Susi Long is a Professor of Language & Literacy and Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina. She began her career as an elementary school teaching in multiage as well as single-grade level classrooms. Susi’s work focuses on collaboration with teachers to generate culturally relevant literacy practices that address achievement in classroom and community settings. The work is committed to creating equitable learning environments by utilizing the resources from homes and communities to impact achievement in significant ways.
At the University of South Carolina, Susi teaches courses in reading and writing methods for early childhood, culturally relevant pedagogies, sociocultural and critical theories, and in 2013 will initiate a newly required course in linguistic pluralism for early childhood juniors. Her books include Tensions and Triumphs in the Early Years of Teaching; Many Pathways to Literacy; and Supporting Students in a Time of Core Standards, K-2.
View Susi Long's Resume/Vita, Publications and Workshops.
To request NCTE Professional Development Services, complete the Online Request Form, call 800-369-6283 or email us today!
Level: PreK-5
- Readers and Writing in the PreK-3 classroom
- Where’s the Phonics (and other stuff people always ask you)?
- Working with the Common Core Standards
- Professional Study Groups: Structures and Strategies for Teachers and Administrators
- Tensions and Triumphs in the Early Years of Teaching
- English Language Learners: Embracing Multiple Languages in PreK and Elementary Classrooms
- Culturally Relevant Pedagogies
Many Pathways to Literacy: Young children learning with siblings, peers, grandparents, and communities
Susi’s sessions can be designed for groups of teachers, administrators, teaching assistants, School Improvement Councils, family and community members, or combinations thereof. Sessions can be designed to focus or PreK (3-5 year olds), kindergarten, and grade levels 1-12, with particular expertise for pre-K through fifth grade classrooms. When possible, Dr. Long will also engage teachers with whom she has worked in the presentations so that they can share their experiences firsthand.
Purchase a comprehensive professional development package that includes a one-day workshop with Susi Long (on a topic of your choice) AND 20 copies of Supporting Students in a Time of Core Standards: English Language Arts, Grades PreK-2!
Cost: $2,900 plus travel costs.
Contact profdev@ncte.org to book this package!
*Other packages/quantities are available. Contact us to learn more!
Culturally Relevant Teaching in PreK-Grade 5 Classrooms: Music, Hand Jive, Community Interviews
This workshop or series of workshops provide examples of culturally relevant literacy practices used by teachers in PreK, K, and grades 1-3 to support students who may have been disenfranchised from schooling. These practices help teachers understand how to draw from home and community resources to support literacy achievement. Examples reflect the work of innovative teachers in diverse teaching environments. A few of the examples that will be shared include: the use of the music of the community to support literacy learning; students’ interviews of community elders in support of literacy learning; creating culturally relevant texts to enfranchise readers and writers; drawing on cultural, racial, and ethnic heritage to build literacy knowledge; building from children’s name stories to support literacy learning; and creating dual-language and multi-language texts to honor and build on multiple languages in the classroom. The workshop engages participants in planning for similar teaching in their own contexts.
Inspirational Teaching in a Time of Common Core Standards
Susi and preK-to-third grade teachers share practices used to sustain innovative teaching while addressing Common Core State Standards. This workshop focuses on addressing CCSS through practices such as: culturally relevant reading and writing, celebrating literacies in multilingual settings, building practice from students' interests, text selection in diverse communities, and writing workshops that embrace the mosaic of diverse classrooms. Specific ideas are provided to help schools organize and sustain successful teacher study groups focused on building innovative practice while addressing CCSS.
Developing Home-School Relationships
In this session or series of sessions, Dr. Long works with teachers, administrators, and family and community members to design practices for building stronger home-school relationships.
Supporting New Teachers: Tensions and Triumphs in the Early Years of Teaching Drawing from their book, Tensions and Triumphs in the Early Years of Teaching (NCTE, 2006), Susi and one or more co-author (teacher-researchers) share real world stories about the barriers and the support that new teachers found when attempting to bring their visions of great teaching to life. For new teachers, this workshop lets them know that they are not alone and provides a wide range of strategies for negotiating their new positions. For job seekers, the workshop provides advice as they seek jobs and engage in job interviews. For experienced teachers and administrators, the workshops provide a wealth of suggestions for supporting new teachers.
English Language Learners: Embracing Multiple Languages in PreK and Elementary Classrooms
In this workshop, Susi works with teachers to consider the construction of classrooms that embrace multiple languages spoken by children and families as rich resources to promote the learning of all students.
Professional Study Groups: Structures & Strategies
In this workshop, Susi shares strategies from her work with literacy coaches and classroom teachers who have developed and maintained regular professional study groups in their schools.