World Gratitude Day
2025-09-21
Join us on September 21st to celebrate World Gratitude Day, a global observance dedicated to recognizing the power of thankfulness. Established in 1965, this day serves as a reminder to pause and appreciate the positive things in our lives—from the simplest kindnesses to the most profound blessings.

National Comic Book Day
2025-09-25
Join us on September 25th to celebrate National Comic Book Day, a day dedicated to honoring the captivating world of sequential art. From the action-packed adventures of superheroes to the compelling narratives of graphic novels, comic books are a unique art form that combines striking visuals with powerful storytelling. Additionally, graphic novels can serve as an excellent entry point for struggling readers, as the combination of images and text can make complex stories more accessible and engaging.

Walk and Bike to School Day
2025-10-01
National Walk and Bike to School Day 2025 is a fun and healthy event that encourages students, families, and schools to get active and safely walk or bike to school together. This special day highlights the importance of being active and having safe routes to school. It’s also a great way to build community spirit and teach kids about road safety. Walking or biking to school helps students stay healthy, reduces traffic congestion, and supports cleaner air around schools. The day reminds everyone that even small changes in how we travel can have a big impact on our health and neighborhoods.

National Custodian Day
2025-10-02
They work while we sleep. Sometimes we walk around them in the halls not always “seeing” them or their work as important. That’s why we love National Custodian Day, which rolls around every October 2. It recognizes the hard work that it takes to keep our school facilities in top shape as well as the people who diligently work to make sure we have schools and workplaces that are spotless and sanitary.

Audiobook Office Hours
2025-10-02 16:00 - 16:30, 2025-11-06 16:00 - 16:30, 2025-12-04 16:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Unlock the Power of Audiobooks with Learning Ally
Welcome to Audiobook Office Hours. This is an exclusive, interactive meeting. It’s designed just for Learning Ally Audiobook Solution customers. This is your direct connection to our expert team. You can get answers to your most pressing questions here. Master the platform. Unlock its full potential for your classroom.

What to Expect
Join these live sessions. Dive deep into key features. Find solutions to specific challenges. Get personalized support. Maximize your experience. This is an open forum. Bring your questions. Share feedback. Engage in conversations. These will help you leverage Learning Ally’s resources.
We can guide you. Learn to use the platform’s features. Differentiate instruction. Support diverse learners. Create customized reading lists. Track student progress effortlessly. Access a vast library of human-read audiobooks. These are aligned with your curriculum. We’ll also cover ways to integrate audiobooks. Use them in your existing literacy programs. Make reading more accessible and engaging. This helps all students.

Why Join Us?
Our goal is simple. We want you to feel confident. Feel empowered using the Learning Ally Audiobook Solution. Use it to support your students’ learning objectives. Join our community of dedicated educators. Discover new strategies. Help students build fluency. Improve comprehension. Develop a lifelong love of reading.
Ultimately, these sessions are about empowering you. Transform your classroom. Empower your students with the power of audiobooks. Ensure every learner can reach their full potential.
Register now!

World Smile Day
2025-10-03
World Smile Day 2025 is a day dedicated to the universal expression of joy – the smile. It’s a time to remind ourselves of the importance of spreading happiness, kindness, and positivity through simple acts, starting with a smile. This day encourages everyone to wear a smile and share it with the world, brightening the day of those they encounter.

World Teachers' Day
2025-10-05
World Teachers’ Day is an international day held annually to celebrate the work of teachers. Established in 1994, it commemorates the signing of recommendation by the International Labor Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Thank you, teachers, for the work you do each day.

National Coaches Day
2025-10-06
National Coaches Day on October 6 honors the men and women who inspire players to work harder and do their best. Across the country in every community, a coach organizes teams, plans practices and training, motivates players to strive to be the best they can be. At the same time, coaches pinpoint areas for improvement and supply guidance. Every sport or competition requires a leader. More importantly, a leader who knows the game and drives athletes to work together as a team.

Dictionary Day
2025-10-16
Dictionary Day celebrates the birth of Noah Webster, an American writer who was born in 1758. Webster is best-known for publishing the first dictionary in 1806, which he continued to compile and expand for the next 27 years. When his dictionary was published in 1828, it was a powerful resource packed with useful words and spelling updates. Webster was a true literacy pioneer for creating the reference book that continues to be used today – both in print and digital formats!

National Youth Confidence Day
2025-10-20
National Youth Confidence Day is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and fostering self-confidence in young people. The day encourages connecting with and inspiring youth by sharing positive stories, providing tools for growth, and supporting their potential to achieve success.

From Screening to Success: Navigating California's Early Literacy Landscape
2025-10-22 14:00 - 15:00
Join literacy leaders Linda Diamond, Kasey Klappenback, and Megan Potente for a compelling panel discussion on the future of reading in California. We go beyond the new law, SB 114, focusing on the essential, practical implementation of effective reading screenings. Understanding how to correctly use and interpret reading screenings is the crucial next step for all California schools.
This must-attend event shows educators and administrators how to properly utilize California’s new literacy laws to build a stronger foundation for lifelong reading success for all students. Furthermore, the panel discusses the potential impact of related legislation, like AB 1454, and explains why it’s essential for achieving early literacy success.
Key Strategies for Effective Implementation:
This session provides clarity and actionable strategies for California educators. The panelists will address:

Understanding screeners: What they are, how to correctly interpret the results, and why they must remain curriculum-agnostic.
Using data effectively: How to use screening data to identify both school-wide instructional needs and specific educator support needs.
Early warning systems: How to use screeners as an early warning to identify students who need more specific diagnostic measures. This helps determine specific skill gaps and plan targeted instruction for reading intervention.

This recorded panel is essential for all educators, administrators, and parents seeking to understand and implement California’s new literacy landscape.
Register now!

National Make A Difference Day
2025-10-25
National Make A Difference Day brings community service to a whole new level each year. Organizations join forces on the fourth Saturday in October to make a difference, big or small. Making a difference can come in many forms so this day is wide open for participation!

Halloween
2025-10-31
Happy Halloween! This day is a time when people dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and carve jack-o’-lanterns from hollowed out pumpkins. Ghosts and witches are popular costumes of the children who go from house to house saying, “Trick-or-treat!” The treat is usually candy. The origins of Halloween date back to several ancient festivals held in the autumn.

Fall Into Literacy
2025-11-01 - 2025-11-30
Embrace the cozy vibes of fall with curated, grade-banded book lists, seasonal reading activities, and fun challenges that keep students, educators, and families engaged in the spirit of the season.
Don’t have a Learning Ally account? Request more information.

SPOD Diving Deeper - Evolving the Definition of Dyslexia for Greater Inclusivity and Practical Impact
2025-11-05 16:00 - 17:00
Unpacking the New Definition of Dyslexia
Join Dr. Tim Odegard, a key member of the International Dyslexia Association’s (IDA) Definition Committee, for this webinar about the evolving definition of dyslexia. Dr. Odegard shares a unique perspective grounded in both extensive research and personal experience. Here, we’ll dive deep into the newly announced IDA definition of dyslexia.

Practical Insights for Educators
This session offers crucial knowledge for every educator and education leader. You’ll have access to Dr. Odegard’s original session with Dr. Charley Haynes from Spotlight on Dyslexia as well. This is your chance to understand the evolving dyslexia definition and what it means for your practice.

Empowering You and Your Students
This webinar provides an invaluable opportunity to:

Understand the new dyslexia definition
Align your practices with current scientific consensus
Advocate effectively for all learners
Foster greater inclusivity and impact in your educational settings

Don’t miss this must-attend event to grasp the practical implications of this vital update.
Register now!

Stories Around the Campfire: Reading is "S’more Fun" Together
2025-11-12 14:00 - 14:30
Gather ’round (virtually!) for Stories Around the Campfire, a special live event perfect for the fall season. Join Learning Ally and acclaimed narrator and voice actor Sara Wittry Phan for a magical celebration of literacy! This event is the perfect way for elementary and middle school readers, their classmates, teachers, and families to celebrate our Fall Into Literacy theme.
Sara brings the beautiful autumn book, Fall Leaves by Loretta Holland, to life. This captivating journey explores the colors and wonders of fall. It uses wordplay and luminous illustrations to celebrate the shifts in nature as autumn deepens. Ultimately, Stories Around the Campfire is designed to inspire emotions and add creative positivity to the world, one project at a time.
Meet the Narrator and Explore Literacy:
Sara Wittry Phan is a voice-acting powerhouse with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry. Beyond her professional work, Sara is passionate about inspiring readers and promoting literacy.

