[343] Registration open for free MTSU literacy education conference March 5

MURFREESBORO — Registration is open for the upcoming Fox Reading Conference at MTSU, a free half-day event to share the latest insights into literacy education.

The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 5, in the Student Union Building Ballroom. Organizers said over 350 people have already registered, which is required and can be done at www.mtsu.edu/dyslexia.

The conference targets K-12 teachers, administrators, college faculty and pre-service education students. It is sponsored by the Tom and Elizabeth Fox Endowment for Reading and the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia at MTSU.

The theme of the conference is “Importance of Word Study: Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction.” Featured speaker is reading expert Dr. Donald Bear, professor in literacy education at Iowa State University.

“Word study” is an explicit and active way to teach phonics, vocabulary and spelling, organizers said. Through examples of word study activities, conference attendees will see how word study impacts all learners across five developmental levels, pre-K through 12^th grade.

Participants will also explore routines to implement and pace developmental word study in the classroom and in interventions; learn how to teach academic vocabulary deeply and generatively; and learn how spelling instruction is reconceptualized to better serve reading.

Bear teaches doctoral, master’s and pre-service teachers, and directs the Duffelmeyer Reading Clinic at Iowa State. He is an author and co-author of 16 books, including “Vocabulary Their Way” and “Words Their Way.” Bear has received several awards for teaching and service and is currently a board member of the International Literacy Association.

A searchable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap. For more information, contact Sharon Farmer at 615-898-5642 or Sharon.Farmer@mtsu.edu.