Last Chance to Register!!

Go to CCIRA.org to register or simply click the registration book and registration link below to get started! There will also be a few registrations available at the door on the first day of the conference. We can't wait to see you!!

Cost to Attend the

2024 CCIRA Conference

Full Conference - $395

Friday & Saturday - $315

One Day Only - $275

Student - $95

Retired - $180

The vision for the 2024 conference, Branching Out, Staying Rooted, is to help teachers explore, grapple with, and maybe reconcile their literacy roots with all of the changes that are happening in education today. We are offering a balance of sessions that will encourage teachers to explore their beliefs, but also challenge them to branch out - try new things, explore a new perspective, or reach their audiences just that much better. There are three main branches that we are exploring at the conference, and the speakers will each be connected to a branch. In this Communicator, we'd like to share with you the Teaching & Pedagogy branch:

To learn more about the branches, go to ccira.org!

TechPlayground &TriviaHappyHour

Friday 3:45-5:15

Join our friends from InnEdCO for a fun evening of trivia, snacks, and technology demonstrations. Colleagues from across the state will share the amazing things they are doing to use technology in meaningful ways in their classroom. Win prizes, have fun, and share your excitement about the day!

You don't want to miss an opportunity to see our amazing luncheon speakers! Did you register for the conference and forget to select the luncheons? It's not too late! Go back to your confirmation email and find the link to update your registration!

Kate & Maggie Roberts

Join us for the Thursday luncheon featuring Kate and Maggie Roberts! With their extensive experience, they've encountered the full spectrum of highs and lows in the realm of educator professional development. Prepare to be captivated as Kate and Maggie unveil their strategies for optimizing professional development programs, ensuring they align precisely with educators' needs to conquer the ever-evolving demands and challenges in our field. Let these two speakers rekindle your passion for teaching and empower you to discover your teaching soul once more. Don't pass up this opportunity!

Pam Muñoz Ryan

Attend Friday's luncheon with renowned author Pam Muñoz Ryan! As a Newbery Honor recipient and New York Times Bestselling Author, Pam will share her diverse childhood experiences in the San Joaquin Valley, her journey to publishing, and the influence of teachers and librarians on her path to writing Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi Leon, Riding Freedom, Paint the Wind, The Dreamer, Echo, Mananaland, and Solimar. Imagine the awe in your students' eyes when you can proudly declare that you shared a lunch with Pam Muñoz Ryan. Secure your spot today and be part of this experience!

Here are some great sessions for you to consider:

101 - Making More: “The Talk” Made Easy with Story and Science Katherine Roy – Author

Where do babies come from? is one of science author/illustrator Katherine Roy’s favorite questions. Discover a brand new way to look at nature, identity, and how life begins through the lens of story and science in her essential kids book, Making More. PK-6

131 - Experience Dyslexia Simulation

Diane Mayer – President of IDA-RMB

Participants are guided through 6 stations, experiencing some of the challenges and frustrations faced by people with language-based learning differences. A group discussion with classroom tips will follow. All Grades

134 - Trusting Readers: Affirm, Shift & Expand Reader Identity

Hannah Schneewind and Jen Scoggin

How are reader identity, motivation, engagement and achievement related? We provide three distinct moves for centering students and for expanding or changing how they see themselves. We highlight the role of the teacher as expert and decision maker. Grades 3-6

171 - Local Authors and Illustrators - Middle Grade and Young Adult

RMC - SCBWI

Join the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and their member authors for a roundtable discussion. Learn about the organization, hear about the process of book publication, meet amazing local authors, get tips and tricks for using their books, and make connections for authors to visit your classroom! Grades 3-12

184 - Punk Rock Poetry: Using Verse to Get Kids Writing

Jarrett Lerner

In this session, award-winning author-illustrator Jarrett Lerner shares how poetry can be introduced, discussed, and used in order to encourage and motivate kids to write. Attendees will leave with immediately implementable tools and exercises. All Grades

187 - Skill-based Small Group Instruction: Where Do I Start?

Mo Darnall – National Curriculum Consultant, Learning A-Z

Trying to implement flexible, skill-based small group instruction into your classroom, but are feeling overwhelmed? In this session, we will not only show you where to start, but also how to put it all together. Walk away with a framework that includes a planning template, recommended instructional strategies, and an easy way to implement a practice routine to grow students’ academic skills.

221 - Queer, Quirky, and Inquisitive: Writing LGBTQIAP+ Stories Alex Gino

With wit and sincerity, Alex speaks to the importance and joy of LGBTQIAP+ literature for young people, and how stories written from within community translate to a better future for all of us. Time will be reserved for audience Q&A. 3-8

233 - Leading Powerful Discussions in the Age of AI

Matthew Kay

In this interactive session, we will discuss how classroom discussion facilitators can lead meaningful conversations about race (and other tough issues) in this current age of generative AI. Grades 3-12

283 - Writing Workshop: Writing Characters You Disagree With

Alex Gino

Join Alex Gino for a guided workshop on developing and writing characters who are unlike you. The concepts from this workshop can be used with writers and learners of all ages. Bring your brain and a way to write! Grades 3-8

286 - Education Leadership Executive at Apple: Bridging the Literacy Gap: A Prescriptive Approach

Casey Veatch – Apple

Explore a prescriptive approach to supplementing your literacy instruction. Utilize technology to support oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.

Going to the 2024 CCIRA Conference? Downloading the Goosechase app is an ESSENTIAL tool that will enhance your conference experience and will provide you with real-time updates, connections with fellow attendees, and opportunities to win prizes every day!

