WESTERN CAROLINA TO SPONSOR  
PATHWAYS TO LITERACY WORKSHOP

A pair of renowned authors and educators will be the featured speakers as Western Carolina University sponsors the annual “Pathways to Literacy” fall language arts workshop Nov. 2-3 at the Lambuth Inn at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.

At the workshop, educators gather to address creative methods to put children on the path to literacy. The format consists of general and concurrent sessions, idea sharing, hands-on mini sessions, demonstrations and opportunities to purchase books and materials for the classroom.

Keynote speakers this year are Richard Allington, professor of education at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and Lester Laminack, professor emeritus in the department of birth-kindergarten, elementary and middle grades education at WCU.

Allington was an elementary school classroom teacher and a Title I director in rural schools prior to beginning his career as a teacher educator and instructional researcher. His research interests include reading/learning disabilities and effective instruction, especially in classroom settings.

Allington's publications include more than 100 articles, chapters, monographs and books, and he has served on the editorial advisory boards of numerous professional journals. He is the author or co-author of several books, including “Classrooms That Work: They Can All Read And Write” and “Schools That Work: All Children Can Read And Write.” Allington also is co-editor of “No Quick Fix: Rethinking Literacy Programs in America 's Elementary Schools.”

Laminack, who retired from the WCU faculty in 2005, is a full-time writer and consultant working with schools throughout the United States. His publications include several academic books, such as “Learning with Zachary,” “Spelling in Use” and “Volunteers Working with Young Readers.”

Laminack also is the author of several children's books including “The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins,” “Trevor's Wiggly-Wobbly Tooth,” “Saturdays and Teacakes” and “Jake's 100th Day of School,” and the upcoming “I Need A Snow Day!”

Cost of the workshop is $99 for those staying at the Lambuth Inn, and $109 for commuters. Accommodations at Lambuth Inn are offered at a special rate of $21 to $50 per person.

The deadline for registration is Friday, Oct. 20.

 For more information or to register, contact the Division of Educational Outreach at (828) 227-7397 or toll free at (800) 928-4968. Information and registration forms also are available online at http://edoutreach.wcu.edu/literacy.