Celebrate the Season: Experience a captivating autumn story read live by a professional voice actor.
Family Engagement: This event encourages family literacy engagement and makes reading a fun, shared experience.
Free Resources: Can’t make it live? No worries! A recording and a free book guide for Fall Leaves will be available on the Fall into Literacy Landing Page shortly after the event.
Literacy Community: Join the Learning Ally community as we share this “S’more Fun” event with you!

Behind the Mic: A Day in the Life of a Voice Actor
2025-11-13 14:00 - 14:30
Ever wonder what it takes to bring characters and stories to life using just your voice? Join Learning Ally for a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the world of voice acting! This session is perfect whether you’re an aspiring actor, curious about creative careers, or just love animated characters and great storytelling.
Our guest voice actor, Sara Wittry Phan, shares her personal journey into the field. She showcases her compelling work and answers your questions about the reality of being a professional voice actor today. Furthermore, Sara discusses how advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly changing the voice acting industry.
Key Takeaways and Insights:
This live event offers unique insight into a creative career and the intersection of voice and literacy. Viewers will:

Explore Career Paths: Learn about Sara Wittry Phan’s personal journey and discover key steps to starting a career in voice acting.
Understand the Craft: See behind the scenes as Sara showcases her work bringing audiobooks and characters to life.
Discuss Industry Changes: Get an insider’s perspective on how AI is impacting the future of the voice acting industry.
Access Resources: Can’t make it live? No worries! A recording of the event will be added to our Fall into Literacy Landing Page shortly after the session.

Great Reading Games Begins
2025-12-01 - 2025-12-31
Schools can start earning GRG Boost Up points from December 1–31, 2025 by encouraging students to read in the Audiobook App, helping them get a strong head start before the official kickoff in January. With curated book lists, built-in motivation tools, and exciting prizes, this program makes it easy to spark joy and confidence in every reader.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities
2025-12-03
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is a UN day that is celebrated every year on December 3. The day is about promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development, and to raise awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life. WHO joins the UN in observing this day each year, reinforcing the importance of securing the rights of people with disabilities, so they can participate fully, equally and effectively in society with others, and face no barriers in all aspects of their lives.

International Volunteer Day
2025-12-05
International Volunteer Day is global observance established by the UN General Assembly in 1985 to celebrate the power of volunteerism. What began as a UN General Assembly mandate in 1985 has grown into a global movement. IVD is a day to celebrate volunteers everywhere and to champion the spirit of volunteerism—locally, nationally, and globally.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
2025-12-07
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is annually on December 7, commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, during World War II. Many American service men and women lost their lives or were injured on December 7, 1941

SPOD Diving Deeper - The Intersection of AI and LD: Dyslexia & Education in the Age of AI
2025-12-09 16:00 - 17:00
Unlock the future of learning. Join education leader Josh Clark for a webinar on the revolutionary impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on education. We’ll focus on supporting students with learning disabilities, like dyslexia.
A Deeper Dive into AI and LD
Following his popular “Spotlight on Dyslexia” session, Josh Clark returns. This is your chance to explore the intersection of AI, learning challenges, and innovative teaching. We will provide actionable strategies for today’s educators and administrators.
What You’ll Learn:

Practical AI Strategies: Discover concrete ways to integrate AI ethically into your classroom. Learn how AI personalizes learning and streamlines tasks. Enhance outcomes for all learners, including those with dyslexia.
New Frameworks for Learning: Engage in thought-provoking discussions about the ethical challenges of AI in education. Develop a strong understanding to guide your institution. We’ll focus on how AI impacts students with dyslexia.
Empowering Students for the Future: Gain insights on how to prepare students for an AI-driven world. Equip them with critical thinking and digital literacy skills. Use AI to address diverse learning needs, including those related to dyslexia.
Bonus Session: As a registered attendee, you will get free access to Josh Clark’s original “Spotlight on Dyslexia” session. This resource provides a strong foundation for understanding the role of AI in this context.

Who Should Attend?
This webinar is for all education leaders. This includes superintendents, principals, curriculum directors, and special education coordinators. It’s also for instructional technologists, teachers in leadership roles, and educational policymakers.
Revolutionize your approach to education. Empower the next generation of thinkers.
Register now!