1. Download the Goosechase iOS or Android app.

(Pro Tip: Be sure to enable Push Notifications to receive real-time updates)

2. Log in. New to Goosechase? Sign up for an account or play as a guest.

3. Search for CCIRA 2024 Experience by code J4DPRP or name CCIRA 2024. Once you find your Experience, click Let's Go!

4. Create your player profile or join a pre-created profile.

5. Set yourself apart with a name and photo and click Save.

Prizes will be given to Goosechase participants every day, and top score receives free registration for CCIRA2025!

2024 Silent Auction

The 2024 silent auction has begun! Funds raised from the auction will provide literacy grants and awards to educators. We need your help! Please bid on auction items, give a cash donation, or simply share this auction on your social media outlets. Bidding ends on February 9th at noon. NOTE: We will mail all gift cards to winners within three days of the end of the auction. Any items that are not gift certificates must be picked up at the CCIRA Conference on Friday, February 9th from 2:30-3:30 near the registration area. Not at the conference? No problem! Arrangements can be made to pick up items in the Denver area. Email hollyannabates@gmail.com to make arrangements.



Teacher as Literacy Learner Grant - Due March 30

Are you interested in promoting literacy by encouraging the teachers in your district to become active readers and/or writers? Apply for CCIRA’s Teacher as Literacy Learner Grant to earn up to $500 to cover materials to make this professional growth opportunity a reality in your school. Proposals should focus on the use of literature to build teachers’ professional knowledge, the power of participating in a book club as a means of building one’s love for reading, or the development of teachers’ writing skills as they take risks to find their own writing voice. (See TALL Application Guidelines for more information). 

Local Activity Grant - Due April 1

Does your council have a great idea for an activity involving reading/writing instruction or promoting literacy in schools? If so, you can fill out the application for the Local Activity Grant (formerly the Council Development Grant). Click the button below to go to the grants page of the CCIRA website. This grant is awarded three times a year. Due dates for applications are August 1, February 1, and April 1. Contact Jessica Endres with any questions you may have.

The Colorado Children's Book Award (CCBA) was established to encourage a love of reading by conducting an annual contest in which the children of Colorado vote for their favorite picture book and their favorite junior novel. Voting for the 2024 nominees is due March 1st. Click the buttons below to get more information and to vote. You can also nominate books to be considered for the 2025 award. Please direct any questions to ccbaward@gmail.com.

CCIRA Literacy Conversations

Learn from some of our 2023 conference speakers and more in our library of podcasts! There are episodes from Cornelius Minor, Charles R. Smith, 

Whitney La Rocca, Krista Griffin, Melanie Conklin, Pernille Ripp,

Gordan Korman, and more! Click the button below and listen in!

CCIRA Professional Development Blog

All Things Literacy

The CCIRA blog features a wide variety of nationally renowned literacy experts, as well as talented practitioners from across Colorado. Check out the posts on https://ccira.blog/  

📢New Blog Alert!!📢

Take a look at The Top 5 Posts of 2023 and the newest post, Scrape the Mud Off and Hike On! by 2024 presenters Katie and Maria Walther. Other blog posts you will find are Inviting Growth: The Teacher’s Role in Affirming, Acknowledging, Shifting, & ExpandingStudents’ Literate Identities by Dr. Jennifer Scoggin and Hannah Schneewind along with Scott McLeod's Student (dis)engagement. You can also read Holding on to the Axe by Kylene Beers, Word Histories in Your Word Study-Stories and Processes by Shane Templeton, Making the Case for Slow Reading by Maria Nichols, and Reflection is Where the Learning Sticks: A Conversation and Resources for Sustainable Movement-Making in Schools by Kass Minor. Carl Anderson's Teach Writing With Mentor Texts! and Look After Your Twisted Ankles: Professional Development in Troubled Times by Kate and Maggie Roberts are also there for your reading enjoyment. Most of these authors are 2024 CCIRA Conference presenters!!

📃If you are interested in submitting a guest post to the CCIRA blog, please contact Hollyanna Bates.📃 hollyannabates@gmail.com

NEEDED - PARTNERSHIP CHAIR

One very specific and incredibly impactful way to become involved in CCIRA’s work is to become the Chair of CCIRA’s Partnership Committee.  Along with our Marketing Committee, this group’s work is all about outreach and building connections.  Its goals include sharing CCIRA’s mission with educators and with individuals/organizations across the state who might financially support our work.  If this sounds like something you want to commit your time and talents to, please contact Michele Warner at warnermichele4@gmail.com.

Update on Membership

Please read CCIRA's very important statement regarding membership linked below. It outlines an important change that our community needs to be aware of.

CCIRA's next Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the 2024 conference on February 8th from 6:00-8:00 at the Westin Hotel. Please plan on being there if you serve on your local council so we can have important conversations and make decisions. An RSVP form was sent in January. Reach out to Michele Warner at Michele Warner at warnermichele4@gmail.com with any questions.

CCIRA is a non-profit organization that works to empower literacy educators. As a non-profit organization, we appreciate support in a variety of ways:

• Donate
• Support a Conference Scholarship Opportunity
• Leverage fundraising programs to earn CCIRA money
• Volunteer with CCIRA

Featured Fundraiser!

CCIRA Partners in Empowering Literacy Educators

TOP REASONS TO PARTNER WITH CCIRA

• Over 2000 conference attendees will learn about your partnership with CCIRA.
• Our educator community will see your support on our webpage.
• Visitors to the CCIRA website will learn about your organization and its events.
• Our combined support of literacy will impact students across our state and neighboring states.

CCIRA collaboratively encourages, supports, and advances literacy through research-based instructional practices to increase literacy access to all.

All people will be empowered to critically engage in our changing world by developing and utilizing literacy skills throughout life.

CCIRA.inc. | ccirainfo@gmail.com | ccira.org