Building Our Future - The University of Akron

Adwoa Badoe
Literacy:
Building a Strong Foundation
Fall Reading Conference
Promotes Thoughtful Literacy
On Oct. 24, 2008, the Center for Literacy hosted “Fostering
Thoughtful Literacy,” a statewide reading conference attended by
nearly 500 educators from across the state. The annual conference
is the result of a 15-year collaboration by the literacy faculty at
The University of Akron, Kent State University and Youngstown
State University. Noted literacy educator Linda Hoyt kicked off
the day of professional development with a keynote presentation,
“Spotlight on Comprehension.”
Conference attendees were visibly moved by international
storyteller, educator and African dance instructor Adwoa
Badoe’s stirring presentation, “Storytelling and Book Reading.”
Participants also chose from more than 20 breakout sessions
conducted by pre-K through higher education faculty, who shared
their expertise on a variety of literacy topics. Faculty coordinators,
Ruth Oswald, associate professor (CIS), and Evangeline Newton,
professor (CIS), noted that the inter-university conference has
built a reputation for excellence over the years.
The comments of Munroe Falls classroom teacher Jane
Grover echo those of many participants, “This is my 30th year of
teaching. I have been to many, many conferences. The reading
conference was excellent and the keynote speaker inspiring. The
sessions I attended were outstanding and I am already using their
ideas in my class.”
Charlene
Williams of
JPMorgan
Chase reads
to Lincoln
Elementary
students.
Lincoln Elementary School
Comes to Campus
What happens when you put 275
kids, 20 adult volunteers and
bags of good books together in
a room in the Student Union?
Lots of engagement, that’s what!
On Nov. 24, 2008, a caravan
of buses transported all of the
students from Akron’s Lincoln
Elementary School to campus.
Once here, 20 volunteer readers
— students, staff, faculty and
community partners — greeted
the youngsters and then read
them books from a range
of genres, including poetry,
biography, true stories and
fiction. The Lincoln students
engaged in the reading by
listening intently, excitedly
pointing to illustrations,
sometimes laughing and even
chiming in on repetitive phrases.
One second grader appreciated
the reading so much that he
repeatedly placed a nickel in the
volunteer reader’s hands!
The event, coordinated
by Jackie Peck, visiting
associate professor (CIS),
was funded by the JPMorgan
Chase Foundation, which
also provides service learning
tutors for Lincoln students
and professional development
resources for the teachers.
Cherry Gore, Lincoln’s
principal, was pleased to
introduce her students to the
campus.
From left, retired school teacher Jennie Vlanton,
Evangeline Newton and Linda Hoyt.
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