In this Feature Friday, IRC is sharing an idea on how to solve the issue of chronic absenteeism by hosting a book club with teachers, students, and/or families. For more info about IRC PL&D Consulting Services or the IRC Book Club, visit illinoisreadingcouncil.org/. #IRCreads

Why Join IRC? 3 events TODAY specifically designed to create a BUZZ about books. CIRC for Book Chat at 4:30 pm in Lincoln! Lewis and Clark for Pours and Pages Book Trivia at 6:30 pm in O'Fallon. PARC for a Virtual Book Tasting at 7:00 pm on Zoom. Visit IRC Calendar of Events!

Thank you to Melissa Stinnett for sharing her IRC Each, One, Reach One Story! Don’t forget our “Each One, Reach One” Membership Campaign is also the theme for the upcoming IRC Conference on March 11-12, 2027. To find out more or register, visit illinoisreadingcouncil.org/c…! #IRCreads

The Preliminary Program is online for the 2027 IRC Conference on March 11-12, 207 in Springfield! Join us for over 150 PD sessions and networking opportunities. Don't miss out on this chance to learn and connect with fellow educators. Visit illinoisreadingcouncil.org/c…! #IRCReads

Consider creating multimodal “Text Sets” with a theme during your scheduled read aloud time. This allows you to incorporate an interactive read aloud to frame the theme, ask an essential question, and have deeper decisions grounded in higher-level thinking, and make connections.

November 16, 2026: SRL and Illinois SLD Support Project will co-host the Addressing Reading Difficulties in Secondary Classrooms: Instruction and Intervention with Kellyn Sirach from 6:30 to 7:30 pm via a Virtual Event. Register at illinoisreadingcouncil.org/s…!

November 5, 2026: Western Illinois Reading Council will host Power Up Your Writing Think SRSD with Becky Miller from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Western Illinois University, Horrabin Hall Room 1, 1 University Circle, Macomb, Illinois. Register today!

The Illinois Reading Council is thrilled to see that Ruth Spiro, author of Growing Together – one of the books selected for the 2027 Illinois Reads, and Alexi Giannoulias, Honorary Chair of the Illinois Reads Program, met up at the Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards!

Reason #2 to Join IRC: To READ books by professional authors who will help you grow your foundational knowledge as a literacy professional. One way to do that is to join educators from all over the state in the online Fall 2026 IRC Book Club. Register by October 18th! #IRCReads

Thank you to Jessica Valverde for sharing her IRC Each, One, Reach One Story! Don’t forget our “Each One, Reach One” Membership Campaign is also the theme for the upcoming IRC Conference on March 11-12, 2027. To find out more or register, visit illinoisreadingcouncil.org/c…!

In honor of Banned Books Week, for “Feature Friday” IRC is sharing two books that can prompt great classroom discussions about the right to read books. Read banned books and get smarter! #ReadBannedBooks

PEN American recorded 11,982 instances of book bans in the 2025-2026 school year. Book bans affected the work of more than 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators. Read a banned book! Question it! Discuss it! Share it! YOU decide what book is right for YOU!

Thank you to Erin Gergen for sharing her IRC Each, One, Reach One Story! Don’t forget our “Each One, Reach One” Membership Campaign is also the theme for the upcoming IRC Conference on March 11-12, 2027. To find out more or register, visit illinoisreadingcouncil.org/c…!

October 29, 2026: Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education will host Bringing Children's Literature to Life in ASL with Crom Saunders and Amy Alznauer from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at DePaul University, McGowan South Room 104, 1110 W Belden, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois.

October 21, 2026:  Lewis and Clark Reading Council will host Pours and Pages Book Trivia from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at O’Fallon Brewery in O'Fallon, Illinois.

October 21, 2026:  Central Illinois Reading Council will host a Book Chat from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Ink & Imprint, 125 N Kickapoo St, Lincoln, Illinois.

Join Lake Area Reading Council (LARC) for a Membership Drive at Bliss in Wauconda, Illinois on October 1st at 4:30 pm! Register by email at illinoisreadingcouncil.org/l… #IRCreads

Join Secondary Reading League (SRL) at the 47th Day of Reading on October 23, 2026 in Tinley Park, Illinois! Find out how to register at illinoisreadingcouncil.org/s…... #IRCreads

IRC is offering a Webinar Series for members only! Join IRC today to take part in this convenient, free IRC membership benefit. Members who watch the live or recorded webinars can also earn PD clock hours!

Join PARC on October 8, 2026 for A Night at the Theatre: Broadway Series Performance of Mean Girls from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Bovd, Aurora, Illinois! Register today at illinoisreadingcouncil.org/p…