| The International Literacy Association (ILA) has recently announced the newly elected members of the ILA Board of Directors. The MCRC is excited to see a fellow Canadian leading this incredible Board! |
 Rob Tierney, Dean Emeritus and Professor, University of British Columbia, Canada, and Honorary Professor, University of Sydney, Australia, was elected vice president. His term on the ILA Board of Directors will begin July 1, 2020. He will then assume the presidency of the Board on July 1, 2021. |
| Three new Board members-at-large have also been elected for the 2020–2023 term: |
 Danielle V. Dennis Professor of Literacy Teacher Education and the Director of the University of Rhode Island School of Education  Annette M. Kiberu Librarian, GEMS Cambridge School, Kampala, Uganda  J. Helen Perkins Professor of Literacy, University of Memphis, Tennessee |
ILA Digital Events
Attention MCRC members!
Are you a member of the ILA? Members enjoy free access, and nonmembers may participate for $45. Become a member of ILA to gain access to this and future webinars in this series at no cost.
Making a Case for Reading Joy
May 31, 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. ET
Adults who habitually read find personal enjoyment and benefit from it. Unfortunately, too many young people report reading experiences that disconnect them from reading joy or discourage its development. We can teach young people to become proficient, critical readers without damaging their reading interest and engagement in the process.
In this ILA Digital Event, Donalyn Miller, award-winning Texas teacher and author, describes some conditions, rituals, and instructional opportunities that engage young people with reading and set them on the path to joyful reading for a lifetime.
Cost: $45 | FREE FOR ILA MEMBERS
Instructional Level or Challenging Text: Too Hard or Not Hard Enough?
May 3, 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. ET
For decades teachers have been told that it is important to match books to children’s reading levels to facilitate learning. But how effective is this practice? In this ILA Digital Event, Timothy Shanahan will explore the research on instructional level and teaching with complex text—and share a different approach more likely to help children to read better.
Cost: $45 | FREE FOR ILA MEMBERS
The archived recording of this session is available until May 8, 2021.
ILA 2019 Replay
Available April 1 at 9:00 a.m. ET through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET
When literacy is embedded in every aspect of education, it creates the environment students need to reach their full potential in the classroom and throughout their lives.
For a limited time (April 1–May 31), ILA is offering this six-session replay free to members and nonmembers (registration required).
These sessions demonstrate the importance of working collaboratively to build and sustain a culture that extends beyond the school setting.
- General Session: Creating a Culture of Literacy | Renée Watson and Pedro Noguera
- Research Panel: What Research Really Says About Teaching Reading—and Why That Still Matters | P. David Pearson, Sonia Cabell, Gwendolyn McMillon, and Nell K. Duke
- Featured Speaker: We Need More Than Diverse Books | Tricia Ebarvia
- Featured Speaker: Teaching Vulnerable Youth How to Read and Write: Lessons About Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Meaning | David Kirkland
- Featured Speaker: Choice, Access, Empowerment: Changing the Game for Young Readers | Donalyn Miller
- Featured Speaker: Motivating Readers From the Inside Out: The Five Key Beliefs That Matter Most for Student Literacy | Dave Stuart Jr.
Cost: FREE for members and nonmembers
ILA Edcamp Online
Edcamps are built on organic, participant-led conversation and collaboration. ILA Edcamp Online is no exception. Our goal is to create a space for live online learning, where educators can connect and discuss relevant topics in real time.
- Alternative Access: Connecting When Your Students Don’t Have Connectivity
- Continuous K–5 Learning During School Closures: Techniques, Tips, and Tools
- Supporting Struggling Learners: Instruction and Intervention in a Virtual Environment
A Message From the ILA
| Earlier this week, we announced that the ILA 2020 Conference, scheduled to take place this October in Columbus, OH, has been canceled due to the impact of COVID-19. The fact that this was a necessary decision doesn’t make it any less difficult. We share the disappointment of program presenters, volunteer leaders, and the thousands of participants who—let’s face it—are what makes ILA conferences so special in the first place. The theme selected for this year’s conference was “Shaping the Future of Literacy: 2020 Vision.” There was no possible way for us to have foreseen this future, let alone prepare for it. As for what’s to come, one thing is certain: The way we teach, and the way in which students learn, will never be the same. Your needs have changed—and are still changing—and to support you best, we need to change as well. We’ve already begun rolling out a new slate of professional development offerings, including ILA at Home, a series of hour-long webinars with leaders such as Timothy Shanahan and Donalyn Miller. Each is available free to ILA members; nonmembers can register for $45 or join ILA for less than the cost of a single webinar (and gain access to the entire series in the process!). Visit literacyworldwide.org/digitalevents for more information. Next month, we will be unveiling a progressive model for professional learning being designed specifically for a digital platform. It’s immersive, interactive, and responsive. We believe it’s the future of PD. We will continue to weather this storm together, and as you enter the period of post-COVID recovery that’s to come, we’ll support you every step of the way. Stay safe—and stay connected. Marcie Craig Post Executive Director International Literacy Association  |
Message From the MCRC President
Dear Readers,
On behalf of the Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians, I would like to take this moment to wish you all good health and strength during this trying time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While we navigate our new world reality, we at MCRC will continue to strive to provide our members and readers current information on literacy and learning.
We hope this message finds you and your family in good health. We would like to let MCRC members know that after a meeting of the executive council, a decision was made to postpone our annual general meeting to the fall; date to be determined in due time. We wish you all strength and courage during this pandemic time and we are looking forward to seeing you all at our fall AGM meeting.
