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ILLINOISREADINGCOUNCIL
JOURNALISSN #1082-555X
EditorKathy Barclay
Western Illinois University
AssistantEditor
H.Jon Jones
Western IllinoisUniversity
Associate Editors
Laurel Borgia
Pam Campbell
Angela Ferree
Pamela Terry GodtDiana Goff
Elizabeth Hommel
Deborah Horack
Therese J.KileyCarol Owles
Sara Simonson
Frances Steward
Western Illinois University
Fall 2006 Volume 34, Number 4
EditorialAdvisoryBoard
Khafilah Abdel-Malik
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Jerry 1. JohnsAurhor and Consulrant, Sycamore, IL
Jennifer Aldred-Berry
West 40 ISC #2, LaGrange Park, IL
Lynn KeckRock Island School District 41, Rock Island, IL
Tamby Allman
St. Xavier University, Chicago, IL
Terry Krehbiel
Macomb Senior High School, Macomb, IL
Brenda Bertino
District 86 Lynne Thigpen Elementary School, Joliet, IL
Barbara Kurth
Berwyn North School District 98, Berwyn, IL
Christine Boardman Moen
Dakota CUSD 201, Dakota, IL
Susan LAllier
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Ilyse BraininNational-Louis University ARDDP/CPS, Park Ridge, IL
Geralynn Marshall
Chicago Public Schools, School District 299, Chicago, IL
Danielle Carnahan
Learning Point Associates (NCREL), Naperville, IL
Barb Mazzolini
Wheaton CUSD 200, Wheaton, IL
Debra Sue Coet-Hanna
Pikeland CUSD 10, Pittsfield, IL
Katherine S. McKnight
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
Boomer Crotty
Joliet Junior College and District 86 Lynne ThigpenElementary School, Joliet, IL
Samantha MorleyIndian Prairie School District 204, Naperville, IL
Thomas P. Crumpler
Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Mary Kay Moskal
St. Mary's College of California, Moraga, CA
Carol J. DeLaney
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Linda Oshita
Rockford Public Schools, District 205, Rockford, IL
Bonnie Diamond
Aptakisic- Tripp School District 102, Buffalo Grove, IL
Margaret Policastro
Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
Demetra Disotuar
Evanston/Skokie School District 65, Evanston, IL
Mildred M. Pearson
Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
Mike Ellerman
Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Jennifer Preschern
Northshire Shore DiStrict 112, Highwood, IL
Lori Fanello
Regional Office of Education, Loves Park, IL
Debra Rigney-HaysCentral Illinois Adult Education Service Center, Macomb, IL
Peter J. Fisher
National-Louis University, Park Ridge, IL
Jeffery 1. SiddallCollege of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
Marge GallagherProfessional Development Alliance, Joliet, IL
Jeannine N. Staunton
Chicago Public Schools, School District 299, Chicago, IL
Sandra GandyUniversity of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Katie Van Sluys
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Elizabeth Goldsmith-Conley
Champaign Unit 4 Schools, Champaign, IL
Janet 1. Wicker
McKendree College, Lebanon, IL
Paulette Goodman
Naperville CUSD 203, Naperville, IL
ILLINOIS READING COUNCIL JOURNAL VOL. 34, No.4
ILLINOIS READING COUNCIL JOURNALVolume34, Number 4 Fall2006
TDbie01Contents1 Editor's Page
Kathy Barclay
Articles3 Cross-Cultural Self-to- Text Connections: An Rnmination of the Diverse Life Experiences of Middle Schoolers
Francine Falk-Ross and Susan I.;A1lier
13 Generating Excitement for Reading in the Middle Grades: Start with Nonfiction Read-Alouds!
Janalyn Meehan
17 Bringing Reading Alive Through Readers' Theater
Shirley Casey and Rachel Chamberlain
Readers'Contrihutions41 Poem: "Out of the Silence"
SharalynneHertel
Columns26 Logging on with Literature: Mystery!
AngelaFerree,Pam Campbell, and BetsyHommel
32 Terrific Teaching Tips: Using Drama to Improve Critical Thinking
Laurel Borgia, Deborah Horack, and Carol Owles
Parent Involvement in Reading: Let's Make Bookmarks!Frances Steward and Diana Goff
37
42 Professional Development: Brushes with Fame: Which Literacy Educator Do You Boast About Meetin~
Sara D. Simonson
46 Leadership in Reading: Leadership Ideas Related to "Change"
Pamela Terry Godt with Guest Author, Ellin Oliver Keene
50 Research in Reading: A Two-Part Journey
Therese J. Kiley
54 Insights from Illinois Authors: A Conversation with Kevin Luthardt
Ronda J. Mitchell
IndexforVolume3458
62 Calls for Contributions for Future Issues of the Illinois Reading CouncilJournal
The Illinois Reading Counci/journal (IRC]) is published quarterly and is distributed as a service to all members of the Illinois Reading Council.
Membership in the Illinois Reading Council can be obtained through local and special interest reading councils in Illinois. For information,
contact the Illinois Reading Council at 1210 Fort Jesse Road, Suite B2, Normal, IL 61761-1836. IRC staff may also be reached by telephone
at the toll-free number, (888) 454-1341, or at (309) 454-1341. Libraries and educational institUtions can subscribe to IRC] at an annual rate
of $35.00; address inquiries to the Executive Director at the IRC office.
Because the IRC] serves as an open forum, its contents do not necessarily reflect or imply endorsement or advocacy by the Illinois Reading
Council, its officers, or its members.
Photocopies: Individuals may photocopy articles from the journal without written permission for nonprofit educational use, or may make
five copies of a single article for library teserve use in an educational institUtion. Consent to photocopy does not extend to photos or items
reprin;ed by permission from other publishers. Members of the Illinois Reading Council who wish to use copies of an article in a handout
or coursepack and for repeated use may do so without a fee. Nonmembers must obtain photocopying permission from the Illinois Reading
Council, 1210 FocrJesse Road, Suite B2, Normal, IL 61761-1836.
@2006, Illinois Reading Council
Publication and administrative services for the IRC] are provided by Document and Publication Services at Western Illinois University in
Macomb.
AbouttheCover
The cover displays the artwork of Jaden Davis, Haleigh
Derhammer, Darbi Dugan, Payton Hamilton, Austin Johnson,
Stepheny Judy, Dustin James McCann, Kaitlyn Rose McCann,
Joshua McCune, Ryan Sandoval, Cayden Taflinger, Lukas
Tinkham, Sarah Williams, Ryder Yoho, and Rylie Yoho
(submitted by Dian Clark, K-5 Art Teacher, Heddling Grade School, Abingdon, IL).
MISSION
The missio.n afthe Illino.is &adingCouncil is to.provit!e StfPpo.rfd-J'}ti¥kadejiltip.tol!i!,ttt:t,ttor;s/iSthey
pro.mote ttpd teach lifelong lite.racy.
VISION
The Illinais Reading Cauncil advo.cates quality liter:aCJIoppor#tnttie~;fOral?:lea.rn~r:s a'fld serves
as a primary organizatian .that pravides educatars at all levels ~ee~sforeS:t'a.teh!1(lat~rtals~ andmethadologies to. promate and teach lifelong literacy anti ?ettrning.. iS~P.B0rt of an 'fidjpe, well.
organized system af lacal and special interest councils andstatecammii:tee~Pr/)tJides,~v:iablenetwork
'fOr communicationi''exchange of information; and gtassr(Jof§inV:tJti!~mbittfjf¥t4iveJ'se1(lembership.
The illino.is Rettding CounCils publications,specittlprojects, cohferences; ftndJw;;r!tsh;,psstimulate
tbepers(Jnalan4pro.fes~io.nalgrawth ofediPato.rs.
Editor'sPage
Kathy Barclay,Editor
Whether you are a veteran teacher of many
years or jl.tStbeginning your first teaching posi-tion, the Illinois Reading Council and its jour-nal, IRC], have a selection of offerings designed
to assist you in helping all children learn toread. From local council meetings to the stateconference in March, to articles, columns, and
contributions from readers, you'll find much
from which to choose to enhance your personal
professional development.One of the goals of the Editorial Staff at
IRC] has been to include more feature articles
about teaching reading in the middle school.In the first article in this issue, Francine Falk-
Ross and Susan I..:Alliershare with us ways to
use multicultural literatUre to promote compre-hension and meaningful discussion. Then, in
the following article, Janalyn Meehan discussesher experiences with middle-grade teachers
using nonfiction literature to engage studentsin reading.
With the 2000 publication of the Report of
the National Reading Panel, reading fluency hascome into the spotlight once again. In the final
feature article, Shirley Casey and Rachel Cham-berlain, elementary teachers from two different
school districts, describe procedures they used
to implement Readers' Theater with 1st- and2nd-grade students. The teaching opportunitiesthey discuss for building fluency through Read-ers' Theater can be applied across the grades.
In addition to these exciting and informa-
tive selections, we are so pleased to have a con-tribution from Ellin Oliver Keene, co-author
of Mosaic of Thought: Teaching Comprehensionin a Reader's Workshop (1997), featured in the
Leadership in Reading column. You'll also find
an original poem contributed by one of ourreaders; book reviews, classroom connections,
and websites related to mysteries and "unsolved
puzzles in history and archeology"; bookmarkswith "before, during, and after" reading ques-tions for use by parents and students; newbooks for professional development; teaching
tips for using drama to enhance critical think-
ing; information about Reading First and EarlyReading First; and an interview with Illinoisauthor Kevin Luthardt.
A great issue. . . prepared especially foryou!
Happy Reading!
EDITOR'S PAGE J