Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Dear FELA/IDEC colleagues, you know it is a longlasting tradition since Ulla-Britt Persson's

chairmanship that we all write reports about recent and future activities of our national

literacy associations.

These reports

contain information for ourselves as Committee/Federation

are for our members and colleagues in our respective country

will be sent to ILA to show and share our activities

are to be published on our website. Attached please find reports by 17 January 2018:

o Austria, Österreichische Gesellschaft zur Erforschung und Förderung des Lesens und Schreibens

o Bulgaria, BulRA− Bulgarian Reading Association o Croatia, Hrvatsko čitateljsko društvo (Croatian Reading Association – CroRA) o Czech Republic, Společnost pro podporu a rozvoj čtenářství (Czech Reading

Association – CzechRA) o Denmark, Landsforeningen af Læsepædagoger (Danish Reading Association) o Estonia, Eesti Lugemisühing (Estonian Reading Association – EstRA) o Finland, FinRA (Finnish Reading Association) o Germany, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Lesen und Schreiben DGLS (German

Society for Reading and Writing) o Greece, ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΓΛΩΣΣΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΙΣΜΟΥ – Hellenic

Association for Language and Literacy HALL o Hungary, Magyar Olvasástársaság (HunRA) o Ireland, Cumann Litearthachta na hÉireann (Literacy Association of Ireland–

LAI) o Israel, Israel Reading Association o Latvia, Latvijas Lasīšanas asociācija (Latvian Reading Association) o The Netherlands, RAIN (Reading Association in the Netherlands) o Portugal, Littera Associação Portuguesa para a Literacia o Romania, Asociaţia Lectura şi Scrierea pentru Dezvoltarea Gândirii Critice

România (Romanian Association for Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking) o Russia, RAR, Русская Ассоциация Чтения o Slovakia, Slovak Reading Association o Slovenia, Bralno društvo Slovenije (Slovenian Reading Association) o Spain, Asociación Española de Lectura y Escritura (Spanish Association for

Reading and Writing) AELE o Sweden, SCIRA (Swedish Council of the International Reading Association) o Switzerland, Leseforum Schweiz – Forum suisse sur la lecture o United Kingdom, UKLA, United Kingdom Literacy Association)

Ann-Sofie Selin Renate Valtin

FELA, chairperson IDEC chairperson, FELA vice-chair

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

ALA – Austrian Literacy Association c/o Lesezentrum Steiermark Eggenberger Allee 15a A-8020 Graz office@lesenundschreiben.at v.gangl@lesezentrum.at www.lesenundschreiben.at Chairperson: Dr. Margit Böck Vice-chairperson: Dr. Sabine Fuchs

Date: 2018-01-16

The main aims of ALA are

to create a network of those who work in research, teaching and promotion of reading and writing,

to disseminate knowledge, both in relation to current research, models of and experiences with the teaching of reading and writing and its promotion, and

to produce public awareness of the significance of current developments in relation to (online and offline) reading and writing and its effects on the micro-, meso- and macro-levels of societies.

The substantive work of the association concerns itself with the promotion of literacy research and

literacy education in Austria from the international domain. It integrates this work with research and

practice that have been characteristic for the German speaking area.

Recent activities:

19th European Conference on Literacy in July 2015 in Klagenfurt: preparation the conference

prodeedings (date of publishing: 2018-01-31)

Participation in the 20th European Conference on Literacy in Madrid in July 2017

Cooperation with ELINET (ALA-member organisations are also part of ELINET)

3 board members are part of the management board of the Ministry of Education’s two-years-

project “Austrian National Literacy Curriculum” (Lifelong Learning Strategy Austria):

www.leseplan.at

A one-day retreat of the board members in fall 2017:

topics: ALA’s role in Austria, its offers to its members and to the public, organizational

development, future agenda of the association in Austria and Europe-wide

2 new members gained

Upcoming events:

Development of a new website including a download area for publications

Publication of the conference proceedings (33 contributions; online-version); establishing

A one-day retreat of the board members in spring 2017

Organisation of a workshop on Literacy Education for ALA-members and people working in the

field of literacy education in the context of the publication of “Austria’s National Literacy

Curriculum”

More network-orientated cooperation with other organizations in Austria (e.g., cooperation

partners in developing the “Austrian National Reading Curriculum”) and and European networks

like FELA

Submitted by Dr. Margit Böck, Chairperson

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

BULGARIAN READING ASSOCIATION (BulRA)

Address: P.O.B. 205, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

E-mail: lydia.dachkova@gmail.bg,

marieta.tzvet@gmail.com

Website: www.bulra.org

Chairperson: Marieta Tzvetkova, PhD

Vice-chairperson: Lydia Dachkova, PhD

Date:15.01.2018

BulRA was registered in April 2001 and chartered as an IRA member organization on July 1, 2003. It was

established resulting from the RWCT project, funded and administered by the Open Society Foundation NY

and Sofia.

BulRA runs projects funded by international and local donors and the projects are oriented to educators on

various levels (school, university) and target groups (high school and university students, parents, community).

They are oriented to: professional development, course and curriculum design, publishing. BulRA administers

projects either initiated by BulRA, local or international partners.

Recent activities:

I. REGULAR ACTIVITIES:

Updating documents of BulRA and submitting to relevant national authorities after the GA of the organization in March, 2017

Living & Studying Abroad: information meetings & discussions with parents & high school students

& teachers in Bulgarian schools; cross-cultural, multicultural & academic issues.

Support of the website of BulRA, incl. FB page. Regularly sharing info on BulRA’s website and a FB

page of BulRA, disseminating info about literacy projects and activities of BulRA, as well as

international & local literacy & education organization.

II. PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES:

Participation in an international multiplier event under the Erasmus project “BE READY – Life skills and career development helping young people progress inti success” - http://bereadyproject.com/wp/en/2017/04/27/bulgarian-multiplier-nbu/

High School Exchange Program: 1-year exchange programs for Bulgarian high school students in USA

and UK; merit based national competition; partners: ASSIST, USA & HMC, UK.

Participation in national meetings out of Sofia (Erasmus and other type of meetings)

with presentations covering BulRA good literacy and exchange practices]

Targeted donations of magazines and other literacy materials to partner organizations (incl. libraries,

schools etc.)

Upcoming events:

1. High School Exchange Program: 1-year exchange programs for Bulgarian high school students in USA

and UK; merit based national competition; partners: ASSIST, USA & HMC, UK.

2. Living & Studying Abroad: information meetings & discussions with parents & high school students &

teachers in Bulgarian schools; cross-cultural, multicultural & academic issues.

