Literacy and Community Projects

2013-14

International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day, traditionally observed annually on September 8, focuses attention on worldwide literacy needs. More than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education.

IRA’s 2013 celebration of International Literacy Day will be in Washington, DC on Monday afternoon, September 9, 2013.(September 8, the official International Literacy Day, falls on a Sunday.) The topic is:

Career Ready Reading:
What Employers Need from Schools and How We Can Work Together

For more information, visit LRA () or IRA () web sites.

Jumpstart's Read for the Record® - October 3, 2013

Jumpstart’s premiere national campaign, Read for the Record, presented in partnership with the Pearson Foundation, is one time of the year when millions of individuals come together to celebrate literacy and support Jumpstart in its efforts to promote early childhood education. On October 3rd, people across the country will read the children’s book Otis by Loren Long in support of Jumpstart’s mission to work towards the day that every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.

In 2012, 2.3 million people participated in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record.

For more information, go to

Literacy Week in LA

Louisiana Literacy Week is traditionally observed the second week in February. Governor Bobby Jindal will proclaim February 9-15, 2014 as Louisiana Literacy Week. The week is set aside to promote literacy in our state.

Suggested Activities

Monday, February 10 ---Great LA Read-In-10:00-10:10—Everybody in the school system will read for 10 minutes.

Tuesday, February 11 — Community Leaders Are Readers–Invite local officials, business leaders, civic leaders, and elected officials to read to students.

Wednesday, February 12 — Wear Something to Read to School-Everybody in the school system will wear clothes, shoes, and/or accessories with something to read on it. Clothing must contain school appropriate language, words, and/or pictures.

Thursday, February 13 — Share the Love of Reading Day-Allow students to read with a buddy for 15 minutes.

Friday, February 14 — Read Valentine’s Day cards, romantic poetry. Create, write Valentine’s Day cards, poetry.

African-American Read-In

Schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities. Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as bringing together family and friends to share a book, or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers.

To be counted as participants, simply:

 Select books authored by African Americans;

 Hold your event during the month of February; and

 Report your results by submitting the 2013 African American Read-In Host Report Card.

 You must submit a separate Host Report Card for each Read-In held.

In 1990, the first African American Read-In was sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English. In 1991, the National Council of Teachers of English joined in the sponsorship. The Read-In has been endorsed by the International Reading Association. Over a million readers of all ethnic groups, from 50 states, the District of Columbia, the West Indies, and African countries have participated. The goal is to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.

February 2014 activities have not been posted. For updates, go to

FYI As you are celebrating and participating in these events, make sure to do the following:

PUBLICIZE, RECOGNIZE and REWARD

Publicize your event through the local media, signs, flyers, PSA’s.

Recognize participants, sponsors, hosts via media.

Reward participants with certificates and tokens of appreciation.

Reminder: Businesses, individuals and organizations who help you in any of the preceding events may be nominated for LRA’s Celebrate Literacy Award

Celebrate Literacy Award

The Celebrate Literacy Award is an annual award that recognizes organizations, institutions, and individuals that have made significant literacy contributions at the local, state, or national level. The hope is that the celebration will familiarize the public with literacy activities in the community and call attention to the work that is being done by the schools and the Association to promote literacy.

Winners are announced at the end of May and recognized at the annual LRA Awards Banquet in July.

Revised July 2013