We want you also to know that the International Literacy Association is taking action to support educators during this time. Free resources can be found on their website. As well it is important to note that voting opportunities are now open for board elections if you are a member of ILA. Members are encouraged to vote for three at-large candidates and one vice president candidate. You can read about the candidates here.
Sincerely,
Philippe Morin-Fournier, MCRC President
“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.” Kofi Annan
Monday March 23rd Event Cancelled
We regret to inform you that to ensure the health and safety of all International Literacy Association representatives, during the current global situation with the COVID-19 virus, the ILA is suspending all
travel until further notice.
Therefore, Dr. Dwyer is no longer able to travel from Dublin, Ireland, to appear at the co-hosted conference on Monday, March 23, 2020. Bernadette has sent her sincere regrets. We are all deeply disappointed and perhaps Dr. Dwyer may be able to visit Manitoba, at another time.
Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians is planning literacy professional learning events for the 2020-2021 school year. Please continue to visit the MCRC website for the current updates, literacy programming ideas, private practice lists, and 2020 MCRC scholarship applications.
Hot Topics in Manitoba
The end of February marks the closing of I Love to Read month! We hope it has been a great month filled with fun activities that promote our student’s passion for reading! And the best news yet, is spring awaits us, just around the corner. A reminder that there are upcoming events next month, including Bernadette Dwyer presenting Using Technology to Improve Reading and Learning at The Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Don’t delay, as registration for this valuable PD opportunity closes March 6th.
In hot topics today, the most recent edition of Literacy Today-Jan-Feb highlights important NEW ILA Research Briefs that will be of interest to everyone dedicated to teaching reading. The three briefs listed below provide cutting edge up-to-date information and can be downloaded and saved for future reference.
Children Experiencing Reading Difficulties
Right to Policies that Ensure Equitable Literacy Instruction
Phonological Awareness in Early Childhood Literacy Development
In addition to this information the ILA also provides the biannual What’s Hot in 2020-And Beyond as well as a call to sign on in support of Children’s Rights To Read which can also be found on our previous blog posts.
Siloam Mission
This past weekend was the Manitoba Council of Reading Clinician’s 4th annual volunteer opportunity at Siloam Mission. This year we had the pleasure of serving lunch to hundreds of cold, vulnerable and hungry Winnipeger’s. The steaming soup and hot coffee was a welcome sight to to all those who came in from the cold. With an assembly line of 8 people and several members serving food on the floor, we were able to accomplish this great event of lunch in 1.5 hours. Prep time and clean up is a breeze with so many smiles and friendly people helping out! Thank you to all members of the Executive Council who were able to attend as well as the “plus one” attendees who were very much appreciated!
SHOP FOR SILOAM!!
Did you know that on March 21st from 11:00-4:00 you will find representatives from Siloam Mission at Superstore on 3193 Portage Avenue?
There’s always that one extra item you need from the grocery store…Siloam Mission is no different!
Come find them at the entrance of the store. You can pick up a Siloam Mission shopping list, grab a few items while you’re doing your own shopping, and drop your donated goods on your way out!
90% of the food served daily is kindly donated to Siloam Mission from people like yourself. Your effort will help feed over 1,500 people daily!
If you would like to donate goods today, find a list to review of their most urgently items.
What’s Hot in Literacy?
The ILA 2020 What’s Hot in Literacy Report goes beyond a ranked list of trending topics to offer a deeper look at what literacy professionals think about the issues most critical to the future of effective, high-quality literacy instruction. Explore the key findings of their results to learn more. Interested in findings from the past? Explore hot trends from 2017 and 2018!
Don’t Miss Out! Register Today!
You won’t want to miss this opportunity!
The Manitoba Reading Association in collaboration with Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians are honoured to present a full day with Doctor Bernadette Dwyer.
- Monday, March 23, 2020
- Registration: 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
- Session: 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Canadian Museum for Human Rights
- 85 Israel Asper Way, Winnipeg, MB
Dr. Bernadette Dwyer is the Past-President of the International Literacy Association (ILA). She is an Associate Professor in the School of Language Literacy and Childhood Education in Dublin City University, Ireland. She has extensive experience in the field of education as a classroom teacher,
learning support teacher, teacher educator, PD consultant and researcher. Bernadette is currently engaged in research in the areas of multimodal/ digital literacies; disciplinary literacies; reading comprehension; and supporting struggling readers and writers. Her most recent book publication is Using Technology to Improve Reading and Learning.
Educators will come away with practical strategies to enhance comprehension and engage all learners using technology.
Spring into action! Register early using our convenient online option or download the poster for mail in option. Space is limited. This workshop is recommended for educators of students in grades 4 through 12.
The Case for Children’s Right to Read
“Teaching children to read open’s up a world of possibility for them. It builds their capacity for creative and critical thinking, expands their knowledge base, and develops their ability to respond with empathy and compassion to others.”
THE INTERNATIONAL LITERACY ASSOCIATION (ILA) has long recognized the right to read as fundamental and inalienable. However, for too many children, this right is never realized.
In 2018, the ILA Board of Directors convened a task force charged with developing a worldwide campaign around children’s rights to read—and what needs to be done to ensure these fundamental rights. This task force is composed of ILA members from Australia, Ireland, Japan, Russia, and the United States. Their work yielded a list of 10 rights, of equal importance, that every child deserves. In The Case for Children’s Rights to Read, the ILA offers a glimpse into how and why each of the 10 rights were selected. Included is a reference list of the literature drawn upon when crafting the rights. Readers are encouraged to review these resources.