Submitted by: Marieta Tzvetkova, Chair of BulRA

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Hrvatsko čitateljsko društvo/

Croatian Reading Association-CRORA Trg Eugena Kvaternika 11, 43000 Bjelovar,

Croatia

Phone: +385 43244447 / fax: +38543

243624

E-mail : hcd@hcd.hr

Website : http://www.hcd.hr

Chairperson: Snježana Berak

Vice-chairperson : Kristina Čunović,

Davorka Semenić Premec

Date: 5th of December 2017

The Croatian Reading Association is nongovernmental, not-for-profit and voluntary association whose mission is to encourage, research and promote reading and literacy established in 1995. The CroRA has approximately 450 members who are mostly librarians, teachers, university professors, special education teachers, psychologists, writers, publishers, students etc., actively working to promote and encourage reading and literacy at all levels and to raise awareness about the importance and impact of reading and literacy. CroRa publishes Association’s newsletter Hamster (Hrčak), organizes Annual Conference on the September 8th and an annual photography contest “Smile…and read!” for the best photography of a reading person. CroRa members regularly published news and other relevant information in the electronic newsletter https://hcdbilten.wordpress.com. CroRa participated in the European Literacy Policy Network – ELINET (2014.-2016.). Very important project in which CroRa members are involved is “Read to me”, the first national campaign, promoting early reading and encouraging parents and other adults for reading aloud to children from the birth. The campaign “Read to me” was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. CroRA is a partner in the project Croatian Prison Reading Program for detainees and their children with the association RODA in 2015. and 2016. organizes the reading programme for parents prisoners in Požega, Glina and Lepoglava with the financial support by the Ministry of Social Policy and Youth and had been awarded from the ILA for Innovate Reading Promotion at the 20th European Literacy Conference in Madrid.

Recent activities and upcoming events: ● Preparation of Association’s review "Hamster", 55/56 issue ● Preparing Annual Conference for the celebration of the International Literacy Day 2018. ● Preparing 13th photo contest “Smile... and read! for the best photography of a person

reading. ● Sending monthly newsletters on reading activities in Croatia and worldwide to members

(mailing list), followed by calendar with notes on anniversaries of famous writers, dates of various happenings, book promotions

● CroRA members are still involved on different levels in the organization of the first national campaign Read to me! http://www.citajmi.info/campaign/

● Participation in the organization of the Month of Croatian Book (October 15th - 15th November 2018.)

● Implementation of Croatian prison reading program for parents and children program

● Organizing series of lectures and round tables, aimed to support reading strategies for teachers and Croatian language professors.

Submitted by: Davorka Semenić-Premec

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Czech Reading Association Prague, M.D.Rettigové 4, CR m.ernestova@email.cz www.czechra.czweb.org Chairperson: Radka Wildová Vice-chairperson: Marie Ernestová

Czech Reading Association

Společnost pro podporu a rozvíjení čtenářství (abbr. as CzechRA)

Date: 28th December 2017

The Czech Reading Association was chartered as a member organisation of the IRA in 2003 and has 25 members and several regular collaborators. The membership comprises university research specialists and lecturers, school teachers at all levels, students, parents, librarians and professional educational psychologists. CzechRA goals are to develop and support reading skills in the Czech Republic, and to promote cooperation between universities and colleges training teachers, education specialists and other consultants in the field of reading.

Recent activities: Preparation and launching of an operational EU Social Funds supported project ´Research, Development and Education´ focusing on the development of initial literacy and literacy in the present-day kindergartens and primary schools and its implications in teacher training. Organizing workshops for students and other reading and education specialists. Providing consultation expertise for the Ministry of Education. Setting-up of a new journal Diagnostics and Counselling in Auxiliary Occupations. Offering courses on reading development, literary education and initial reading and writing as part of a postgraduate lifelong learning project for teachers (USB, Faculty of Education, České Budějovice) Publications: Švamberk Šauerová, M. Využití vlivu vrstevníka (peer tutoringu) při rozvíjení čtenářství (The Use of Peer Tutoring in Reading Developent.) Gramotnost, pregramotnost a vzdělávání. Výzkumná studie (A research study). Year 1, No. 2, 2017. ISSN 2533-7882 (Print), ISSN 2533-7890 (On-line)

Upcoming events: Action research in schools. The aim is to identify and trial those teaching methods which are the most effective in bringing about improvements in text comprehension for lower socio-economic and culturally disadvantaged pupils. An educational project: "Nivea Teddy-Bear helps children in their preparation for school” Kindergarten attendance has become compulsory for all the 5-year-olds since September 2017. So far, the project involves 400 kindergartens. Didactic materials and teaching aids for every child have been prepared by experts (including CzechRA members), and emphasis is given to pre-reading preparation.

Submitted by PhDr. Marie Ernestová, Vice-President CzechRA

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Landsforeningen af Læsepædagoger

(The Danish Reading Association)

Strandhavevej 50, 1.

info@laesepaed.dk

www.laesepaed.dk

Chairperson: Thomas Ais Christensen

Vice-chairperson: Rikke Torbjørg Nielsen

Date: 2017-12-26

The Danish Reading Association (LL) was founded in 1950 and was initially comprised mainly of teachers from the municipality of Copenhagen. Gradually, the association grew to include members from all parts of Denmark, from both general and special education, and comprised K-12 and adult education.

The active members of the association work on a voluntary basis. This also applies to the association's Board, which presently consists of six members with Thomas Ais Christensen as chairperson.

Today the association has approximately 1.100 paying members, which includes individuals as well as schools and institutions. The membership fee is kept to a minimum and has remained the same for a number of years.

The journal Læsepædagogen is the cornerstone of LLs work together with the annual conference called the Munkebjerg Conference.

Recent activities: In 2017 LL has developed a new website where both members and others interested in LL can get information about activities, offers and upcoming events in Denmark and elsewhere, e.g. conferences held by members of FELA/IDEC or ILA. Some of the historical booklets and articles published by LL are also available.

In November 2017 the annual conference was held on Hotel Munkebjerg. The three-day conference offered a large number of presentations, as well as exhibitions from publishers. Approximately 300 people participated in the conference this year.

In the fall 2017 LL also offered and held two mini conferences for literacy advisors in elementary and secondary schools.

Members received a printed copy of the magazine Læsepædagogen six times in 2017.

Upcoming events: In spring 2018 LL will host two mini conferences for literacy advisors in elementary and

secondary schools and the annual conference will take place in November as usual. Our magazine Læsepædagogen will be published six times in 2018.

In August 2019 the association will host the 18th Nordic Literacy Conference & the 21st European Conference on Literacy.

The conference will be held at the same educational venue as the first Nordic Conference which was held in 1948, namely the HF-Centret Efterslægten - an upper secondary school for young people and adults.

Submitted by Thomas Ais Christensen

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Name of association: Estonian Reading Association Web site: www.lugemisyhing.ee President Mare Müürsepp marem@tlu.ee Address: Narva Road 25 Tallinn 10120 Estonia Person submitting the report and further information: Kadi Lukanenok, IDEC representative e-mail: kadi.lukanenok@tlu.ee

The Estonian Reading Association/EstRA (Eesti Lugemisühing) was founded in May 1992 and became a National Affiliate of the IRA in April 1993. EstRA is a voluntary organisation that unites currently around 200 individuals from different reading-related professions in the Republic of Estonia interested in reading and in issues related to reading and literacy. EstRA aims to follow the IRA's goal-setting process and its guidelines for Estonian traditional development in reading and literacy. Mare Müürsepp runs as EstRA leader since August 2015.