Great Reading Games
2026-01-05 - 2026-02-27
Warm up with a Winter Reading Challenge!

Learning Ally’s Great Reading Games is a well-established reading competition designed to inspire your students to read and improve their literacy skills. Your school earns points for every page read, with top-performing schools and students winning exciting prizes. You can boost scores before the competition begins by encouraging reading through the Learning Ally Audiobook app. With curated book lists and support for you, it’s an engaging way to get your students excited about reading!
Games run: January 5 – February 27, 2026

National Clean Off Your Desk Day
2026-01-11
This day is an opportunity to begin your new year with a clean and organized workspace. Whether your desk is in a private or shared office, cubicle, home or a make-shift desk on the counter, having your workspace uncluttered and organized will help you work more efficiently. A clean workspace improves productivity and inspires us, too. It often gives us a sense of serenity.

Cross-Language Connections: Assessing for Dyslexia among Bilingual Learners
2026-01-14 16:30 - 17:30
Accurately assessing emergent bilinguals for learning differences presents some of the most complex challenges in modern education. It demands specialized knowledge beyond monolingual assessment standards. Join Julia Betancourt and Nancy Rebarchik for this SPOD Diving Deeper session, a comprehensive, 300-word follow-up explicitly designed for educators and education leadership. You must refine your understanding and practical application of dyslexia assessment strategies for bilingual learners. This specialized training builds on their popular “Spotlight on Dyslexia” session and focuses intensively on the complexities of cross-language connections and cultural considerations. Ignoring these factors can lead to devastating misidentification or failure to identify needs altogether. Therefore, mastering reliable dyslexia assessment strategies for bilingual learners is essential to promoting equity.
This session offers advanced insights to enhance your ability to accurately identify and support dyslexic bilingual learners, ensuring literacy for all. You will gain essential, research-backed knowledge about building robust systems for identification and intervention, thereby promoting literacy for bilingual learners across your entire school or district. Furthermore, the presenters will address common pitfalls, misconceptions, and the specific diagnostic tools necessary for this population.
Key Strategies for Bilingual Dyslexia Assessment:
This SPOD Diving Deeper session provides advanced, actionable steps to improve assessment and intervention practices immediately. We’ll delve deeply into:

Advanced Case Studies: We will conduct an in-depth analysis of complex scenarios in bilingual dyslexia assessment. These case studies move beyond the basics, focusing on differential diagnosis and distinguishing language acquisition issues from true learning disabilities.

Data Point Analysis: We will identify and analyze the specific data points crucial for accurate identification. This includes analyzing data across both languages (L1 and L2) to ensure appropriate educational planning and to avoid bias.

Referral Processes: Learn actionable steps to build robust, equitable referral processes for emergent bilinguals. This ensures timely and appropriate access to necessary evaluations and resources.

Effective Interventions: Discover practical, proven strategies for implementing effective dyslexia interventions within your district or campus, specifically tailored to honor and leverage a student’s linguistic strengths. This includes practical tools and resources you can implement next week.

Understanding Policy: Discuss the key policy considerations and legal mandates that impact the assessment and instruction of bilingual learners with dyslexia.

You will also have immediate access to the original “Cross-Language Connections” session, making this a complete, high-value professional learning experience within the SPOD series.

World Thesaurus Day
2026-01-18
World Thesaurus Day is celebrated annually, honoring the birthday of Peter Mark Roget, the creator of Roget’s Thesaurus (first published in 1852) and encouraging people to use thesauruses to expand vocabulary and improve writing. It’s a day to appreciate this essential resource for finding synonyms, antonyms, and related words, helping writers avoid repetition and find the perfect term for their ideas.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
2026-01-19
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. federal holiday observed on the third Monday in January, honoring the life and legacy of the pivotal civil rights leader, celebrated with service, reflection, and events focused on equality and community building–often called a “day on, not a day off”. The holiday, signed into law in 1983, commemorates Dr. King’s efforts against racial segregation and for justice, encouraging volunteerism to create his vision of a “Beloved Community”

National Handwriting Day
2026-01-23
National Handwriting Day is celebrated annually on January 23, coinciding with John Hancock’s birthday, to promote the art, benefits, and personal expression of handwriting in a digital world, encouraging people to write letters, journal, or make lists by hand. The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) established the day in 1977 to highlight handwriting’s role in cognitive development, memory, and individuality
