Education faculty involvement at the recent Maryland State Reading Conference
Salisbury University’s Education Departments were well represented at this year’s State of Maryland International Reading Association Council’s (SoMIRAC) Annual Conference. The Thirty-sixth Annual Conference was held at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn and Conference Center in Baltimore, April 16-18, 2008. The theme of this year’s conference was “Unlocking the World of Literacy.” SU faculty members certainly aided in that cause. Seven SU faculty members made formal presentations and many helped with other conference functions.
Dr. John Wolinski teamed with Robin Daubach, Principal of Denton Elementary School in Caroline County, and presented a session entitled “Schema Matters: Unlocking Schema-Unlocking Meaning.” Dr. Joyce Wiencek presented on “Reaching Out to Parents,” based on a grant she received from SoMIRAC to help advance literacy at home. Dr. Wiencek also partnered with Dr. Chin Hsiu Chen and conducted a session titled “Engaging Primary Students in Reading Non-Fiction Texts.” Dr. Laurie Andes goal was reaching English Language Learners. Her topic was “Developing Teams to Assist English Language Learners: Teacher Candidates, Interns, and Paraprofessionals.” Dr. Claudia Burgess connected mathematics and reading in her presentation on “Unlocking Creativity and Critical Thought: Journaling that Merges Multiple Literacies.” Dr. Burgess was accompanied by Kolby Davis-Noble, an SU undergraduate Elementary Education major. Dr. Patricia Richards teamed with Dr. Regina Royer to connect technology and reading. Their presentation was “Google Tools: The Keys to 21^st Century Reading, Writing, and Collaboration.”
The SU Education Faculty covered a wide range of engaging and well-received topics. Their presentations were viewed by hundreds of teachers, administrators, and supervisors who will take ideas and strategies back to their classrooms and schools. Consequently, the SU Education faculty is having a positive impact throughout Maryland in promoting best literacy practices to benefit a wide range of diverse learners, and they contributed their knowledge and expertise towards “Unlocking the World of Literacy.”

21st Century Teaching Update

Professors at Salisbury University will get training on how to use interactive boards thanks to Doug Dewitt and Regina Royer. Doug and Regina secured a grant from the USM Technology Symposium in Maryland. In collaboration with trainers from Wicomico County Schools, Doug and Regina have coordinated an experience that is sure to excite and enthrall professors. Interactive boards, a fairly new technology, have the potential to transform the way teaching and learning occurs in the classroom. Technology integration needs to be seamless and natural. By gaining new skills, professors can model using the technology in multiple areas such as reading, math, science, history, creative arts, and writing.

Henry C. Welcome Fellowship Grant Recipient (2007 - 2008)

The Henry C. Welcome Fellowship Grant Program is a competitive incentive program to help eligible Maryland universities recruit and retain a diverse and accomplished faculty. Candidates are nominated by an institution's president. Salisbury University has been fortunate in having had new minority faculty receive a Welcome Fellowship in each of the last five years.
Dr. Sessoms earned his Ph.D from the University of Virginia in Instructional Technology. He currently teaches courses in the Teacher Education Department and supports faculty interested in technology integration. Dr. Sessoms is also the director of GEAR UP.

Dr. Roebeck in Malaysia.

Dr. Edward Roebeck, Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education, is a Fulbright Fellow for the Spring 2008 semester at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. During his time there, he is providing instruction in science education to teacher candidates, and learning about native flora and fauna!

A Salisbury University professor earned one of America’s highest honors in teaching.

In a first for any college or university on the Eastern Shore, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) have named Dr. Ernie Bond 2007 Maryland Professor of the Year. An expert in children’s literature, Bond is a member of SU’s Teacher Education Department. Read the full story...

Dean Pataniczeck (left), Ernie Bond (right)

Drs. Patty Dean and Ernie Bond present...

There is a new contest around for children in grades K through 3, and it stems from the thoughtful book Hey Little Ant. written by Phillip and Hannah Hoose. This powerful little picture book is often used as an icebreaker for difficult discussions. The power is in the final question: “What do you think that Kid should do?”The Kid in the book is deciding whether to step on the ant beneath a raised up shoe or let the ant go free. Because the book does not answer the question but rather invites the reader to decide, educators can use it to launch discussions about what all living creatures have in common, about anti-bullying, and about mindful decision-making.

Now children across the country can respond to the question through the Hey Little Ant Essay Challenge. Find more information online at www.heylittleant.com. The contest began February 1 and will end May 1st, 2008. This electronic essay contest is sponsored by Salisbury University and other organizations. Dr. Patricia Dean is a member of the ANTvisory Board, and she and Dr. Ernest Bond are judges for the contest. For more information, contact Dr. Dean, pkdean@salisbury.edu or Dr. Bond, elbond@salisbury.edu.

Phillip Hoose will be at Salisbury University as part of the Children's Literature Festival to be held April 2, 3. In addition to a 2:P.M. presentation in Caruthers Hall, he will be the Key Note Speaker at the Green Earth Book Award Ceremony at 7:P.M. April 2, 2008.