Central Illinois Reading Council

05/19/2021

We know you're probably tired
of teaching using Zoom
But 20-21
will be over soon!
You'll get to read this summer
books for just yourself
So join us tonight
to add to your bookshelf!

Don't forget - tonight is the final CIRC Book Chat, featuring teacher Molly Burns, who will share summer reading titles!

Register here for "Well Rested and Well Read:"

Please answer the following questions to complete your registration for the book chat on May 19

05/15/2021

One more Zoom session to add to your calendar - the final CIRC Book Chat of the season, May 19th! Join us for a 'chat' with teacher Molly Burns as she makes fabulous recommendations for summer reading: "Well Rested and Well Read" happens May 19th at 7:00 p.m. Stay for the one hour of getting exciting new titles to add to your summer reading list, and, if you want, complete the activity to get two hours of PD! This promises to be a relaxing evening, so get registered and put it on your calendar!

Look for an email with registration information, or just register here:

Please answer the following questions to complete your registration for the book chat on May 19

04/27/2021

Via grammarly

04/11/2021

It's time to get registered for the April 21st Book Chat, Lab Girl and Literature! It's all about science, folks!

Watch your email for registration information, or just sign up here:

Please answer the following questions to complete your registration for the book chat on April 21.

04/08/2021

Time to reserve your Wednesday night, April 21st, for our next Book Chat, Lab Girl and Literature! Looking for ways to address your students' interests in science? Or maybe just create some interest where there might not be much? Join Dr. Pat Braun for a discussion of Lab Girl, the selection for the 2021 Big Read as well as titles for students! Watch your email (and this FB page) for the registration!

03/16/2021

Are you registered for Wednesday night's Book Chat yet? We will be talking about poetry!

Teaching Poetry: Sharing Resources, Ideas, and Advice
When: Wednesday, March 17, 7 - 8 p.m.
Where: Zoom Meeting
Cost: Free to CIRC members
Register here:

Please answer the following questions to complete your registration for the book chat on March 17.

03/14/2021

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s Illinois Reads Book Festival! A lot of planning and volunteerism goes into putting on a book festival, and everyone's role is critical and much appreciated. And our authors were absolutely fabulous! A special shout-out to them for giving up their Saturdays to participate!

Here’s a quick reminder: the recorded sessions will be available on the website Illinoisreadsbookfestival.org through next Saturday, March 20th, so if you were not able to participate, or if you were but there were wanted to also participate in a different session, this is your chance! Also, don’t forget to visit the virtual Exhibit Hall, also on the web site. If you still want to purchase books from Anderson’s Book Store, there is a link there to do so; many of the books will also have an autographed book plate by the authors. Stay on the lookout for information about the 2022 Illinois Reads Book Festival, which will be happening at Illinois Valley Community College next spring!

03/11/2021

Booklovers, teachers, kids, parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents ... hey, everyone! The 2021 Illinois Reads Book Festival* will be held virtually on March 13th from 10:00 – 12:00 am, and is open and free to the public! Every year, the Illinois Reads team identifies 36 books to promote: six books each at six different age/grade bands, from birth to adulthood.
The Book Festival includes author panels in addition to individual live Zoom sessions with some of the authors and prerecorded messages from others. Everyone is welcome to participate in this free event - no registration needed!
The schedule for the day is available at www.illinoisreadsbookfestival.org. Simply click on the links for the sessions in which you want to participate. To see a list of the 2021 authors and book selections, please visit the Illinois Reads web site at www.illinoisreads.org/.
*Illinois Reads is an initiative of the Illinois Reading Council. Its purpose is to promote reading, especially of books by authors from Illinois.

03/09/2021

National Poetry Month is coming up! You know what that means? It's time to get signed up for the next CIRC Book Chat: "Teaching Poetry: Resources, Ideas, and Advice!" Please join us at 7:00 p.m. on March 17th. CIRC members - watch your email for information, or register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFxSweHjyJYdLlX5uzEyO2ek-qZHnaX52p_JXCzSzSu6Xo9w/viewform?gxids=7628

03/01/2021

Something BIG in reading starts tomorrow, March 1st! The National Endowment for the Arts, in collaboration with Lincoln Land Community College, is sponsoring 75 events over the course of two months (March 1 - April 30) for THE BIG READ!!! "Lab Girl," by Hope Jahren, is the focus for The Big Read this year. Check out how to get a free book and all of the activities here: https://www.llcc.edu/community-education/academy-lifelong-learning/nea-big-read-sangamon-county/ . Also, the Central Illinois Reading Council will be holding a "Lab Girl" Book Chat April 21st at 7:00 pm!

02/14/2021

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Don't forget, there's still time to sign up for this Wednesday's CIRC Book Chat! Starting time: 7:00 p.m. Dr. Cindi Koudelka will be leading our discussion this time on books about "Reflective, Responsive, & Restorative: Embedding Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in the Curriculum." Members: check your email for registration information, or click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZz6odDIAj7RLNgxrhIjvG-8vTfFkfr-WL3qIaQ3wlEkAVUw/viewform?gxids=7628 Not a member? You can join through Illinoisreadingcouncil.org.

Please answer the following questions to complete your registration for the book chat on February 17.

02/10/2021

Love this!