If you’re a member of the International Reading Association (IRA), here’s your chance to be involved in leadership. The IRA is accepting nominations for vice president and for the Board of Directors. The deadline for nominations is July 15, 2010.

If you would like to nominate someone, you can complete the nomination form or mail a letter of nomination to:

2010-2011 Nominating Committee
International Reading Association
PO Box 8139
Newark, DE 19714

When Apple launched the iPad, they promised us they would change the way we consumed media. In the 80 days since the it launched, we’ve already consumed over 3,000,000 iPads!

The iPad is an somewhat interactive media tool. One navigates by tapping or pinching the screen or sliding fingers back and forth. Kindle books, TEDTalks and YouTube videos, and iTunes audio and video content flys nearly effortlessly from the “cloud” in the sky to the iPad, making it unbelievably simple to GET media.

The question is, how will the easy access TO content and the new way to CONSUME content influence reading and reading comprehension skills?

Would you weigh in to share your thoughts on how the iPad might influence reading in your classroom next year?

With the amazing success of the iPad, Apple predicts the device will change the way we consume information in the future. Who knows what the future will hold? Even if Apple’s right, children of tomorrow will still need to be good readers.

Drs Gisler and Eberts share 10 Ways to Improve Reading Skills in a recent blog entry. The article may be a good one to include in your enews update to parents next year. In it the suggest parents

1. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day.
2. Surround your children with reading material.
3. Have a family reading time.
4. Encourage a wide variety of reading activities (and more)

Of course, Gisler and Eberts include six more suggestions to round out their “top ten.” If you were to finish the list, what would you add?

Here are a few Smilemakers resources to help you improve reading skills: