Abstract
In November 2018, members of the Literacy Research Association (LRA) gathered in Indian Wells, CA, for the 68th annual conference, “Reclaiming literacy research: Centering activism, community, and love.” This conference invited attendees to examine how literacy research can be forged with communities and impact personal and institutional change. Volume 68 echoes this theme in taking a critical look at pedagogical and research methods, embracing activist-oriented efforts, reflecting diverse dimensions of literacy research, and encouraging dialogue on community-building as a process for social transformation.
We are delighted to share 19 articles in this year’s volume of Literacy Research: Theory, Method, and Practice (LR:TMP), including invited and submitted work. The acceptance rate for this year’s volume is 20%, with 64 total submitted manuscripts.
We recognize this volume would not be possible without the support of many. Thank you to the 126 reviewers who contributed their time and expertise and whose commitment is incredibly appreciated. Also, thank you to the extraordinary graduate students who served as editorial assistants, meticulously reading and editing papers and supporting the behind-the-scenes process. This includes the extraordinary work of the lead editorial assistants, Sarah Reid and Anna Osborn, who worked tirelessly all year long with the editors, SAGE, LRA, and journal authors. We also thank our part-time assistants: Christina King, Monica Kleekamp, and Beth Watson. We additionally thank last year’s lead editors, Carol Gilles and Amy Lannin, whose tremendous leadership carved a smooth transition for us. We were always grateful for their insights and guidance. We also extend deep gratitude to the rest of the editorial team who significantly contributed to the vision and labor of this year’s volume: Carol Gilles, Laurie Kingsley, Amy Lannin, Mike Metz, Rob Petrone, and Angie Zapata. We additionally wish to recognize our editorial team’s institutions, University of South Carolina and University of Missouri, for their commitment in making editorship for this journal possible. Thanks also to Kouider Mokhtari and the rest of the Publications Committee for their extraordinary support of the journal, as well as to SAGE Publications for their collaboration in final production and dissemination of this work. Lastly, special appreciation goes to LRA leadership, including the 2018 Program Chair and President Elect, Marcelle Haddix, and President Gay Ivey for their important contributions to the conference.
We are excited to share this collection of excellent scholarship of our LRA colleagues and look forward to the conversations and actions this work will generate.