Recent activities: # The annual meeting of EstRA was held on June, 15th, 2017 in Pärnu. The panel session, presentations and workshops were carried by the motto “Literacy reflects well-being”. Next conference will be dedicated on multicultural reading, the conference will held on June, 15, 2018. # The project “Reading Nest” continues with training sessions for mentors and creation of new reading nests in schools, kindergartens and libraries. Project managers Anneli Laamann and Kaja Kivisikk. # „Young Home-researchers“, manager Heli Prii, leaders Tiina Kivimäe, Eve Krais. Project results in a lot of memories stored, improved children's reading and writing skills and gathered first experiences of research compilation. The freshest subject “Our family 100 years ago” is dedicated to Estonia 100 anniversary. The previous subject “Self-made, well done” run up to March, 2017. The competition was co-organised by EstRA and Paide Ühisgümnaasium. 16 schools all over Estonia participated in competition by 56 entries. The best participants are honoured. # Different teacher training programs on reading issues are offered by EstRA members for teachers all around Estonia. EstRA training has got the officially appreciated status in teacher training area in Estonia. Training programs are mainly aimed to teachers and parents and focused on reading skills promotion and development, children literacy and book objects, reading difficulties and methods to support struggling readers. # Dyslexia awareness day was held in Tallinn University December, 1st, 2017. # The presenters of EstRA take part in the cooperation between the Estonian Union of Child’s Welfare, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre and other organisations concerning to the children’s books production, to compile the list of the best children’s books published during the year.

Upcoming events: Annual meeting will held on June, 15th, 2018 on the issue of reading in multicultural context.

Submitted by: Kadi Lukanenok, Dec, 19. 2017

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

FinRA r.y./rf ℅ Selin, Västerlånggatan 26 C 74, FI-20100 Turku/Åbo, Finland finrainfo/at/gmail.com http://finnishreadingassociationenglish.blogspot.fi/ Chairperson: Ann-Sofie Selin Vice-chairperson: Heli Ketovuori Chief editor: Vuokko Kaartinen

Date: 3rd January, 2018 FinRA, Finnish Reading Association, registered association, 50 years 2018 FinRA, previously Klinikkaopetus r.y. and Suomen puhe-luki-yhdistys, has developed with and for the needs of the society without losing its focus. FinRA is a membership organisation for teachers, researchers and all interested in working for literacy. All activities have been and are still run on voluntary bases.The association is bilingual (Fin/Swe), in practice most of the activities are in Finnish. The journal Kielikukko is published 4 times per year.

Recent activities: A Pedagogical café “Engaging ALL readers in meaningful learning” was arranged in collaboration with Turku school authority at Ilpois Elementary School in the end of August. The speakers Dr Victoria Risko, former ILA President, Vanderbilt Univ. Tennessee and Professor Pekka Niemi, Turku University and FinRA member, boosted an excellent start of the school year. Presentations on our website. Furthermore the Puropelto Upper Secondary and Cygnaeus Elementary school enjoyed school visits. On International Literacy Day 8 September FinRA awarded the Teacher, Reading Ambassador and Author Ms. Katarina von Numers-Ekman the ABC Rooster Award. The ceremony was held as the awardee gave a lecture for 7-8 grade students in her school Mattliden. The title was: “A good reader a hundred years ago would be close to an analphabet today!” For more on these events scroll down on http://finnishreadingassociationenglish.blogspot.fi/

FinRA has updated its archives dating 50 years back in time in the National Archives of Finland in the Jyväskylä branch, where they are preserved and can be obtained for research. Over the past years, as part of FinRA’s commitment to our European network and International outreach, a good amount of voluntary work has been put in to the process of renewing FELA.

Upcoming events: FinRA will send three new leaders to the ILA,IDEC, FELA Leadership seminar in Riga in January. On 9th March there will be a gala dinner for members and friends in Tampere. We hope to keep the price very reasonable, so that we can each pay our own way. DEd Sirpa Eskelä-Haapanen is invited dinner speaker. We will celebrate FinRA’s 50 years. Everyone reading these lines is invited. In addition professional events in celebration of 50 years of literacy leadership is planned. Under the leadership of new Board member Miina Orell and vice-chairperson Heli Ketovuori FinRA’s well received Publication with teachers’ screening material for elementary and secondary schools is under renewal.

Submitted by Ann-Sofie Selin, FinRA chairperson

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Lesen und Schreiben - DGLS hanna.sauerborn@ph-freiburg.de www.dgls.de Chairperson: Dr. Hanna Sauerborn Vice-chairperson: Katja Schneider

Date: 27th of November 2017

The German Society for Reading and Writing was founded in 1968. It has about 380

members. Its main aims are:

• to stimulate and promote interest in literacy

• to sponsor conferences and workshops related to literacy development

• to disseminate knowledge helpful to the solution of literacy problems.

Recent activities:

• new website including new online activities such as “question of the month”. With

this we aim to reach more teachers.

• Participation at the European Literacy Conference in Madrid including different

presentations of members of the DGLS

• Conference on teaching literacy in inclusive settings (29./30.9.17 in Freiburg)

• A publication of different papers presented at the conference will be published in

2018.

• Another publication covering the topic of the conference of 2017 is due to be

published in early 2018

• A special volume on teaching literacy across the globe covering different

languages and writing systems will be published at the end of 2018.

Upcoming events:

• 50th anniversary of our reading association in 2018

Submitted by Hanna Sauerborn

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Hellenic Association for Language and Literacy (HALL) (Greek Reading Association)

In Greek:ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΓΛΩΣΣΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΙΣΜΟΥ

Chairperson: E. Tafa. prof . Univ. CreteVice-

chairperson:P.Papoulia-Tzelepi.Prof.Emer.

[logotype]

Date:23 /12/2017

[The Greek Reading Association was created in 1994 and charted as a member organisation of the International Reading Association in 1995. Greek Reading Association has approximately 100 members most of whom are teachers working in primary, secondary and higher education, literacy advisors and teacher educators promoting language and literacy development in children.

The goals are: a. The promotion of the development of language and literacy as these are defined

by the current trends. b. The promotion of the ongoing education of scientists specialized in this field. c. The promotion of relevant scientific research. d. The information and awareness of parents and others engaged with the child in

matters of language and literacy development. e. The consultative and advisory support as well as the intervention to state and

social agents for the purposes of national policy making and the confrontation of specific difficulties.

f. The communication with relevant international organizations.

Recent activities

Since January 2017 the Association has continued to expand its various activities.

● Two issues of newsletter have been sent to all members.

● Several members published books and articles, or got grants European or national ones.

● An internet site is now prepared for easy access to members and non members to the

activities of the Association. Hellenic Association for Language and Literacy site, Upcoming events:1’’.Capitalizing on narrative texts for literacy development in preschool

and early school years.’’ Seminar for preschool and primary school teachers in Crete in

February2018

2.The results of the PISA test for the Greek education are pitiful. The educational authorities

as well as the politicians are hiding it ,We consider as a duty of our association to bring it to

the public and mobilize society to face it and develop the required reforms to address the

situation.

