Why is it important for educators, parents and business leaders to be involved in promoting early childhood literacy?  Do community members have a collective responsibility to support the reading and writing development of the children living in their neighborhoods?  How can families and area residents partner with schools to strengthen and support literacy initiatives?

Learn the answers to these questions and more during the Reading Now Network’s West Michigan Early Literacy Leadership Symposium, “Collective Responsibility: Engaging Families & Community,” on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The event will take place at the Bernhard Center on the Campus of Western Michigan University.

The Reading Now Network (RNN) – a collective effort of superintendents, school boards and school districts throughout West Michigan to improve early literacy and, ultimately, student achievement across all grade levels – determined that one of the five key findings from the RNN Field Study Process is Collective Responsibility.

To help educators establish this unique partnership in their own communities, the West Michigan Early Literacy Symposium has invited Dr. Karen Mapp from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Ernest Morrell from the University of Notre Dame to explain how to engage families and the community in the promotion of early literacy education.

Dr. Mapp is a is a senior lecturer on education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and the faculty director of the Education Policy and Management Master’s Program. Over the past twenty years, Mapp’s research and practice has been on the cultivation of partnerships among families, community members and educators that support student achievement and school improvement. She is co-author of several books including the seminal Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family/School Partnerships.

Ernest Morrell is the Coyle Professor of Literacy Education and Director of the Center for Literacy Education at the University of Notre Dame. He was formerly the Macy Professor of English Education and Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education (IUME) at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is also an elected member of the AERA Council, elected Fellow of the American Educational Research Association, a past-president of the National Council of Teachers of English, an appointed member of the International Literacy Association’s Research Panel, and convener of the African Diaspora International Research Network.  He is also the coauthor of Every Child is a Super Reader; 7 Strengths to Open a World of Possible.

During the event, Mapp will lead discussions regarding parent engagement and Morrell will talk about how to develop focused and excited readers.  The speakers will also address how to build partnerships with stakeholders and how to create a collaborative system that will continually result in improved literacy skills. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a series of breakout sessions.  The sessions will offer ideas and suggestions to support collective responsibility related to literacy.

The event fee is $50 and includes lunch.  Attendees can earn five (5) SCECHs.  SCECH fees are included with registration.  For more information visit http://bit.ly/wmells18.

This blog post was written by Karen Heath, Supervisor of Communications at Berrien RESA and edited by Amanda Walma, Professional Development Coordinator at Kent ISD.