Literacy Symposium 2012

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

8:30 A.M. - 2:15 P.M.

MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY

Each year the School of Education holds a fall Literacy Symposium for area teachers, administrators, graduate students, and undergraduate students. The day’s schedule includes an invited keynote speaker, well-known in a specific topic related to education, and a children’s book author(s). In addition, participants select a morning and an afternoon workshop in which education issues are discussed and innovative ideas for teaching are shared.

Professional development credits are awarded for participants who attend the symposium.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Jeanne Paratore

Professor and Program Contact, Literacy/Reading Education Director, Reading and Writing Clinic, Boston University

Dr. Jeanne Paratore

Dr. Jeanne Paratore is currently a Professor of Education and Coordinator of the Reading Education, Literacy, and Language Education Programs at Boston University. She directs the university-based reading and writing clinic that provides year-round academic support to school-aged children who are experiencing learning difficulties and she is the research advisor to the Intergenerational Liteeracy Program. She is a former classroom teacher, reading specialist, and Title I Director. She had conducted research and written widely on issues related to family literacy, classroom grouping practices, and interventions for struggling readers. She is also a co-author of one of the nation's leading reading programs. Dr. Paratore served as a co-curriculum director of the award winning children's television series, "Between the Lions". She was recently elected to the Reading Hall of Fame and she is the recipient of the New England Reading Association's Lifetime Achievement Award and the International Reading Association's Celebrate Literacy Award. She is a former member of the International Reading Association's Board of Directors and is active in multiple professional organizations.

FEATURED AUTHORS and ILLUSTRATORS

Ed Shankman, Author

Ed Shankman

Ed Shankman's entire life has been one long creative project. He has been writing children's books since he himself was a child. He has been a performing lead guitar player and an impassioned, if imperfect, painter.He is currently making the rounds with his most cherished project, a novel called the Backstage Man that was written over a period of three decades. Fittingly, perhaps, Ed has earned a living for most of his adult life as Creative Director at various advertising agencies, using his connection with the creative process to help others make the most of their own creative potential.

Dave O'Neill, Illustrator

David O'Neill

Dave O'Neill is an illustrator and graphic designer. He began drawing when he was a child and is thankful that he never stopped. Dave moonlights as a comedian with Out of Order, a NJ-based improv comedy troupe and updates a blog featuring his illustrations when he's not designing t-shirts for his online shirt shop, Swell-bot Industries. Throughout the years, Dave has worked with several agencies, the first of which is where he met Ed Shankman. Though he has applied his creative strengths to advertising and marketing alike, he admits that drawing children's books is the most rewarding.

Sydelle Pearl, Author

SYDELLE PEARL

Sydelle Pearl is an author, storyteller, and songwriter with her Bachelor's degree in Education. She received her Master's in Library Science from Simmons College in Boston, MA and has worked as a children's librarian. She has performed in schools, libraries, and festivals. Her children's books include; Elijah's Tears: Stories for the Jewish Holidays, Books for Children of the World: The Story of Jella Lepman, Hope Somewhere in America: The Story of a Child, a Painting, and a President, and her forthcoming book, Dear Mr. Longfellow: Letters to and from the Children's Poet. Sydelle creats a Teacher's Guide for all of her books.

Monica Somers, Author

MONICA SOMERS

Monica Somers attended Colorado State University and Quinnipiac University where she received a BS in Allied Health Services with a concentration in Animal Science. After graduating, she worked for an animal hospital, multiple zoos, and interned for Jack Hanna. Monica returned home to NJ and eventually decided to pursue a Masters of Education at Monmouth University. Monica's first book, O.W.E. (One World of Equals), was inspired by a cat names Java. This book is the first of what Monica hopes will be a number of sequels exploring difficult topics with children in the safe, enchanting world of animals.