Free conference Feb. 7 partners teachers and residents to improve reading education

Parents, grandparents, mentors, teachers, administrators and students interested in improving reading education for children are invited to attend “Celebrating Teachers. Celebrating Reading.” from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 7, at Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business.

The University’s School of Education is hosting the second annual Master of Education in Reading Education Conference, which is designed to bring new energy, ideas and colleagues together to support the important educational work of increasing children’s reading and comprehension skills. (See a Florida Times-Union story about last year’s inaugural conference here.)

Dr. Tammy Ryan, JU Associate Professor of Reading Education and Director of the University’s M.Ed in Reading Education, said attendees will leave with great ideas and ways to immediately enhance K-12 children’s love for reading.

“Top teachers making positive differences in children’s everyday reading experiences are presenting topics to broaden understanding of ways to engage and meet the reading interests of children,” she said. “Sessions are hands-on so attendees can immediately apply topics to practice.”

Breakout sessions will include:

TEACHING READING WITH BOYS IN MIND: WHAT ALL TEACHERS AND PARENTS OF BOYS NEED TO KNOW — Jane Wilhelm, JU Graduate Student, M.Ed in Reading Education

WHAT TEACHERS REALLY WISH PARENTS KNEW: TAKEAWAYS FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO BRIDGE SCHOOL AND HOME — Traci Black Salari, St. Mark’s Learning Specialist Team Teacher

AREN’T ALL TEACHERS READING TEACHERS? TEACHING READING IN CONTENT AREA — Kelly Risdon, St. Mark’s Sixth Grade Teacher

USING AUTHENTIC LITERATURE DURING READ ALOUDS: CAPITALIZING ON TEACHABLE MOMENTS — De Lyon, Voluntary Pre-K Director and Lead Teacher at St. Paul’s Catholic School

TRANSFORMING YOUR LITERACY PRACTICES THROUGH PRACTITIONER INQUIRY — Dr. Andrea Thoermer, Step Up for Students

MAKE BIGGER DIFFERENCES IN THE FIELD OF READING EDUCATION WITH AN M.ED IN READING — Dr. Tammy Ryan, Jacksonville University School of Education

JU’s School of Education has a proud tradition of supporting teachers’ learning goals and professional development, and in partnering in the foundational education of children.

The conference is at Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. N., Jacksonville. For more information and to RSVP, contact Dr. Tammy Ryan at tryan2@ju.edu or (904) 256-7768. Please leave name(s) and affiliation after the phone number.