Submitted by P.Papoulia-Tzelepi, Vice President of the Hellenic Association for Language

and Literacy

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Hungarian Reading Association Budapest 1827 Budavári palota F épület kamika07@gmail.com www.hunra.hu Chairperson: Ilona V. Lukács Vice-chairperson: Dr. Péter Gombos

Date: 02. 01. 2018.

The Hungarian Reading Association was founded 27 years ago, in 1991. The Association has about 150 members. The Hungarian Reading Association (HUNRA) is the affiliated organization of The International Literacy Association. It is a professional association made up of librarians, teachers, research workers, psychologists, doctors, parents, authors, editors, philologists, teachers of handicapped children, sociologists, whose field of interest is reading. The objective of The Association is to coordinate the work of inter-trade committees in order to rise the level of reading and literacy. You can make inquiries about the organization and the leadership. Additionally from 2001 January you can read here the HUNRA newsletter, too.

Recent activities:

We organized three conferences: - Roma Culture and Reading –Kaposvár (in cooperation with the Kaposvár University) 07–08. 04. 2017. - The 13th National Folk Tale Day in Pécs and Eszék (Croatia) 23–24. 09. 2017. - Illustration and Children’s Literature – in the OSZK (National Széchényi Library), Budapest 11.

11. 2017.

Meeting with Marta Huke (Norwegian poet, writer) and Eysteinn Overas (Norwegian writer) (International Book Festival Budapest) 20–22, 04. 2017.

Language and Reading Camp Aranyosapáti 17–22. 06. 2017.

Workshop about PISA report – in OSZK (National Széchényi Library), Budapest 02. 05. 2017.

Reading Camp – Csernáton (Transylvania, Romania) 19–23. 07. 2017.

Poetry competition – in the János Arany Memorial Year, in OSZK (National Széchényi Library), Budapest 25. 11. 2017.

Postgraduate courses for teachers (16 times) Partnerships with 1. National Textbook Publisher; 2. Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library; 3. Hungarian Association of School Librarians etc.

Upcoming events:

International workshop about learning strategy in Kaposvár (No date is specified yet)

Postgraduate courses for teachers (Continued from 2017)

Mother tongue and reading camp at Aranyossziget 16 – 22 06 2018

Reading camp at Csernáton (Transylvania, Romania) 18-22 07 2018

14th National Folk Tale Conference – no venue specified yet 23 – 24 09 2018 (Depending on application)

Conference for developing reading, language and learning skills in Szeged 12 – 13 10 2018 (Depending on application)

Submitted by: Ilona V. Lukács

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Literacy Association of Ireland Cumann Litearthachta na hÉireann Chairperson: Dr. Gene Mehigan Vice-chairperson: Ms. Jennifer O’Sullivan

Date: January 2018 The Reading Association of Ireland (RAI) was established in 1975 by a group people interested in the broad area of reading. About 20 people attended the inaugural meeting and formed a committee to drive the work of this new association. Initially the RAI was focussed on developing an interest in reading, supporting reading and encouraging research in the area of reading. The RAI was always connected to international researchers, organisations and emerging international practices. It sought to inform, engage and support educationalists, researchers and any person who was interested in reading. The RAI became a national affiliate of the International Reading Association in 1978. In April 2015 the RAI was re-launched as the Literacy Association of Ireland(LAI), affiliated now to the International Literacy Association following approval of its membership. The LAI aims to support and inform all concerned with the development of reading, language and literacy, it encourages reflection and dialogue, challenges practice and gives public voice to concerns. The Literacy Association of Ireland currently has approximately 160 members, including teachers, students, teacher educators, librarians and parents, but any person interested in literacy or language development is welcome to join the association at any time. Recent activities: Annual Conference: The LAI celebrated its 41st International Conference in October 2017. The Annual Conference in October addressed the theme ‘Perspectives in Literacy: bringing voices together’ with a keynote address from the current Irish Children’s Laureate, author and illustrator, PJ Lynch. The purpose of the Annual Conference is to provide a forum where teachers, researchers and others can share new insights into literacy. This year’s conference included presentations by primary and post primary teachers, PDST personnel, as well as national and internationally-recognised speakers. A very successful feature of the Annual Conference was the TeachMeet held on the opening night. Seminars: Every year the LAI hold a number of seminars around the country. Some are delivered by members of the Committee and others are organised regionally by committee members or regional members. These usually address a single theme. Some are once-off events while others may run over a few weeks. The LAI try to organise these seminars to cover a range of themes each year. The Seminars are free to LAI members. An example of these seminars were two workshops held in consecutive weeks at Marino Institute of Education as follows: Using Picture Books to Enhance Early Literacy Skills (Jr. Infants- 2nd Class) This workshop explored planning an engaging, interactive read aloud to equip pupils with powerful strategies for building reading comprehension, oral language and word study while simultaneously instilling in them a love of literature. Studying Characters in the Class Novel (3rd – 6th class): This workshop explored characters in class novels with a view to encouraging children to think deeply about text. Participants learned strategies for helping students analyse, discuss, and write about the characters in their books. Upcoming events: The Annual Conference for 2018 will take place in Marino Institute of Education on November 9th and 10th. This represents a new date for the association as we normally held our conference in September/October. Seminars planned for 2018 include

Picture Books and Oral Language in Cork Education Centre Spelling in Cavan Education Centre and Dublin Encouraging the Reluctant Reader at West Cork Education Centre Phonemic Awareness/Phonics at Marino Institute of Education Differentiation at Marino Institute of Education Writing Process at Drumcondra Education Centre Peer-mediated learning and team teaching at Drumcondra Education Centre

Submitted by Dr Gene Mehigan, Hon President, Literacy Association of Ireland

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Israel Literacy & Reading Association

POB 3680 Jerusalem,9103601,ISRAEL

shlomoalon11@gmail.com

Chairperson:Dr. Shlomo Alon

Vice-chairperson: Dr.Dalit Atrakchi

[logotype]

Date: January 5th, 2018

The Israeli Association became part of ILA(IRA) IN 1968. The main goal was and still is, to

promote reading and literacy, in the Jewish state, who was established in the year 1948.

Israel absorbed from all over the world' with more than 100 languages and dialects. Many

of those people were survivors of the 2nd world war and refugees from the Middle Eastern

countries. Hebrew was a foreign language for many of them. The Ulpan unique system was

established, for intensive courses in Hebrew. Prof. Dina Feitelson, the late President of the

Israeli Association, developed the Ulpan methodology, the immersion system.

Bearing in mind the definition of the Israelites as "The People of the Book", it was very

natural to invest huge efforts in literacy work in Israel. We have two national languages –

Hebrew & Arabic – and efforts were focused on both.

The role of the Israel Literacy Association was important in building the infra-structure for

in-service training' contacts to the Teachers' Unions and publications in the areas of

methods and ways of teaching languages on the secondary level. During the years the

Association became less central in the literacy work, due to the establishing of Literacy

Centers in most of the Teachers' Colleges and Universities in Israel.

