Learn more about our fabulous

2025 CCIRA Conference speakers!

Click the button below to read all about them and access links to their

websites and social media pages.

We have a new venue for the 2025 Conference!

DoubleTree by Hilton

3203 Quebec St., Denver

This new venue features a perfect layout for the conference. It's newly renovated with plenty of parking and on-site dining choices.

Costs for rooms and luncheons will be less too!

Help us spread the word!

We would love to see you and as many of your friends and coworkers as possible at this year's conference! Click the button to access the 2025 CCIRA Conference Flyer so you can share the details.

✅Email it the to your educator friends.

✅Hang it over the copier in your building.

✅Display it in the staff lounge.

✅Put copies in everyone's box at your school.

✅Do all of the above!

Want to join us as a vendor?

We are very excited about our new space for the exhibit hall at the Double Tree and would love to have you there! Click the button below to learn how to purchase space, advertise, or sponsor a part of the conference. Don't miss this opportunity!

Highlights for our 2025 Vendors:

• Cost this year is $700 for early bird registration that ends October 1, 2024. The price will increase to $800 after this date. 

• This year’s exhibit space will be held in a large, lockable ballroom. It’s a beautiful, well-lit space, and easily accessible to all attendees.

• The exhibit hall will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Additionally, attendees may choose to set aside a time in their schedule to visit the exhibits. NO SESSIONS ARE SCHEDULED DURING SEVERAL OF THESE TIMES SO ATTENDEES CAN VISIT BOOTHS.

• Everyone will have a tablecloth, Wifi, and electricity included in the cost of the registration, along with free parking.

• We're excited to announce we'll again be using Goosechase. Goosechase is an interactive app designed to engage attendees, encouraging them to explore the exhibit hall and interact with you! Through Goosechase, we can track attendees' activities as they navigate the conference. You'll be able to contribute donations for prizes for participants who visit your booths. We'll reach out to you at a later date to create a unique "mission" for attendees to complete at your booth. It's lots of fun! 

• As vendors, there are many ways to sponsor an event during the conference. This can be as small as cookies for the attendees, or as big as sponsoring a special event. Look at our website for options and contact Lisa Kahn, Executive Director, to discuss opportunities and sponsorship details.

• Advertisements in the conference program can be purchased at the time of registration.

• We remain committed to making the Exhibits a part of the conference experience that is relevant and valuable for both attendees and exhibitors.

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 newest posts A Portal to Poetry and Wonder by Georgia Heard and Should We Use AI to Generate Mentor Texts by Carl Anderson and Matt Glover. Other blog posts you will find are The Art and Science of Reading by Jennifer Sarravalo, A Conversation with John Schu, Nourishing Caregiver Collaborations: Families Know by Nawal Qarooni, Scrape the Mud Off and Hike On! by Katie and Maria Walther, 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 were CCIRA Conference presenters!!

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

Although we don't want to admit it yet, the next school year is coming up. (Sshhhhh...Let's not talk about it too loudly.) Be sure the books nominated below are part of your school shopping list! Students should spend time reading them, and then vote on their favorite. Click the button below to find out more! Your students will love it!

Click the button to find a PDF of the 2025 nominees

and information on how to have students vote.

Apply now to meet the August deadline!

Local Activity Grant - Due August 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.

CCIRA's next Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the Lone Tree Hub on September 14th from 9:00-2:00. Please plan on being there if you serve on your local council so we can have important conversations and make decisions. An RSVP form will be sent out as the date approaches. Reach out to 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