News from Michigan State University

MSU Scholars to Lead Flagship Journal for International Literacy Association

Five literacy scholars from the MSU College of Education have been named incoming editors for The Reading Teacher, the flagship journal of the International Literacy Association, or ILA.

Each of the scholars — including early, mid and established career researchers — have made significant contributions to the field. They include:

Wright, Edwards, and Tortorelli all have long histories of service and engagement with ILA. Edwards, in fact, is a past president of the International Reading Association (now the International Literacy Association). The team’s collective research interests include foundational skills, biliteracy, and family engagement.

“Together, our work spans a broad range of ages, developmental stages, and critical focus areas,” they noted in their application.

“As we welcome this extraordinary editorial team, we also usher in a new era for The Reading Teacher,” said ILA Executive Director Marcie Craig Post. “The perspectives they bring, combining both established and rising voices in the field, will be critical in our mission to elevate the reach of the journal and explore new opportunities for engagement.”

Among those opportunities: a robust strategy for leveraging social media, which the team believes is key to amplifying the journal’s content. Plans include a podcast series with authors and fostering discourse on Twitter.

RT has provided educators with practical teaching ideas grounded in theory and research for more than 60 years. The journal focuses on primary and elementary classroom instruction and is written by educators for educators, providing practical, evidence-based teaching ideas, articles to help educators transform research into effective practice, and information on the most critical issues in teaching and professional development.

For more information, visit literacyworldwide.org.

Lauren Knapp and Tanya Wright via MSU Today