Israel is very special in the bilingual climate of Hebrew & Arabic as the two official

languages, the only place in the world!

Recent activities: The Israel Literacy Association continued to encourage HARP( Hebrew – Arabic Reading

Projects), including bilingual dictionaries and lexicons. Regional meetings were held and The

Reading Week was an attraction in many places around the country.

Upcoming events: The 46th volume of the Journal of the Teachers of Arabic and Islam will

appear in 2018, including 220 pages.

Submitted by Dr. Shlomo Alon, January 6th, 2018

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Latvijas Lasīšanas asociācija / Latvian Reading Association LatRa LLA

Web site: www.iac.edu.lv Address:Dzirnavu iela 34a – 8 Rīga Latvia LV 1010 Phone: + 371 67503730, +371 29220723 President: Sandra Kalnina Person submitting the report and further information: Sandra Kalnina Contact person: Sandra Kalnina Address: Dzirnavu iela 34a – 8 Rīga Latvia LV 1010 e-mail: sandra.kalnina@lu.lv

Time period: July 2017- January 2018

Background information:

The Latvian Reading Association was charted as a member organisation of the International

Reading Association in 1993; it renewed its activities in 2004.

The association has 15 members. The membership mainly includes teachers, university staff, and

librarians.

The goals of the association are:

• to popularize reading as a value

• to foster reading literacy in all levels of education

• to promote research on reading and writing in Latvia

• to promote teaching critical thinking in Latvia

Mission statement - LatRA shall contribute to the development of an educated, democratic

society by facilitating professional competitiveness in the modern world.

Recent activities: Seminars for educators, librarians and parents on latest developments in children’s literature,

implementation of critical thinking approach in the educational process at school, participation in

projects on the development of reading and literacy (S.Kalniņa, A. Kalve, I.Stikāne, I.Vērse, S.

Tretjakova)

Participation in the national reading promotion programme “Children’s jury”

Participation and managing the project “Living in Latvia – Learning Latvian” (A.Kalve, S.Kalnina, I.Vērse,

L. Kluša)

Reporting on national conferences (A.Kalve, S.Kalnina, I. Stikāne, S.Tretjakova)

Cooperation with the Latvian Association of Book publishers, Latvian Association of Librarians,

participation and presentation in the Days of Book in October 2017 in Rīga.

Current projects and activities

Participation and presenting in the 20th European conference on Literacy conference (July 3-6, 2017, Madrid, Spain)- I.Stikāne, A.Kalve S. Kalnina,

The Association together with the Education Development Centre continues to organize the professional training courses for different target audiences aimed at developing the critical thinking skills and for further development of Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking program in Latvia. Autumn 2016- more than 400 educationalists have been educated

The Association together with the Education Development Centre offers the Latvian language acquisition course to the interest group for the third country nationals.

Affiliates: Participation in the IDEC summer meeting Madrid, Spain, July 2017.

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Reading Association in the Netherlands (RAIN) Adriaanstraat 7, 3581 SB. Utrecht jeroencl@gmail.com Chairperson: Jeroen Clemens

Date:05-01-2018

RAIN was chartered as a national affiliate of International Reading Association (now ILA) in 1990. RAIN is an affiliate of the ILA and an active member of the IDEC, International Development in Europe Committee. Rain started the website of IDEC http://literacyeurope.org and is the webmaster. Main aims of RAIN are:

stimulate and promote interest in literacy

disseminate knowledge helpful to the solution of literacy problems

work with, stimulate and assist teachers with curriculum development and professional development

stimulate researchers to make research findings available to teachers

introduce and work on new literacy issues, not dealt with properly by the government

In the first decennium of its existence RAIN (1991-2001) worked specifically on the goals to stimulate and promote interest in literacy and to disseminate knowledge helpful to the solution of literacy problems. RAIN organized every year a national conference. Related to the conferences RAIN published in this decennium a series of 9 volumes (1991-2001) In the 21st century RAIN changed their activities. In the Netherlands, we have quite a lot of governmental institutions, related to literacy and we decided to collaborate more with these and other institutions and we decided to take part in their conferences instead of organizing our own conferences. We also wanted to improve the collaboration with teachers in more informal settings. RAIN also decided to make a shift towards new or digital literacies (reading and writing in the digital world). There was not much research and curriculum development on this issue done by others and we find this very important, because students live in a mostly digital world. We do research, take part in working groups, work with teachers, write on this topic on blogs and in journals and speak on conferences. Although the focus of RAIN has changing its focus towards new literacies, the main goals are still unchanged. We work to empower teachers to work on literacy and try to get research and the teaching practice more and better connected.

Recent activities:

Research on digital literacies and the challenge for especially language teachers

Workshops and lectures on digital literacy and the relationship with language teaching

New projects on secondary schools in which meaningful learning, implementing new strategies of digital literacies and transfer between language teaching and the learning of other subjects in secondary schools were important

Submitted by Jeroen Clemens jeroencl@gmail.com

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

LITTERA – PORTUGUESE ASSOCIATION

FOR LITERACY

Rua Nascente, nº 10, Escudeiros, 4705-473 Braga

Portugal

mldionisio@ie.uminho.pt; litteraapl@gmail.com

Chairperson: M. Lourdes Dionísio

Vice-chairperson: J. A . B. Carvalho

[]

Date: January 2018

Littera was founded in 1996 and it was charted as a member organisation of the International

Reading Association in 1997. Since the beginning the aims of Littera concerned two integrated axes:

research and intervention. Because of this, close links with universities and teacher training

institutions, as well as school authorities on local as well as national level were established.

The aims of the associationare: 1. To promote education in all domains of reading and writing; 2. To

promote research dealing with all aspects of reading and writing; 3. To promote professional training

at the level of the conception and development of reading and writing; 4. To develop awareness of the

impact of reading and writing among all individuals by encouraging and promoting the formation of

lifetime habits; 5. To improve levels of literacy among all individuals, regardless of their culture,

race, religion or gender; 6. To stimulate and promote cooperation among all individuals and

organizations concerned witth the study, research teaching and animation of reading and writing; 7.

To act near the responsible institutions in order to raise awareness to literacy problems

Throughout the years, as its main intentions were the organization of in service activities, such mini-

courses, lectures, and seminars many have been organized. Lately, due the shortage of money coming

from fees and of volunteers all those activities are less frequent.

