A History of the Philadelphia Reading Council
The Philadelphia Reading Council (PRC) began in the early 1980’s with a very close relationship with the School District of Philadelphia. Many of its original members were Reading/Language Skills Teachers in the School District of Philadelphia who also served as officers in the Philadelphia Reading Council.
The programming of the PRC involved reading researchers, authors, and professional developers highlighting best practices in reading instruction and assessment to implement and share with classroom teachers. The PRC was a platform for ongoing learning for Reading Teachers and it encouraged continued and continuous learning through involvement in the KSRA and the IRA/ILA. Membership rose to over 80 members who participated regularly in its meetings and events.
Over the years, the PRC’s programs reflected the key thinking and rationale for its mission.
Changes in the late 1990’s and early 2000s altered the course of the PRC. Gradually, due, to some extent, to SDP financial status, Reading Specialists no longer were required in each elementary school. The conduit between the PRC and the SDP weakened. Reading leadership became a less prominent force in the School district and in the PRC. As membership decreased, the PRC became a deactivated Council.
In 2006, with the help of earlier members, the PRC was reactivated and became a vibrant, viable Council with a mission to provide professional development among reading educators and promote literacy awareness for all ages. Its updated goals were:
In 2014, Alpha Upsilon Alpha Honor Society of Saint Joseph’s University and The Philadelphia Reading Council began co-sponsoring the Spring Literacy Conference. Speakers from the field of reading research included Linda B. Gambrell, Barbara Marinak, and Dr. Richard Allington. More recently Janet Wong extended our exploration of Poetry as Advocacy.
In 2017 the PRC began the process of evaluating its current status with regards to leadership, membership and financial status. With the assistance of KSRA (KSLA), the PRC took initial steps to consider a merger with the Delaware Valley Reading Association. The Board Members voted to merge Councils beginning in Fall 2018 with hopes of increasing membership, attracting new leadership and combining finances with a vision of offering its members more opportunities for literacy learning and leadership. The merged councils will function as KSLA Delaware Valley and will build upon their foundations to continue leadership for literacy education throughout the Delaware Valley.
The programming of the PRC involved reading researchers, authors, and professional developers highlighting best practices in reading instruction and assessment to implement and share with classroom teachers. The PRC was a platform for ongoing learning for Reading Teachers and it encouraged continued and continuous learning through involvement in the KSRA and the IRA/ILA. Membership rose to over 80 members who participated regularly in its meetings and events.
Over the years, the PRC’s programs reflected the key thinking and rationale for its mission.
- Recognition that every teacher, K-12, is a teacher of reading and needs professional development in strategies in the reading process generally and in all content areas.
- The connections between reading and writing processes
- Multicultural Literature
- Whole Language
- The teacher “not as a sage on the stage, but as a guide on the side”
- Balanced literacy processes and practices
- Reading Recovery
- Standards-based instruction
- “What do good readers do?”
- The importance of principals and other administrators understanding the teaching and learning of reading and writing
- Portfolio Assessment, Authentic Assessment
- Teacher as lifelong learner
Changes in the late 1990’s and early 2000s altered the course of the PRC. Gradually, due, to some extent, to SDP financial status, Reading Specialists no longer were required in each elementary school. The conduit between the PRC and the SDP weakened. Reading leadership became a less prominent force in the School district and in the PRC. As membership decreased, the PRC became a deactivated Council.
In 2006, with the help of earlier members, the PRC was reactivated and became a vibrant, viable Council with a mission to provide professional development among reading educators and promote literacy awareness for all ages. Its updated goals were:
- To support the study of literacy development at all ages and stages
- To interact with community organizations through programs and newsletters
- To promote dialogue and initiate inquiry into new forms of literacy through regular meetings, events and online discussions.
- To support the purposes of the Keystone State Reading (Literacy) Association and the International Reading (Literacy) Association
In 2014, Alpha Upsilon Alpha Honor Society of Saint Joseph’s University and The Philadelphia Reading Council began co-sponsoring the Spring Literacy Conference. Speakers from the field of reading research included Linda B. Gambrell, Barbara Marinak, and Dr. Richard Allington. More recently Janet Wong extended our exploration of Poetry as Advocacy.
In 2017 the PRC began the process of evaluating its current status with regards to leadership, membership and financial status. With the assistance of KSRA (KSLA), the PRC took initial steps to consider a merger with the Delaware Valley Reading Association. The Board Members voted to merge Councils beginning in Fall 2018 with hopes of increasing membership, attracting new leadership and combining finances with a vision of offering its members more opportunities for literacy learning and leadership. The merged councils will function as KSLA Delaware Valley and will build upon their foundations to continue leadership for literacy education throughout the Delaware Valley.