The 2021 National African American Read-In (AARI) begins February 1!

AARI is the nation’s first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. It was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.

Although most of us won’t be able to gather in person to celebrate, we encourage schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, and community and professional organizations to organize virtual events for this year's AARI.

Event organizers: Register to have your celebration listed on the NCTE website by completing this form.

If you host or participate in an AARI event this year, don't forget to share your activities on social media using the hashtag #AARI21.

Find a selection of recommended texts for your AARI celebration on Bookshop.org.

NCTE and host Alexandria Peary have added an additional session for this winter's Mindful Writing Series. The series will now continue every Saturday through February 20.

We have a diverse and intriguing set of guests for this series and are delighted to welcome:

Registration is required and needs to be completed for each date. Sessions are free for NCTE members and $10 each for nonmembers.

The series is NOT sequential. Feel free to join one, two, or more sessions—whatever works with your schedule. Each date will be a unique time to get together and meet you where you are.

Find answers to some common questions about what mindfulness offers teachers in this Q & A with Alexandria Peary.

NCTE is offering additional benefits to NCTE members that will support you in upholding your students' right to access materials and educational experiences that promote open inquiry, critical thinking, diversity in thought and expression, and respect for others.

As an NCTE member, you are invited to download The Free Expression Educators Handbook.

The Free Expression Educators Handbook contains practical tools and advice for managing book challenges and censorship controversies in schools and school libraries. The handbook, created by the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) in collaboration with NCTE, is intended for teachers, librarians, and school administrators.

NCTE members facing a challenge can also access free legal advice via NCAC. To access this benefit, please email intellectualfreedom@ncte.org for more information.

Finally, on Monday, March 22, at 4 p.m. ET, we’ll launch a webinar series designed to inform and empower educators to navigate intellectual freedom issues. To be among the first notified when registration opens, complete this form. 

Join us on Wednesday, January 27, at 4 p.m. ET, for a special conversation with the Library of Congress and a former Teacher-in-Residence to explore free classroom poetry and literature resources.

Some items to be discussed include the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature, Poetry of America series, literature-focused primary source sets, and much more. The audience will learn how to get access to free resources from the Library of Congress.

This free event is open to the public.

We have heard members describe this school year as "stressful," "overwhelming," and "uncertain." Join NCTE Community Ambassadors and event cohosts Lisa Castillo-Guajardo and Jessica Hunter as they lead a conversation with NCTE members on Thursday, January 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

This virtual event is free for NCTE members. Advance registration is required, and limited seating is available.

The livestream will begin on Thursday, February 18, at 11 a.m. ET. NCTE President-Elect Valerie Kinloch will speak at the event, as will NCTE Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick. 

We are excited to confirm that the CCCC Annual Convention, "We Are All Writing Teachers*: Returning to a Common Place," will move to a virtual event April 7–10, 2021. You can read more about the process and decision to host the event online in program chair Holly Hassel's latest blog post.

Registration rates and the convention schedule will be posted on the CCCC Convention website later this week. Look for additional information, including the virtual program, in the coming weeks.

Applications are being accepted for the 2021 Library of Congress Literacy Awards until March 5. The awards are made possible through the generosity of philanthropist David M. Rubenstein.

The Literacy Awards—established by the Library and Rubenstein—were first conferred in 2013 to honor and support organizations working to promote literacy in both the United States and abroad. Learn more.

The 2021 CCCC Nominating Committee invites you to submit nominations for the following elected positions: the Assistant Chair, the Executive Committee, and the 2022 Nominating Committee.

Further information about the CCCC elections process and responsibilities associated with each position is available on the CCCC website.

Questions? Email cccc@ncte.org.

Provides funding for professional development experiences for English language arts teachers working in public education institutions. The scholarship supports postgraduate training to enhance teaching skills and/or career development in teaching. Candidates must be current teachers to be eligible. Please see the website for details and the submission form.

Open to individuals who have completed dissertations within the approximately two years immediately preceding the award year (for the 2021 award year, between December 1, 2018, and January 31, 2021). Studies entered into competition should be related to the teaching of English or the language arts (e.g., language development, literature, composition, teacher education/professional development, linguistics, etc.), and should have included a recognized research approach. Learn more.

Honors an outstanding work of scholarship or research in language, literature, rhetoric, or pedagogy and learning. We are currently accepting nominations for eligible titles. Please see the website for details.

Proposals are invited from teachers, teacher-researchers, teacher educators, and scholars of language, literacy, and cultural studies. Grants will be awarded for a period of up to one year and in the amount of up to $4,000 over the life of the grant. Learn more.

This program supports early career teachers of color as they build accomplished teaching careers in literacy education. Practicing preK to university-level literacy educators of color who are in the first five years of a paid teaching career and who aspire to build a career in literacy education are eligible to apply. The program provides two years of mentoring from the program’s codirectors and an opportunity to present at the NCTE Annual Convention. Learn more.

Rob and Amanda Montgomery explore opportunities for writing in real-world settings such as museums, schools, public places, natural places, and even virtual places by providing a range of practical classroom activities in a variety of commonly taught genres.

The book also encompasses issues of environmental advocacy, equity and social justice, and school safety.

Learn more.

Teaching and living in a pandemic is no easy task. Especially now, we need each other, and we need the resources that enrich our teaching and interactions with students—wherever we’re teaching.

NCTE’s Fall/Winter catalog is filled with the latest thinking in our field, including nine new titles—eight books and a quick-reference guide (QRG)—as well as bestsellers from NCTE’s rich collection. Discover fresh ideas, thoughtful research, and the voices of educators like you who are in constant pursuit of the best ways to reach their students.