaching and learning. In her presentation, “Literacy and Learning Lessons: Maximizing Reading and Writing Achievement for ALL Learners,” she will explicitly discuss and demonstrate the effective reading and writing instructional moves, strategies, responsive language, formative assessment, celebrations, and goal setting that lead to higher student engagement, enjoyment, and achievement. Some of these essential lessons include conducting effective reading and writing conferences, understanding and applying a whole-part-whole teaching approach, writing for audience and purpose, sensibly implementing guided and independent reading, and smartly applying the Common Core State Standards.

Maureen McLaughlin and Brenda J. Overturf

In their session, “The Common Core: Teaching Students to Meet the Reading Standards,” Maureen McLaughlin and Brenda J. Overturf will share research-based, classroom-proven strategies from their IRA books, The Common Core: Teaching K-5 Students to Meet the Reading Standards and The Common Core: Teaching Students in Grades 6-12 to Meet the Reading Standards. A strong research base, a sound theoretical framework, and numerous practical teaching ideas are embedded in this presentation. Participants will learn how to teach students to meet the Common Core College and Career Readiness Standards for Reading.

Linda Kucan and Annemarie Sullivan Palincsar

Authors Linda Kucan and Annemarie Sullivan Palincsar will share the research, classroom practice, and feedback that shaped their book and DVD, Comprehension Instruction Through Text-Based Discussion, which will be featured in their session of the same name. Intended for use by upper elementary teachers, the book presents tools that support text analysis, planning, and enactment of discussion when the goal is to advance knowledge building with informational text. The accompanying DVD illustrates application of the tools, as two teachers lead fourth- through sixth-graders in discussions of four informational texts addressing natural and social science topics. The authors will demonstrate how they envision the book-and-DVD resource will be used by teachers in school-based professional learning, as well as for pre-service teacher education.

Lori D. Oczkus

Educators feeling overwhelmed by the avalanche of critical information they need to know to teach literacy and Common Core State Standards in today's classroom can join bestselling author and literacy coach Lori Oczkus as she shares her "Top 5 Playlists" of proven lessons featured in her recent IRA book, Best Ever Literacy Survival Tips: 72 Lessons You Can't Teach Without! Lori's suggestions for the hottest literacy topics include student-centered lessons to improve motivation; teaching informational texts, fluency, vocabulary, and close reading; and strategies for teaching struggling readers and ELL students.

Registration is now open for the IRA Annual Convention! Visit www.iraconvention.org to register and to read more about the sessions and presenters.

To read more about these and hundred of other IRA books, e-books, and professional development guides, visit www.reading.org/books.

by Elizabeth Bleacher

IRA’s author luncheons provide a unique chance to hear from popular authors while sharing a friendly meal with colleagues. The IRA 58th Annual Convention features ticketed luncheons with Jane O’Connor (Fancy Nancy series) on April 20; Newbery Honor winner Joan Bauer on April 21, and author/illustrator Chris Soentpiet on April 22.

Jane O’Connor

Jane O’Connor, a native New Yorker, addresses the need for varied and creative literature at the primary reading level during the Primary Literacy Luncheon from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. O’Connor is the author of the Fancy Nancy (HarperCollins) series of well-loved books about a dramatic little girl with a love for outrageous fashion and fancy words. A number of the Fancy Nancy books have spent time in the No. 1 spot on the New York Times best-sellers list, but Nancy’s success hasn’t kept O’Connor writing strictly for early readers. The follow-up to her well-received adult novel, Dangerous Admissions (Harper/Avon), will be available in April 2013.

Joan Bauer

Adolescent literature takes center stage when Joan Bauer talks about the importance of hope and humor in teen novels at the Young Adult Literature Luncheon on Sunday, April 21, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Bauer’s writing career had an unconventional start when she penned her first YA novel in an attempt to help herself recover from a serious car accident. Aside from the Newbery Honor Medal, Bauer has also been the recipient of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for her book, Rules of the Road (G.P. Putnam's Sons). Her latest novel, Almost Home (Viking Juvenile), was released in September 2012.

