Date: May 15, 2012

Sharing Books, Cultures and Communities

Lessons from Family Book Discussions Across New York State

May 18 at 8:30 a.m.; Presented by the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center at Hofstra University

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY … Promoting discussions about books between children and family members and exploring the humanities  through reading is the focus of the Saltzman Community Services Center’s next breakfast seminar. “Sharing Books, Cultures and Communities: Lessons from Family Book Discussions Across New York State” will be presented on Friday, May 18, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. at the Hofstra University Club, located at David S. Mack Hall on the North Campus.

Please RSVP to this event by calling (516) 463-6535.

Keynote speakers for the breakfast include:  Ms. Erika Halstead, New York Council for the Humanities; and  Drs. Andrea García and Sally Smith of  Hofstra University. They will focus on the use of award-winning and culturally relevant children’s literature to promote family book discussions among parents and their children.

The session is based on the presenters’ work within an intergenerational book discussion project called Together—A Book Talk for Kids and Parents. This program brings parents and their upper elementary school children together to explore and debate important humanities themes through shared reading of books in public libraries across multiple sites in New York State. Their work in monolingual and bilingual settings within urban and rural communities provides an example for school-based and afterschool/library initiatives that connect reading and writing for change.

Participants will learn about a literature discussion model that creates spaces for critical multimodal conversations between children and their parents, whether through school/parent activities or in afterschool settings, focusing on talk and reflection. This model fosters a climate in which children and adults – teachers and parents - can use their life experiences as they join together in constructing meaning as they read and discuss books.

About the Keynote Speakers:

Erika Halstead is a Program Officer at the New York Council for the Humanities where she oversees the Community Conversations program, and all youth and family initiatives, including Together—Book Talk for Kids and Parents and its sister program for Spanish-speaking families, Unidos. In addition to program management, Erika trains facilitators for all Council programs. Prior to joining the Council, Erika taught literature at Hunter College, and worked as a bilingual (Spanish/English) elementary school teacher in Austin, Texas. Erika currently serves on the Board of Directors of Minds Matter NYC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping high-achieving low-income students get into college.

Andrea García is an Associate Professor in Literacy Studies in the Department of Teaching, Literacy and Leadership at Hofstra University, where she serves as director of the Reading/Writing Learning Clinic. Her scholarly work is dedicated to supporting language and literacy development of individuals who are living in multilingual and transnational communities. Dr. García is an elected member of the Elementary Section Steering Committee of the National Council of Teachers of English, and a board member of Nassau Reading Council, a chapter of the International Reading Association. She served as co-editor of School Talk and currently serves on the editorial review board of Language Arts.

Sally Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching, Literacy and Leadership at Hofstra University where she teaches courses in reading, language arts and children's and young adult literature. Her research focuses on reader response, family reading, and preparing teachers to teach in diverse settings. Her articles have appeared in Language Arts, The Journal of Multicultural Education, Urban Education, and The International Journal of Learning.

A complimentary buffet breakfast will be served at this event.

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