Special Theme: Poetry

Editors of The Missouri Reader (TMR) invite submissions for consideration in upcoming issues of The Missouri Reader (TMR).  In the realm of literature, children's poetry stands as a gateway, unlocking the boundless imagination of young minds. As we embark on this special edition of TMR, we invite submissions from researchers, classroom teachers, advanced practitioners, and graduate students to explore the enchanting world of children's poetry, seeking to unravel the significance, impact, and diverse facets of this unique genre.

Submissions that do not focus on poetry will be considered for our fall 2024 edition and are also encouraged.

Manuscripts in the following categories will be considered:

• Resourceful Research – Scholarly articles and field research related to literacy and particularly literacy in Missouri (5-10 pages)
• Classroom Close-up – Glimpses into the results of strategy implementation and literacy activities in the classroom (1-2 pages)
• Content Contribution – Integrating literacy into content area instruction and other areas such as music, art, PE, and special education (3-5 pages)
• Tech Talk – Share ways to utilize technology to enhance literacy learning (2-4 pages)
• Lit Look – Share how best to utilize literature in the classroom and beyond (2-4 pages)
• Book Review: Reviews of children’s books and young adult literature; See Book Bundle review criteria
• Collaboration Collection – Ways to collaborate with families and community members to take literacy learning beyond the classroom (1-3 pages)
• Invaluable Invitation – Special section for invited Missouri authors and illustrators to share insights with our readers (1-3 pages)

Submissions should not be published or under consideration for publication elsewhere. Submissions may be sent electronically at any time, with preference given to submissions received prior to March 31, 2024. Manuscripts must be written in 12-point font, double-spaced, and follow APA (6th edition) formatting guidelines.  Page limits for each category do not include reference pages.  Clear, high-resolution digital images, high-quality videos, scanned examples of student work, and student-made digital projects are welcome to be included in your submission for inclusion interactive journal.

If you are submitting pictures or videos of students or examples of student work, please include a completed Photo and Video Release Form with your submission.

When submitting your manuscript, please send it as a Microsoft Word document email attachment with TMR Submission in the subject line to nwmoliteracy@gmail.com.  For each submission, the author must also complete The Missouri Reader Submission Form, which includes the category of the submission and other pertinent details.  For manuscripts in the Resourceful Research category, an area on the form to include an abstract (100 words or less) is included.  

Manuscripts submitted to The Missouri Reader are first reviewed internally by the co-editors.  If it is determined that a manuscript fulfills the mission and expectations of the journal, it is then sent to at least two peers for review.  Criteria for evaluating manuscripts are: 

1. Relevance and applicability to Missouri educators;
2. Clarity of writing;
3. Blend of theory and practice; and 
4. Content – accurate, consistent, and well-reasoned. 

Manuscripts will be reviewed on a rolling basis. New editions are published bi-annually.

Please email manuscripts and/or questions about The Missouri Reader to:
Dr. Jennifer Botello and Dr. Elizabeth Thorne Wallington, Co-Editors
NWMOliteracy@gmail.com

The Missouri Reader