During the last year it was very difficult little to recruit new paying members

Recent activities:

During 2017, the association:

- conducted teacher training in Disciplinary and Content Area Literacy in one school involved in a

national program: Learn+

- co-organised several events such as: VI Iberian American Forum on Literacies, July, Madrid;

Spain; 4th International Conference on Literacy and education of young and adult people

(ALFAEEJA), together with two Brazilian Universities, in Braga, 6-8th November, 2017

- initiated the organization of the 7th International Symposium on Language Teaching, that will take

place in Braga, july 2018

- supported the Research Project Literacy paths: Reading, writing and learning in a multimodal and

digital age (2015-2018)

- One e-book with the main contributions of the 4th International Conference on Literacy and

education of young and adult people(ALFAEEJA) is being organized

Upcoming events:

- the 7th International Symposium on Language Teaching, that will take place in Braga, july 2018

- the publication of a new International Journal on Literacy

Submitted by Maria de Lourdes Dionísio

Portuguese Association for Literacy

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Asociația Lectura și Scrierea pentru Dezvoltarea Gândirii Critice România/ Romanian Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking Association 400343 Cluj-Napoca, 6/ 22 Luceafarului St office@alsdgc.ro www.alsdgc.ro Chairperson: Ariana-Stanca Vacaretu Vice-chairperson: Maria Kovacs

Date: 27.12.2017

The Association was chartered as a member organisation of the International Reading Association on 10 June 2008. The association has 70 members. The membership consists of teachers, teacher educators, and other education-related professionals, regular and honorary members. The goals are:

● Support for teachers’ pre-service and in-service training, for improving the quality of

education, ● Support for the professional development of teaching staff by using reading and

writing as means of professional development, ● Provision of a professional framework for sharing experiences in the field of reading,

writing, critical thinking and instruction. Recent activities:

● Continued the implementation of the Integrated reading and writing support in

vocational education and training (Erasmus+ KA2) – designing the workshop for

teachers. For more information, see http://alsdgc.ro/proiecte/view/id/40/lang/en.

● Continued the implementation of the Blended Learning in Teachers‘ Professional

Development - Developing a Blended Learning Course in Content Area Literacy for

Secondary Teachers (BleTeach) (Erasmus+ KA2) - Preparation of the disciplinary

literacy in-service course addressing secondary teachers. For more information, see

http://alsdgc.ro/proiecte/view/id/41/lang/en. ● Continued the implementation of the project Emotional Education for Early School

Leaving Prevention (Erasmus+, KA2) – testing and revising the in-service teacher

training on Didactics of Emotions (as member of RWCT IC). For more information

see http://eumoschool.eu/. Upcoming events:

● Multiplier event – Didactics of Emotions – 9 February 2018

● Multiplier event - Blended Learning in Teachers‘ Professional Development -

Developing a Blended Learning Course in Content Area Literacy for Secondary

Teachers – 10 February 2018 ● Multiplier event - Integrated reading and writing support in vocational education and

training – summer 2018 ● Initiative – partnership with Reading Together Romania to promote reading aloud for

babies and young children; supporting the creation of young children’s literature in

Romanian (Books that love children in less than 1,000 words) – spring/summer 2018 Submitted by: Ariana-Stanca Vacaretu

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Name: Reading Association of Russia Address: 24 Obrucheva St, 119421 Moscow, Reading Centre (Office) E-mail: nataly.smetannikova2015@yandex.ru Website: http://www.rusreadorg.ru Chairperson: Nataly Smetannikova Vice-chairperson: Nataliya Kurikalova and 5 more

Date: January 2018

RAR was chartered on September 8, 2010. It unites 22 Local Councils from 6 Federal Districts in Russia (Central, Northwestern, Urals, Southern, Volga, Far Eastern) out of 8 and 1 Local Council in Switzerland (Geneva). RAR has about 510 members. Our goals are:

promotion of reading and literacy in education and culture

development of partnership relations through competition: The Reading Regions of Russia

development and promotion of SWLT ideas to other spheres of life

promotion of professional development of teachers , school teacher-librarians and librarians

support of local councils and RAR development – hot issue The Association promotes reading and literacy in education and culture through partnership, professional development, research and publications

Recent activities: Ongoing projects: SWLT: intervention programme for poor readers, National project “National Programme for Reading Promotion and Development in Russia” (12th year), 100 Projects on Reading, Present a book to a child, Innovations in Teaching and Promoting Reading, Reading Programmes for hospitalized children undergoing long-term medical treatment Conferences: V International Conference on Reading and Literacy Reading in Education and Culture: Results and Perspectives, 6-7 April 2017 Seminars: “Academy of Pedagogical Mastery” November 24, 2017, Moscow Publications: 9th issue of “Homo legens” Participation: annual ILA Conference “Literacy Reimagined” (15-17 July, 2017, Orlando FL) First All-Russian Conference (with international participation) “Caring School” (Moscow, 6-7 November, 2017) Second International Conference “Literacy and Contemporary Society: Spaces, Discourses, Practices” (Cyprus, 28-29 November, 2017)

Upcoming events:

1. National Program of Reading Promotion. Promotion of the program: lectures, conferences, workshops.

2. Research : “Texts Readability”. Grant of the President. In partnership with three other educational and business organisations.

3. Academy of Reading Mastery. A series of seminars, workshops and discussions.

4. Participation in ILA,IDEC/ FELA meetings, summit, summer school, other activities. Submitted by Nataly Smetannikova, Chairperson of RAR

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Slovenská asociácia na rozvoj čítania

(SARČ) - SLOVAK READING ASSOCIATION

(SRA)

Račianska 59, Bratislava, 813 34, Slovakia

zapotocna@savba.sk zuzana.petrova@truni.sk

Chairperson: Oľga Zápotočná Vice-chairperson: Zuzana Petrová

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Maximum one A4 Word-format for the web Date: January 3rd, 2018

SLOVAK READING ASSOCIATION (SRA) was founded in 1999. The main purpose of the association is the support of literacy research and practice, with specific interest in early literacy development and beginning reading. This interest has resulted from the need to overcome the main-stream focus on developing low-level text processing skills in national curricular documents and to establish literacy curriculum and literacy practices on the national level. Due to this, close collaboration with national educational authorities and teachers unions was established.

Recent activities: · comparative study (2016 – 2019) evaluating the effects of two models of early literacy

instruction – built on phonic, bottom up model and on emergent literacy and holistic approach, · pivotal project You are what you read to promote reading quality children´s literature in

primary schools (in collaboration with Ladislav Hanus Fellowship), · literacy teaching planning and assessment materials for early childhood teachers (in

collaborations with Raabe Publishing House): Evaluation and The world of a pre-school child, · presentation for public and in service preschool teachers in Trnava (March 6th, 2017), Raková

(March 15th, 2017) and for special education teachers in Bratislava (March 1st, 2017; May 6th, 2017) and Žilina (May 5th, 2017),

· Reading and its importance in the cultural development of a child in early childhood” conference for students, organized by SRA, Faculty of Education, Trnava University and University Library (February 2nd, 2017).

· Current publications: Zápotočná, O., Petrová, Z. (Eds.) (2017). Raná jazyková gramotnosť detí zo socio-ekonomicky znevýhodňujúceho prostredia (Early language literacy of children from low SES families). Trnava: Typi Universitatis Tyrnaviensis. Zápotočná, O., Pupala, B. (2017). Ex post nad kauzou Sloboda v písaní (Ex post about the case of freedom for writing), Naša škola, 21 (1-2), pp. 4 – 18. Urban, K. et al., (2017). Metakognitívny monitoring pri riešení verbálnych a neverbálnych úloh u detí predškolského veku (Metacognitive monitoring of verbal and nonverbal tasks in preschool aged children). Československá psychologie, 61 (6), (in press).

