IRC News

Educator Spotlight: Sara Giannopoulos, J.S. Morton High School

Lindsay Eanet2023-09-11T13:54:13-05:00

Over the past few months, the IRC has asked members of our community to nominate Illinois teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond, and now, we’re celebrating them and highlighting their work. Keep an eye out for these features in the coming months – and if you’d like to nominate someone, email leanet@cntrmail.org. Next up is Sara Giannopoulos, an EL and content support teacher at J.S. Morton High School. Says Melody Becker, who nominated her: “As Lead Teacher, Sara has been an instructional leader within our EL department for the last five years. She has strong knowledge of [...]

Educator Spotlight: Sara Giannopoulos, J.S. Morton High SchoolLindsay Eanet2023-09-11T13:54:13-05:00

September Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators
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September Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2023-09-05T11:19:41-05:00

Welcome to the September 2023 edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community, including a focus on Hispanic Heritage Month. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. From Our IRC Specialists & Staff Bilingual Parents Video Library Wind Down Wednesday Archive Multilingual Virtual Job Board Resources from Computer Science for Every Learner List of Bilingual Parent Resources Distributed at Bilingual Parents Summit [IRC] Hyperdoc: Creating Affirming Multilingual, Multicultural [...]

September Roundup: Readings & Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2023-09-05T11:19:41-05:00

Educator Spotlight: Alma Ocampo-Nuñez, Chicago Public Schools

Lindsay Eanet2023-08-14T11:36:13-05:00

Over the past few months, the IRC has asked members of our community to nominate Illinois teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond, and now, we’re celebrating them and highlighting their work. Keep an eye out for these features in the coming months – and if you’d like to nominate someone, email leanet@cntrmail.org. Next up is Alma Ocampo-Nuñez, a bilingual lead teacher at Chicago Public Schools. Says Alyssa Silva-Rafi, who nominated her: “Alma is passionate about working with English learners and helping staff better serve the community of students and parents. She is a strong advocate for English learners.” In teaching [...]

Educator Spotlight: Alma Ocampo-Nuñez, Chicago Public SchoolsLindsay Eanet2023-08-14T11:36:13-05:00

Protecting & Affirming the Freedom to Read in Illinois and Beyond

Lindsay Eanet2023-08-02T15:53:36-05:00

In June of 2023, amidst a wave of book censorship impacting schools and libraries across the country, primarily targeting books with culturally responsive or LGBTQ+ content, Governor Pritzker signed the first piece of state-level legislation in the country prohibiting the banning of books in libraries and public schools. The Illinois Resource Center applauds Illinois state leadership for taking action to safeguard students’ freedom to read, and the hard work of educators, library workers and advocates nationwide who have been pushing back against the wave of book bans. So why talk about book bans now, after it seems legislatively decided? Although we [...]

Protecting & Affirming the Freedom to Read in Illinois and BeyondLindsay Eanet2023-08-02T15:53:36-05:00

August Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators
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August Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2023-07-31T11:26:09-05:00

Welcome to the August 2023 edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. From Our IRC Specialists & Staff Bilingual Parents Video Library Wind Down Wednesday Archive Multilingual Virtual Job Board Resources from Computer Science for Every Learner List of Bilingual Parent Resources Distributed at Bilingual Parents Summit [IRC] Hyperdoc: Creating Affirming Multilingual, Multicultural School Communities for LGBTQ+ Students [Olivia Mulcahy] Examining [...]

August Roundup: Readings & Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2023-07-31T11:26:09-05:00

July Resource Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators
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July Resource Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2023-07-10T13:54:16-05:00

Welcome to the July 2023 edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. From Our IRC Specialists & Staff Bilingual Parents Video Library Wind Down Wednesday Archive Multilingual Virtual Job Board List of Bilingual Parent Resources Distributed at Bilingual Parents Summit [IRC] Hyperdoc: Creating Affirming Multilingual, Multicultural School Communities for LGBTQ+ Students [Olivia Mulcahy] LILAC & Translanguaging Infographics [Olivia Mulcahy] 8 Questions [...]

July Resource Roundup: Readings & Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2023-07-10T13:54:16-05:00

Educator Spotlight: Janice Campbell, Mendota High School District #280

Lindsay Eanet2023-05-18T10:11:00-05:00

Over the past few months, the IRC has asked members of our community to nominate Illinois teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond, and now, we’re celebrating them and highlighting their work. Keep an eye out for these features in the coming months – and if you’d like to nominate someone, email leanet@cntrmail.org. Next up is Janice Campbell of Mendota High School District #280. Says Denise Aughenbaugh, who nominated her: “Mrs. Campbell is truly a lifelong multicultural education advocate. She believes that students and their life histories and experiences should be placed at the center of the teaching [...]

Educator Spotlight: Janice Campbell, Mendota High School District #280Lindsay Eanet2023-05-18T10:11:00-05:00

Keeping a Critical Eye On… Science of Reading

Lindsay Eanet2023-06-20T12:15:23-05:00

This post is part of our ongoing "Language and Culture Lenses" series, where the IRC team discusses trends in education impacting our communities through language and cultural lenses, and how these conversations intersect with our vision of a world where every child's languages and cultures are affirmed, every teacher's practice is reflective and responsive, and every school's systems and policies are inclusive and equitable. You can view the entire series here. Currently, there is a lot of information out there about what is known as the Science of Reading and we encourage you to consider and question how this may or [...]

Keeping a Critical Eye On… Science of ReadingLindsay Eanet2023-06-20T12:15:23-05:00

IRC Specialist Carly Spina Participating in IEA-NEA Educator Voice Academy Panel
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IRC Specialist Carly Spina Participating in IEA-NEA Educator Voice Academy Panel

Lindsay Eanet2023-05-17T13:21:39-05:00

At the IRC, it's always exciting when we get to share our knowledge with other collaborative partners. The Illinois Education Association is launching new working groups called Educator Voice Academies, with one focused on supporting multilingual students. The goal of this Workgroup will be to identify, elevate and implement policies that can help support our multilingual students. Our panelists will share lessons from current research and identify local implementation opportunities. To celebrate the launch and jump-start the visioning, the Supporting Multilingual Students Workgroup will launch Monday, June 5th with an exciting panel -- including one of our very own IRC specialists! [...]

IRC Specialist Carly Spina Participating in IEA-NEA Educator Voice Academy PanelLindsay Eanet2023-05-17T13:21:39-05:00

Illinois Resource Center, Partners Provide Computer Literacy Courses for Local Immigrant Parents
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Illinois Resource Center, Partners Provide Computer Literacy Courses for Local Immigrant Parents

Lindsay Eanet2023-05-17T10:21:29-05:00

Virtual instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic made clear the inequities families face around access to and understanding of technology. Three Illinois organizations, with support from a local college, are working together to address that inequity and support local families. Last year, Illinois Resource Center, Illinois Migrant Council and PCs for People distributed 50 refurbished personal computers to local under-resourced families. These computers will come fully equipped with the latest Windows software package, a year of free IT support and a year of free wireless Internet access via a T-Mobile hotspot. Last week, those same parents received a free digital literacy course [...]

Illinois Resource Center, Partners Provide Computer Literacy Courses for Local Immigrant ParentsLindsay Eanet2023-05-17T10:21:29-05:00