Reading And Writing Are More Than Elementary: A Summit On Adolescent Literacy Instruction

On May 7, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Alliance for Excellent Education held a special one-day event at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, WI, entitled Reading and Writing are More than Elementary: A Summit on Adolescent Literacy Instruction.

This one-day Summit was meant to build connections among the many groups and individuals working across Wisconsin to improve the teaching of reading and writing in the state’s middle and high schools. It offered an opportunity to coordinate existing initiatives and programs, share information, cultivate new champions for high-quality literacy instruction, and to build momentum in Wisconsin to create the most literate, well-educated citizenry and workforce in the nation.

Nationally, prominent experts in adolescent literacy provided an overview of recent research, best practices in reading and writing instruction, and relevant developments in state and federal policymaking. A number of Wisconsin’s leading educators, policymakers, and school reformers shared candid assessments of the challenges and opportunities they see for improving adolescent literacy instruction in the state. Participants were given ample opportunity to ask questions, discuss pressing issues, and engage in informal networking.

Summit participants included representatives from a broad range of sectors, including education policymakers, elected officials, business and civic leaders, philanthropists, social service providers, researchers, journalists, parents, and practicing teachers and school administrators.

The Alliance thanks Carnegie Corporation of New York and Great Lakes West Comprehensive Assistance Center for their assistance and support in making the event a success.

EVENT AGENDA

I. Welcome, Introductions, and Opening Remarks

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Elizabeth Burmaster
Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction and President, Council of Chief State School Officers
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Bob Wise
President, Alliance for Excellent Education and Former Governor, West Virginia
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II. Adolescent Literacy: The Crisis and the Solutions

Elizabeth Moje
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Literacy, Language, and Culture in Educational Studies,
University of Michigan
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Presentation: Adolescent Literacy: The Crisis and the Solutions (pdf)

III. Winds of Change in Wisconsin and the Nation

Elizabeth Burmaster (Moderator)
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Roger Rindo
Director of Secondary Education, Wausau School District
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Christine Anderson
Past Director, Milwaukee Partnership Academy
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Mary Laura Bragg
Past Director, Just Read, Florida!
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Ilene Berman
Program Director, Education Division, National Governors Association
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Question & Answer 
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IV. Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum: Building Teacher Capacity

Gloria Ladson-Billings (Moderator)
Professor of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Doug Buehl 
Reading Specialist, East High School, Madison, WI and Co-Chair, Wisconsin Adolescent Literacy Task Force
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Cynthia Hynd-Shanahan
Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture, University of Illinois at Chicago
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Brenda Shearer
Professor of Reading Education, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
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Question & Answer 
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VII. Wrap-Up

Elizabeth Burmaster
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Bob Wise
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