Upcoming events: - issuing new updates of literacy teaching planning and assessment materials for early childhood teachers – Evaluation and The world of a pre-school child, - analysing data collected within comparative study of the effects of early literacy programs on measures of literacy (focussed on text comprehension and narrative abilities of children).

Submitted by: Oľga Zápotočná

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Bralno društvo Slovenije (BDS) – Slovenian Reading Association Poljanska 28, SI – 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija E-mail: bralno.drustvo.slovenije@gmail.com website: http://www.bralno-drustvo.si/ Chairperson: Savina Zwitter

Date: 3 January 2018

Bralno društvo Slovenije – Slovenian Reading Association was founded in 1995 with the aims to raise the awareness of the importance of literacy in the Slovenian society, to promote reading and to facilitate the exchange among researchers and practitioners. One of the aims was also to foster partnership in research and exchange of information, so it became a member organisation of the International Reading Association (today International Literacy Association) in 1996 and a member of FELA in 2008. In recent years Slovenian Reading Association has put a lot of effort into bringing together and establishing connections between various institutions and individuals, experts in the field of reading and literacy. It has done so by inviting them to biennial symposia on up-to-date topics (readers with special needs, migrants, e-materials and reading…), round tables and other events, while its members have actively participated in the events of other associations and organisations. Successful partnerships have been established especially with the following associations and institutions: Bralna značka Slovenije (Slovenian Reading Badge – an organisation whose activities reach all children in Slovenia from kindergartens to secondary schools and also an important percentage of adolescents and adults), IBBY Slovenia, The Section for Children and Young Adult Literature of the Slovene Writers’ Association, The Centre for Youth Literature and Librarianship, JAK – Slovenian Book Agency, National Institute of Education, Faculty of Arts (University of Ljubljana) and more.

Recent activities: · Biennial symposium: E-materials as a short-cut to success? (8 September 2017) – the symposium brought together experts and practitioners from various fields (psychologists, librarians, editors, teachers…) to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of e-materials · Booking Around 2017: My favourite literary character – a common project of The Section for Children and Young Adult Literature of the Slovene Writers’ Association and Slovenian Reading Association, whose aim is to promote reading for pleasure among children and young adults (readers create puppets of their favourite Slovenian literary characters and explain their choice – the project ends each year with an award celebration at the National Book Fair) · participation of members at the congress for librarians, at round tables on reading and literacy and award celebrations at the National Book Fair

Upcoming events: · Conference marking Literacy Day 2018: Family Literacy · Biennial conference (Literacy Day 2019): What gender are reading worms?

Submitted by Petra Mikeln (petra.mikeln@ospolje.si)

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Spanish Reading and Writing Association - AELE Romero, 15. 28260. Galapagar. Madrid. Spain. Phone: +34 91 858 51 34 aele@asociacionaele.org ; www.asociacionaele.com www.escribircomolectores.com (Iberoamerican Project “Write as readers”) www.aelemadrid2017.com (20

th European Conference on Literacy and 6º

Iberoamerican Forum on Literacy and Learning) President, Contact person: Estela D´Angelo Menéndez (edangelo@edu.ucm.es) Contact Address: Catalina San Martín, Street. Number 11, 2º C. Rivas-Vaciamadrid. Madrid. Spain Person submitting the report and further information: Laura Benítez Sastre

Date: 6 January 2018

The Spanish Reading and Writing Association (AELE in its Spanish acronym) was charted as a member organisation of the International Reading Association in 2005. The Association has approximately 250 members between partners and supporters, and maintains a close relationship with Latin American reader associations. In addition, AELE is member of FELA and Spanish Book Council.

Iberoamerican Network Research

The AELE and Research Group of Complutense University of Madrid “Communication and languages studies for inclusion and equity in education” – (ECOLE in its Spanish acronym) are developing projects with the Iberoamerican Network Research ”Speaking, reading and writing practices: interrelationship between instructions and development of linguistic communicative competence”.

Iberoamerican Program: “Write as readers of a literary work” In Spain, this Program is included in the Reading Promotion Plan of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECyD in its Spanish acronym)

This Project develops different interrelated activities to promote groups of children and adolescents to participate in shared reading and writing processes of a novel. Namely, the Program “Write as readers” coordinates communities of readers and writers of literature in classrooms, libraries, etc. The Program began in 2009 with the integration of literacy teams from four countries: Argentina, Chile, Peru and Spain. In 2017, teams from Mexico and the Dominican Republic joined the project. Heretofore, more than 33 thousand children and young people and 1.366 teachers/librarians from different countries have attended this Program. The main aims of this Program are: a) To implement proposals that encourage children and adolescents to interact among each other by reading and writing texts about a novel, and by talking to its author; and b) To train teachers to develop educational proposals concerning the processes of reading and writing literature. Additional information: www.escribircomolectores.com

Permanent projects

-Teacher training courses, seminars and workshops under attendance, semi-attendance and digital form. -Reading and writing workshops in cultural centers, libraries, schools, etc. in different Spanish cities.

Iberoamerican Network Research

The AELE and Research Group of Complutense University of Madrid “Communication and languages studies for inclusion and equity in education” – (ECOLE in its Spanish acronym) are developing projects with the Iberoamerican Network Research ”Speaking, reading and writing practices: interrelationship between instructions and development of linguistic communicative competence”.

Iberoamerican Program: “Write as readers of a literary work” In Spain, this Program is included in the Reading Promotion Plan of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECyD in its Spanish acronym)

This Project develops different interrelated activities to promote groups of children and adolescents to participate in shared reading and writing processes of a novel. Namely, the Program “Write as readers” coordinates communities of readers and writers of literature in classrooms, libraries, etc. The Program began in 2009 with the integration of literacy teams from four countries: Argentina, Chile, Peru and Spain. In 2017, teams from Mexico and the Dominican Republic joined the project. Heretofore, more than 33 thousand children and young people and 1.366 teachers/librarians from different countries have attended this Program. The main aims of this Program are: a) To implement proposals that encourage children and adolescents to interact among each other by reading and writing texts about a novel, and by talking to its author; and b) To train teachers to develop educational proposals concerning the processes of reading and writing literature. Additional information: www.escribircomolectores.com

Permanent projects

-Teacher training courses, seminars and workshops under attendance, semi-attendance and digital form. -Reading and writing workshops in cultural centers, libraries, schools, etc. in different Spanish cities.

Submitted by Laura Benítez Sastre

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Swedish Council of International Reading

Association (SCIRA)

Chairperson: Ulla-Britt Persson

ulla-britt.persson@liu.se

Vice-chairperson: Marie Kallin Fredriksson

marie.k.fredriksson@gmail.com

Date: 2018-01-14

Short description of the Association

SCIRA was established in 1964 and has been affiliated to ILA (former IRA) since 1965. Membership

has fallen dramatically in the last few years, mainly because many members have retired from active

duty as teachers. We therefore have only about 200 members left in three local groups and some

independent members. Another reason worth mentioning is that local as well as national school

authorities have, in recent years, made serious investments in competence development for

teachers, which used to be one of SCIRA’s main concerns. However, we have some new members on

the board and we are doing our outmost to find new avenues for our activities.

