Washington, D.C., Sept. 8, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In celebration of International Literacy Day, the International Reading Association - the world’s foremost expert on literacy - today held an instructional symposium at its office in the Hall of States in Washington, D.C., to promote effective literacy instruction. The event, which featured the viewpoints of leaders in the field of literacy, was designed to help educators and policymakers understand the composition of a good teacher and how teachers can best reach all students.
"Literacy is one of the greatest challenges facing education today," said International Reading Association President Victoria Risko. "We’re proud to call attention to this critical issue and work with teachers to improve the quality of literacy instruction across the globe."
The event began at 9:30 a.m. with an introduction from Risko entitled "Elements of a Good Teacher" that focused on the importance of making connections between curriculum and students’ lived experiences.
The session continued with a panel discussion covering two topics, "What It Takes to Make Good Teachers" and "How Teachers Reach Hard-to-Reach Students." Members of the panel included:
- Peggy McCardle, branch chief of the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
- Karen Douglas of the U.S. Department of Education
- Matthew Tosiello, recipient of the Washington Post’s Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award
- Carole Lockwood, lead teacher of reading/language arts at Randolph Elementary School in Arlington, Va.
The panel was followed by a teaching demonstration by Lisa Dieker of the University of Central Florida that employed student avatars (portrayed in real-time by professional actors) to provide pre-service teachers with the opportunity to practice managing a class of diverse students. Audience members were invited to participate in the demonstration.
The program concluded with a presentation from Richard Long, the International Reading Association’s director of government relations, that underscored the need for education policy that does not blame teachers but instead finds a reality that works.
To further support International Literacy Day, International Reading Association councils and individual members are organizing themed readings in local schools and libraries to supporting national and international literacy programs.
About the International Reading Association
The International Reading Association (IRA) is the world’s foremost expert on literacy. A non-profit global network dedicated to advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide, IRA supports reading teachers and other literacy professionals by providing professional development resources, advocating for policy and practices that benefit all teachers and students, and conducting research that promotes informed decision-making about literacy practice in the classroom. With more than 70,000 members worldwide, IRA is one of the world’s largest educational membership organizations. IRA’s many publications and peer-reviewed journals, including The Reading Teacher, provide coverage of research-based practices for the classroom and ideas and reflections on literacy from around the world. Additional information is available at www.reading.org.