2007 Program - Literacy Research Association

Welcome to NRC 2007
Dear NRC Colleagues and Friends of Literacy,
We are ever so pleased to extend to you a warm NRC welcome to Austin, Texas and the 2007 annual meeting of the National Reading
Conference. Across our time together this week we will learn of the latest research and theory in the literacy field. Of course,
you will have wonderful opportunities to connect with old friends and meet new ones as well.
Patricia A. Edwards, your NRC President, will deliver her address on Wednesday afternoon. Her topic is ever so important in
today’s pedagogical milieu, “The Education of African American Students: Voicing the Debates, Controversies, and Solutions.”
We can learn much from Dr. Edwards about this topic. Both the Student Research Award and the J. Michael Parker Award will be
presented at this session. Of course, as is NRC tradition, after the address we will have the opportunity to join President Edwards
at the annual Presidential Reception.
On Thursday morning we invite you to join us for the Oscar S. Causey Address. Michael L. Kamil, the winner of the Oscar S. Causey
Award for 2006, will deliver a presentation on “How to Get Recreational Reading to Increase Reading Achievement.” Preceding
this anticipated presentation, Annemarie Sullivan Palincsar will announce the winner of the Oscar S. Causey Award for 2007.
David C. Berliner, Regents’ Professor of Educational Leadership and Policies Studies at Arizona State University, will deliver the
first plenary session on Thursday afternoon. The topic of David’s presentation is “How High-Stakes Testing Inevitably Corrupts
Our Indicators and Our Educators.” This will be a powerful presentation. The Early Career Achievement Award will be given out
at this session.
The second plenary address will be held on Friday. Glynda Hull, Professor of Language and Literacy, Society and Culture, from
the University of California, will share with us her ideas on “Mobile Texts and Migrant Audiences: Rethinking Literacy in a New
Media Age.” This presentation will influence how you view a number of topics. The Edward B. Fry Book Award will be given at
the start of this session.
Douglas K. Hartman, Professor of Literacy, Language and Culture, from the University of Connecticut, will deliver the Annual
Review of Research on Saturday morning. The presentation is entitled “One Hundred Years of Reading Research—1908 to 2008:
From Edmund B. Huey to the Present.” NRC has never seen a presentation quite like this one. Be there! We will announce the winner
of the Albert J. Kingston Award for 2007 at this session as well.
Throughout the conference we have scheduled a number of unique sessions that have been developed by your Area Chairs. These
sessions will focus on important topics about literacy issues of the day. Your Area Chairs have been turned loose to push the envelope
in whatever manner seems appropriate.
Finally, NRC has a pre-conference under the able leadership of James V. Hoffman from the University of Texas. James has brought
together a number of the chapter authors from the upcoming edition of the Handbook of Reading Research to share with pre-conference
attendees the nature of the research and theory that will be found in the new volume.
As always, your presence is requested at the Annual Town Hall Meeting on Thursday evening. Who knows what issues will be
brought to the floor? You are also requested to attend the Annual Business meeting on Friday evening. The Annual Business meeting
is truly exciting.
If you are a Newcomer to the annual meeting, we want you to join us for the Newcomers’ Lunch on Wednesday. You’ll get the
opportunity to meet any number of individuals who are the future of the organization while also having the chance to meet many of
the good folks who make NRC such a fabulous organization.
As noted in the first paragraph, NRC is all about seeing old friends and meeting new friends. Such is the purpose of Vital Issues, to
be held in the lounge area each evening. There will also be several formal opportunities to enjoy the nightlife in the greatest music
venue in the USA. You’ll want to talk to the folks at the registration desk for further opportunities.
The bottom line is that you have a great program. Go to sessions. Attend special functions. Explore the great city of Austin. Have
a wonderful time this week… after all, you’ll be going home to 25 term papers, 16 portfolios, and four dozen final exams to grade.
Welcome!
Norman A. Stahl
Northern Illinois University
Kathleen Hinchman
Syracuse University
November 28 - December 1, 2007 • 57th National Reading Conference
0018-0907