Recent activities:

The board met in October in Åkersberga, outside Stockholm. Plans for 2018 are to arrange a

national seminar in the autumn, possibly in the Northern parts of Sweden, in the vicinity of Umeå,

where there is an active local SCIRA-group. Two themes for the seminar have been discussed, i.e.,

literacy assessment and literacy development of second language learners. Both themes are under

intensive debate in Sweden today.

Upcoming events:

At the annual meeting on 21st of April, Astrid Frylmark will talk about her many years as a speech

therapist specialising on children with potential literacy disabilities. She is recipient of SCIRA’s

Honorary Award for 2018.

SCIRA’s journal Läsning (‘Reading’) has been published twice a year since 1975. The group of editors

includes Tarja Alatalo and Catharina Tjernberg, and Ulla-Britt Persson. Discussions are going on

concerning publishing the journal online. Marie Kallin Fredriksson is the webbmaster of

www.scira.nu.

SCIRA has for many years published a booklet with advice for parents on how to boost their child’s

language development. It has been well received and is recently updated. Suggestions about getting

it translated into some of the most common immigrant languages (e.g., Arabic, Somalian, Kurdish)

are going on.

Submitted by

SCIRA Marie K Fredriksson / Ulla-Britt Persson

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

Leseforum Schweiz – Forum lecture suisse c/o Schweiz. Institut für Kinder- und Jugendmedien SIKJM Georgengasse 6, CH-8006 Zurich thsalzmann@bluewin.ch; dieter.isler@mac.com www.leseforum.ch www.forumlecture.ch Chairperson: Prof. Dr. Dieter Isler

Representative of Leseforum at FELA/IDEC:

Therese Salzmann (board-member)

Date: November 26, 2017

«Leseforum Schweiz» / «Forum lecture Suisse» is the literacy association of Switzerland. The main purpose of the association is the support of literacy research and practice. The goals include exchange and collaboration between research and practice, and organisations engaged in literacy. Perspectives on literacy include different age groups, life domains, and research disciplines.

The main activity of «Leseforum Schweiz» / «Forum lecture Suisse» is the publication of an online journal on literacy providing three thematic issues per year, each consisting about 8-10 articles by authors from French or German speaking countries. The journal is edited by a board of literacy experts and funded by their home institutions.

Recent activities:

In 2017, three issues of the journal have been published, including 33 articles in French and German: − 1/2017 Multimodalität / Multimodalité (Multimodality) − 2/2017 Metatexte / Usages et enjeux des métatextes dans différents contextes sociaux

(Metatexts) − 3/2017 Literalität zwischen Didaktik und Bildungsmonitoring / La littératie entre didactique et

pilotage du système éducatif (Literacy education between system monitoring and pedagogy)

In February 2017, the federal department of culture (Bundesamt für Kultur) has approved a proposal

submitted by the association. The online-journal leseforum.ch/forumlecture.ch will get additional

funds by the department for the next four years. This will allow us to maintain our publication

activities and improve our services in several ways: A third national language – Italian – will be

included, the journal will apply for registration at the Directory of Open Access Journals DOAJ, and

the efforts to publish more articles for literacy practitioners will be intenisified.

Upcoming events:

In 2018, three issues of the journal will be published, covering the following themes:

− 1/2018 Serielles Erzählen / La narration par les séries (Serial narration) − 2/2018 Literalität im Kontext von Flucht und Fremdsein/ Diversité linguistique et plurilinguisme

(Literacy within the context of escape and foreignness) − 3/2018 Neue Lehrpläne und Literaturdidaktik / Nouveaux plans d'études et didactique de la

littérature (New curricula and litterature education) Submitted by Dieter Isler and Therese Salzmann

Report to FELA/IDEC January 2018

United Kingdom Literacy Association Room 9, c/o VAL, 9 Newarke Street, Leicester, LE1 5SN Tel: 044-116-254-4116 admin@ukla.org www.ukla.org Contact Person: Liz Chamberlain, Open University, UK liz.chamberlain@open.ac.uk

President: (July 2017-to date) Trace Parvin tracy.parvin@canterbury.ac.uk

January 2017 – January 2018

The United Kingdom Reading Association, founded in 1963, was chartered as an IRA affiliate in 1967. Its name was changed to the United Kingdom Literacy Association in May 2003. Its membership consists mainly of teachers, literacy advisors, student teachers and teacher educators, also authors and publishers. There are currently 900 members.

International: Language, Literacy and Class: Connections and Contradictions – Glasgow - June 30 – July 2 National: Critical Literacy Belfast 5 January; Finding and Sharing Pleasure in Reading – Cambridge in March and Macclesfield in November Research Symposium: Digital Literacies in Education – Sheffield – 16 May Forthcoming Conferences: International: 54th UKLA International Conference 2018 – Cardiff - Literacies in a changing world: creativity, criticality, empowerment. 6-8 July 2018 National: UKLA National Conference 2018 Enriching the English curriculum through creativity: March 10, 2018 Regional: The UKLA and Globe Theatre. Telling the tales of Shakespeare: story language and the play in the classroom: Tyne and Wear, March 2017; The UKLA and Globe Theatre. Shakespeare in the classroom: Storytelling and stories: June 2017 Research Symposium: Reading for Pleasure: What next? Journals: UKLA publishes three journals: Journal of Research in Reading, Literacy, English 4-11 New Publications in 2017: • Film Education, Literacy and Learning – Becky Parry and Jeannie Hill Bulman • Embedding media literacy across the secondary curriculum - Julian McDougall & Helen Ward International Partnership: UKLA continues to support literacy projects in Zanzibar and Malawi and, more recently, Ethiopia. Current Research Projects: The Association is supporting five ongoing research projects: Rivers of Multilingual Reading – Torrent or Trickle? Children’s ‘writing’ in the 21st Century: the challenge of moving from paper to screen; Using picture books to develop primary school children’s critical thinking and critical literacy; Creating STARS: Student teachers as readers; Restor(y)ing paintings: Creating multiple narratives in a multi-ethnic nursery. UKLA Student Research Prizes 2017 •‘What’s the point of Poetry?’ How can practitioners allow students the space to engage with poetry on their own terms? •Ludic authoriship: Re-framing literacies through peer-to-peer alternate reality game design in the primary classroom. Advocacy: UKLA is working with a coalition of organisations and individuals connected to primary education in England, including parents’ groups, academics, trade unions and subject associations in a campaign called More Than a Score. We are working together to call for a change in Government education policy on assessment, testing and accountability. UKLA has contributed evidence about the negative impact of high stakes testing on literacy learning in schools as well as taking a leading role is suggesting productive bases for a more positive alternative. Submitted by Liz Chamberlain, December 2017