NEWS FROM LOCAL SOMLA CHAPTERS
Exciting Literacy Events from Howard County Literacy Association, SoMLA 

(February 4, 2025) -  The Howard County Literacy Association (HCLA) and the State of Maryland Literacy Association (SoMLA) are thrilled to announce a series of engaging literacy events! Whether you're looking to celebrate Black History Month and Beyond, explore German literature and culture, or gain free professional development in literacy education, we have something for you.
📚 Event #1: Collaborative Book Sharing for Black History Month... and BeyondHCLA is curating digital bookshelves featuring book summaries and recorded readings that honor Black History Month. Our goal is to create a valuable literary resource for classrooms and personal reading collections.
How to Participate:📌 Submit a book title and author (aligned with Black History Month) to [email protected].
📌 HCLA will add the book cover to our digital bookshelf, along with a summary or recording.
📌 Visit the HCLA website to explore and contribute to this growing collection!
Help us build a diverse and inclusive bookshelf throughout February and beyond!


🎉 Event #2: "Book Tastings Around the World" – Stop #4: Germany + The Bayside Band!📅 New Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:00–7:15 PM (Stay afterward for live music by The Bayside Band—no cover charge!)
📍 Location: Bavarian Brauhaus, 7304 Parkway Dr S, Hanover, MD 21076
💰 Cost: SoMLA/HCLA Members: $10 | Non-Members: $20
🎟 RSVP Required: Email [email protected] – Only 7 spaces left (as of 4:00 PM on 2/8/25)!
About the Event:Join us for an evening of great food, cultural exploration, and literary discussion as we spotlight books representing German culture. This event highlights the significance of diverse literature in classrooms and offers engaging discussions on books for elementary, middle, and high school students.
What’s Included for Participants?📖 A selection of books about Germany
🍽️ Authentic German appetizers & soft drinks
🍺 A special Stein from the original Blob’s Park
🎶 Live music from The Bayside Band following the tasting
Don't miss this immersive literary and cultural experience!

🆓 Event #3: "Elevate Your Literacy in Just 60 Minutes!" – Free Webinars with CertificatesJoin SoMLA’s free webinar series to gain insights into Maryland’s literacy initiatives, the Science of Reading, and effective teaching strategies.
💡 What You’ll Gain:✅ Practical literacy strategies from experts
✅ Insights from Maryland educators
✅ Tools to enhance classroom instruction
✅ Certificate of participation for each session
📅 Webinar Schedule:📖 February 11: Dawnavyn James – "Build a Black History Month Book Stack"
📖 February 15: Emily Madison – "Here's the Tea: Talking About the Embodied Language Experiences of Black Girls"
📖 February 22: Dawn Little – "Let’s Talk! Implementing Productive Talk Strategies to Engage ALL Learners"
📌 How to Register: Use the Google Form on the event flyer to sign up. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration!
This series leads up to the SoMLA Conference (April 2-3, 2025)—join as many sessions as your schedule allows!

Get Involved & Stay Connected!These events are designed to bring educators, literacy advocates, and book lovers together to celebrate diverse literature and effective teaching practices.
📧 Have questions? Contact [email protected].
🌐 Visit the HCLA website for more details and updates.
We look forward to seeing you at these inspiring events!
SoMLA, State or Maryland Literacy Association, www.somla.online