Chris Soentpiet

Author/illustrator Chris Soentpiet speaks at the Book and Author Luncheon on Monday,  April 22, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Recipient of the Society of Illustrator's top prize for his historical picture book Peacebound Trains (Sandpiper) and Parents Magazine's Best Book of the Year for Something Beautiful (Doubleday Books for Young Readers), Soentpiet has also been awarded IRA’s Children’s Book Award three times for his works More Than Anything Else (Orchard Books), Molly Bannaky (Sandpiper), and Coolies (Philomel). Soentpiet’s work transcends boarders with overarching themes about people, history, and culture.

The IRA 58th Annual Convention will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from April 19 to 22, 2013. Register and reserve your tickets for the luncheons on www.iraconvention.org or by calling 888-294-9167 (U.S. and Canada) or 415-979-2278. Since the tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, those interested in attending should secure their tickets as soon as possible.

Elizabeth Bleacher is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.

by Elizabeth Bleacher

Ruth Culham


Greg Tang


Stephen Layne


Debbie Diller


Cris Tovani


Lucy Calkins


Stephanie Harvey


Kelly Gallagher

With teaching trends shifting to accommodate new standards, staying up-to-date on current education expectations can be a challenge for educators. To help literacy teachers meet students’ needs, the International Reading Association has invited nine exceptional literacy professionals to speak at the 58th Annual Convention this April.

Symposium with Ruth Culham, Greg Tang, Steven Layne, and Danny Brassell

A panel consisting of Ruth Culham, Greg Tang, Steven Layne, and Danny Brassell will be sharing instructional teaching and learning strategies that are designed to help students meet state expectations in a session entitled Readin', Writin', and 'Rithmetic: Revisited Through the Common Core State Standards. The strategies will put a special emphasis on aiding students that struggle with reading, writing, and mathematics. The broad focus of the panel will help educators reach students across the curriculum and build strong connections between various subjects.

Culham is the author of over 40 teaching resources and the recipient of the 2011 Teacher’s Choice Award for her book Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide for Middle School. Tang, primarily a math teacher and the author of The Grapes of Math, brings unique insight to the relationship between language arts and algebraic thinking skills. Layne, author of Igniting a Passion for Reading: Successful Strategies for Building Lifetime Readers (Stenhouse, 2009) and current IRA Board member, has been recognized as an exceptional educator by the Milken Foundation. Rounding out the panel is Brassell, author of Bringing Joy Back Into the Classroom, whose primary focus is igniting a passion for reading in early learners.

Individual Sessions with Debbie Diller, Cris Tovani, Lucy Calkins, Stephanie Harvey, and Kelly Gallagher

In addition to the symposium, five individual speakers will present sessions. The individual speakers include Debbie Diller, Cris Tovani, Lucy Calkins, Stephanie Harvey, and Kelly Gallagher. Though all the speakers will be addressing the opportunities and challenges surrounding the implementation of state standards, each speaker will bring the distinct perspectives of their personal experiences and research to the issue.

During her session Building Student Independence Through Meaningful Literacy Work Stations, Diller will talk about the benefits of independent learning. Tovani will address how teaching instruction must shift accommodate standards in her presentation Harnessing Literacy Instruction to Meet the Demands of the CCSS. Calkins, co-author of Pathways to the Common Core (Heinemann, 2012), will help educators you translate the CCSS into plans for teaching and for school reform, and Harvey analyses what the CCSS say about comprehension, understanding, and close reading. Gallagher will discuss Building Deeper Readers in the Age of the Common Core State Standards.

At a time when state standards have taken on a new emphasis, these speakers will be addressing the most talked about issues currently surrounding teaching in a practical and applicable way informed by years of research and personal experience.

Registration is open for the IRA 58th Annual Convention to be held on April 19-22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit www.iraconvention.org to register or for details on these and other speakers.

Elizabeth Bleacher is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.