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