Advocating for Students
Advocacy isn't just about talking with legislators or policymakers.
Teachers advocate for their students every day by giving them opportunities to choose what they read, telling administrators what they need to help their students succeed, and writing letters to their local newspapers telling stories about the great work going on in their classrooms.
Fighting for Intellectual Freedom in the Field: Marge Ford
NCTE member Marge Ford notes:
"Classroom teachers create safe environments that encourage students to read a variety of genres by authors both classic and contemporary. They read for pleasure, for information, and to see how characters who 'look' and 'think' like they do react to the world. That was one privilege I loved about teaching.
"Then, my classroom circle got wider when I became the librarian for the district. Not only did I connect kids and books for the last 13 years of my career, I supported the teachers in all the other disciplines as they exercised their intellectual freedom."
Literacy & NCTE Blog, January 13, 2016
See also
"Fighting for Intellectual Freedom in the Field, Part Two": Literacy & NCTE Blog, January 20, 2016
"Making Our Voices Heard" podcasts
"Teachers Speak Up" website
"Tips for Speaking Out," including writing letters to the editor, contacting elected officials, speaking out to the media and public, and more
Writing Strategies for Action
Mark your calendar for the 2016 CCCC Annual Convention in Houston, Texas, on April 6-9. The theme is "Writing Strategies for Action," and the Convention takes place at the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton of the Americas. A special feature of this year's CCCC Convention is a series of Taking Action Workshops designed to help attendees create solid strategies for making a difference. Registration for the CCCC Convention is open, so register online today!
Literacy That Matters: Curriculum, Creativity, and Critical Action
January 31 is the deadline for submitting a program proposal for the 2016 Literacies for All Summer Institute, July 14-16 in St. Louis, Missouri. The theme of this year's Institute, "Literacy That Matters: Curriculum, Creativity, and Critical Action," invites us to share the ways in which we move beyond the limits of mandated curriculum, commercial programs, and testing as we explore language and literacy teaching and learning that matters in the lives of our students and their communities.
Literacy Education Advocacy Day, February 25, 2016
We know it's a lot to ask, but we would love for all of you to join us in Washington, DC, for Advocacy Day. We're working to set up group meetings with members of the Senate Health, Education, and Labor (HELP) Committee, and we know that congressional staff are more receptive when constituents attend these meetings. If you live in these states -- AK, CT, CO, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, NC, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY -- please consider coming to Advocacy Day. We also encourage our local membership from DC and VA to join us. However, the invitation is open to anyone -- no matter where you live -- and we are happy to help you set up a meeting with your representative (email Lu Ann McNabb at NCTE). Both K-12 and higher education issues will be addressed. We want and need your voice to make a difference.
On January 29 and 30, NCTE's Policy and Advocacy Subcommittee will be drafting NCTE's 2016 Education Policy platform, which we will share once it's finished (see the 2015 platform). That platform will highlight both K-12 and higher education issues and will inform our discussions with congressional staff. In addition, the Senate HELP Committee is now focusing on reauthorizing the Higher Education Act and other bills focusing on adjuncts. The HELP Committee will also be monitoring the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in the states. Your experience and stories are the most persuasive voice we have.
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Advocacy Month
March is NCTE's Literacy Education Advocacy Month. Advocacy is not just speaking or writing to legislators. It is anytime you as a teacher or faculty member stand up for a student, a colleague, a cause, or an issue. It could be speaking to a group of parents as to why you assigned a particular book or meeting with a principal or dean about practice or pedagogy. It includes writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed about an education issue in your community.
We are collecting stories from our membership to publish each day in the month of March about a time when you "advocated" or spoke up for someone else or a cause. Please send your stories, with a 1-2 sentence bio and photo. Again, your stories illustrate and are our most powerful voice, not only to our membership, but to the world.
State Peer-Review Teams
We have heard that some states are moving quickly to establish peer-review teams as required under Title I of ESSA to review state plans. We encourage all of you who may be interested and wish to have a voice in your state plans to contact your state Department of Education. If you'd like to get involved and need assistance reaching your state department, please contact Lu Ann McNabb.
Advocate for Your Students by Registering Your Vote
This month NCTE members have an opportunity to ratify two resolutions that were approved by the members attending the Annual Business Meeting during the Annual Convention in Minneapolis last November. All members have received email messages that include instructions on voting for the Resolution on Student Educational Data Privacy and Security and the Resolution on Dismantling the School-to-Prison Pipeline. Please see your email for a message from NCTE with a link to your ballot.
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Host an African American Read-In
Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as sharing a book with students or with family and friends or as elaborate as a public reading that highlights African American authors. This initiative has reached more than 5.5 million participants around the world! The National African American Read-In is the nation's first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. Join us as we make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. To view a variety of recommended books and to host an event, please visit the African American Read-In website.
NCTE Member Ezra Hyland Talks about Kids, Reading, and the AARI
Tune in to Education Talk Radio on Wednesday, January 27, at noon ET, to hear NCTE member Ezra Hyland, teaching specialist with the University of Minnesota and host of a local African American Read-In, talk about "Connecting Kids to Literature and the African American Read-In."
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