Local Organizations
Students and Faculty in the Department of Language and Literacy Education actively participate in local and national professional organizations. We invite you to join communities of your interest, and hope this involvement will be of great support for your academic endeavors at LLED. Find further information on University of Georgia and Language & Literacy Ed. organizations in the tabs above. Below, are additional descriptions of international and national associations, events, and membership content:
International/National Professional Organizations
This national research society, strives to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good. There are 12 major divisions and a growing number of special interest groups (including Language and Social Processes, Writing and Literacies, Media, Culture & Curriculum, and various methodological approaches) within this prominent professional organization of over 25,000 members hailing from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds–including education, psychology, statistics, sociology, history, economics, philosophy, anthropology, and political science.
LRA is a community of scholars dedicated to promoting research that enriches the knowledge, understanding, and development of lifespan literacies in a multicultural and multilingual world. LRA is committed to ethical research that is rigorous, methodologically diverse, and socially responsible. LRA is dedicated to disseminating such research broadly so as to promote generative theories, informed practices and sound policies. Central to its mission, LRA mentors and supports future generations of literacy scholars.
AAAL promotes research and annual scholarly conferences in the field of applied linguistics, as well as recognizing scholarship and service through awards. It also serves as an advocate in policy issues pertaining to language learning and language rights.
The National Council of Teachers of English is devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. This mission statement was adopted in 1990: “The Council promotes the development of literacy, the use of language to construct personal and public worlds and to achieve full participation in society, through the learning and teaching of English and the related arts and sciences of language.”
The Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English is a professional community of children’s literature enthusiasts which advocates the centrality of literature for teaching children. CLA provides a forum for exchange among teachers of children’s literature, promotes children’s literature as a field of learning, research, and classroom application, undertakes and disseminates programs and projects of special interest related to children’s literature and works with other organizations devoted to the promotion of literature in children’s lives. It also publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of Children’s Literature.
Since 1956, IRA has been a nonprofit, global network of individuals and institutions committed to worldwide literacy. More than 70,000 members strong, the Association supports literacy professionals through a wide range of resources, advocacy efforts, volunteerism, and professional development activities. Our members promote high levels of literacy for all. The mission of the International Reading Association is to promote reading by continuously advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide.
The Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group is a nonprofit organization chartered by the International Reading Association (IRA) on November 7, 1979. Membership is open to all who have an abiding interest in the development of literacy and in promoting high quality literature, Pre-K through 12 teachers, librarians, teacher candidates, administrators, university professors, authors and publishers. CL/R SIG members must also be members of IRA. This organization sponsors the Notable Books in a Global Society book award and publishes the peer-reviewed journal, The Dragon Lode.
The American Reading Forum is a nonprofit, professional organization composed of individuals who share an interest in the improvement of reading. While the American Reading Forum is an organization that facilitates the dissemination of ideas and research, it places highest priority on providing its members opportunities for critical discussion of ideas, issues, research and emerging research interests and paradigms.
ALER promote standards and competency within the profession and strives to stimulate the self-development and professional growth of teachers and reading specialists at all educational levels; encourage the continuing improvement of college and university curricula and encourage preparation programs for teachers and reading specialists; and encourage the continuing improvement of administrative, clinical, diagnostic, and instructional practices related to the learning process.
Founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1953, IBBY is a non-profit organization which represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together. There are 70 National Sections of IBBY throughout the world. This organization sponsors a Biennial International Congress, various national conferences, workshops, and seminars, publishes an international journal, Bookbird, and oversees international book award
