Heather Casey to Co-Chair the International Reading Association Adolescent Literacy Institute in San Antonio

Dr. Heather Casey, associate professor of Literacy Education, will co-chair the International Reading Association’s Adolescent Literacy Institute on April 18 in San Antonio. Developed by Casey and co-chair Carol Hryniuk-Adamov in collaboration with the 2012-13 International Reading Association’s Adolescent Literacy Task Force, the Institute will take place as a precursor to the International Reading Association’s 58th Annual Convention from April 19 to 22, also in San Antonio.

The Adolescent Literacy Institute stems from the resolutions described in the Task Force’s newly revised IRA Adolescent Literacy position statement, which declares that “as adolescents prepare to become productive citizens, they must be able to comprehend and construct information using print and non-print materials in fixed and virtual platforms across disciplines.”

Among the beliefs contained in the position statement are that adolescent learners deserve:

• Content area teachers who provide instruction in the multiple literacy strategies needed to meet the demands of the specific discipline
• A culture of literacy in their schools with a systematic and comprehensive programmatic approach to increasing literacy achievement for all
• Access to and instruction with multimodal, multiple texts
• Differentiated literacy instruction specific to their individual needs
• Opportunities to participate in oral communication when they engage in literacy activities
• Opportunities to use literacy in the pursuit of civic engagement
• Assessments that highlight their strengths and challenges
• Access to a wide variety of print and non-print materials

Casey says the sold-out Institute offers a range of resources to support these goals, and will be attended by a range of education professionals, including teachers, superintendents, administrators and teacher-education professors.

“Really, anyone with an interest in the field is welcome,” Casey said.

The range of the professional expertise of the presenters includes teacher educators, K-12 supervisors, middle and secondary literacy coaches, reading specialists, classroom teachers, and professional and young adult authors. This will offer participants a deep look into the multifaceted needs of engaging adolescents in the 21st century.

Casey’s co-chair, Carol Hryniuk-Adamov, is a certified reading clinician for the Child Guidance Clinic, Winnipeg School Division, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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The School of Education is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout the 2012-13 academic year.

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