Selected Conference Presentations

Of Course the Book Matters! Taking Our Teaching of Multicultural Literature to the Next Level. National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention, November, 2008.

The Professional Develoment for K-6 Literacy Coaches: A District and IHE Work Together. National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention, November, 2006.

Book Clubs for Teachers Who Love Reading. Illinois Reading Council Conference, Springfield, IL. March 17, 2005.

Writing Process and Assessment. Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, Jackson, Ms. October 22, 2004.

Creating Literacy Learning Communities in Urban Elementary Schools: Students, Teachers, and Pen Pals Participate in Authentic Reading-Writing Connections. International Reading Association Conference, Reno, Nevada, May 3, 2004.

Collaboration For Urban School Change: The Chicago ARDDP Project.  International Reading Association Conference, Reno, Nevada, May 3, 2004.

From Assessment to Instruction: Putting the ISEL to Work. With Roberta Buhle. Illinois Reading Council Conference, Springfield, IL. March, 2004.

A Beautiful Balancing Act: Practicing Skilled Reading Instruction in the Classroom. with Michele McLead, Illinois Reading Council Spring Conference, Springfield, IL, March, 2003.

What a Character! Character Study as a Gateway to Literacy: When Characters are Diverse, What Should Readers Understand? International Reading Association Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA, April, 2002.

Exploring the Identity of Biracial Culture Through Literature, National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention, November, 2001.

Using Multicultural Books for Classroom Literature Discussion, Whole Language Umbrella Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, July, 2001.

Using Multicultural Books for Classroom Literature Discussion, National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention, Milwaukee, WI, November, 2000.

Assisted Reading and Writing Strategies, International Reading Association Early Literacy Conference, Minneapolis, MN, October, 2000.

Supporting Diverse Learners in Early Literacy Instruction, Kindergarten Symposium, National-Louis University, June, 2000.

Using Multicultural Books for Guided Reading, Reading Leadership Institute, National-Louis University, June, 2000.

Writing to, for and with Children, Reading Recovery of Illinois Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, February, 2000.

Writing to, for and with Children, Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Chicago, IL January, 2000.

Literature as a Mirror: Every Child’s Right, Keynote Speaker, Chicago Area Reading Association, Spring Conference, April, 1999.

Improving Student Achievement in Reading, Chicago Area Reading Association, Spring Conference, April, 1998.

African American Girls in Picture Books, Illinois Reading Council Conference, Springfield, IL, March, 1997.

Author Study for Primary Classrooms, Illinois Reading Council Conference, Springfield, IL, March, 1996.

Best Practices in Early Literacy Instruction, Panelist, International Reading Association Early Literacy Conference, National-Louis University, February, 1996.

Put More Reading and Writing into Your 100th Day of School Celebration, Illinois Reading Council Conference, Springfield, IL, March, 1995.

Twice Upon a Time: A New Look at Some Old Favorites, Illinois Reading Council Conference, Springfield, IL, March, 1994.

Moving Away from the Basals: One School’s Story, Great Lakes Regional Reading Conference, Chicago, IL, September, 1993.

Beginning Reading Instruction without Pre-primers, Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Chicago, IL January, 1993.

Jumpstart Your Beginning Reading Program with Environmental Print, Illinois Reading Council Conference, March, 1993.

Getting Started with Whole Language, Whole Language Conference, Keynote Speaker, Lexington, KY, August, 1992.

Reading Carry-out: Your Classroom Library Goes Home, Illinois Reading Council Conference, Springfield, IL, March, 1991.

Your Ten Best Bets in Big Books, Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, January, 1991.