A Little MORE of This and A Little MORE of That: Redux

In this brief editorial, I expound further on my comments in the previous one (Summer 2012), and end with more exciting news (i.e., announcements). In one sense, this is the last editorial for calendar year 2012, so this provides an opportunity for one or two upcoming “New Year’s resolutions.” Typically, I join in several celebrations such as the New Year in the United States (Gregorian), the Chinese New Year (Lunar), and Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah). I just like to celebrate (and even create!) new beginnings whenever possible.

To provide a brief follow-up to an item in the last editorial: My wife will not allow me to obtain any new cats. So I have learned to enjoy the melodious music of several bird-calls as well as that of the cicadas, crickets, and various interesting lawnmowers about a half a block down the road from our home. My new cochlear implant is, indeed, doing wonders.

Manuscript Submissions: What’s Past Is, but Perhaps Should Not Always Be, Prologue

In the previous editorial, I mentioned that the Annals has a tradition in that it seems to attract the submissions of specific types of manuscripts on selected topics related to signing, education, and so on. I need to reiterate that we should aim for inclusiveness and breadth, and encourage contributors from a variety of disciplines (psychology, sociology, etc.) to submit manuscripts. Of course, the goal is to publish articles that strive to provide further understanding or improvement of the educational and social welfare of individuals who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing (e.g., academic achievement, socialization process, accessibility).

My hope is that we can increase the number of submissions per calendar year and continue to improve the overall quality of the Annals with the acceptance and publication of rigorously reviewed scholarly works. I am endeavoring to decrease the acceptance rate (i.e., ratio of acceptance and rejection)—and our high-quality, diverse Editorial Board is certainly doing its part! The acceptance rate has dropped slightly for the 2011–2012 year. I expect it to drop even more for the 2012–2013 year, and will report that rate at the end of the next cycle in a future editorial—most likely in the 2013 Fall issue.

Editorial Board: We’re Growing

One major reason for increasing the membership of the Editorial Board is to reduce the load on the current members and reviewers and to obtain a more expedient turnaround of reviews without compromising quality. There have been instances when I have only been able to secure one reviewer, and this can be problematic for the more controversial topics under investigation. Individuals who are invited to review for the “first time” serve as Ad Hoc Reviewers. If these individuals perform adequately and possess a strong publication record, they will be invited to become members of the Editorial Board.

I have good news: The Editorial Board has a new member. Please welcome Susan King Fullerton from Clemson University. Dr. Fullerton’s areas of expertise include literacy (either reading or writing, and particularly early literacy), literacy interventions, comprehension, strategic processes, motivation, running records and miscue analysis, guided reading, literacy coaching, and literature response and discussion. Keep in mind that members of the Editorial Board (including our new Associate Editors, mentioned later) can continue to contribute manuscripts to the Annals. I strongly encourage this practice, which is widely employed by other refereed scholarly journals. We have a growing, diverse Editorial Board, and this should minimize conflicts of interest and promote the rendition of balanced reviews.

Searching for . . . a Book Review Editor

As I mentioned in my last editorial, I expect to continue the process of soliciting “invited essays” from scholars in our field and those outside our field. With this editorial, I am soliciting individuals who are interested in serving as Book Review Editor. In general, this individual will be responsible for inviting others to review a book that would be, in our judgment, of interest to the readership of the Annals. The Book Review Editor will also be able to participate...