The department created an Advisory Board consisting of all full time faculty in the department and invited educators, community leaders and students who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experiences, related to literacy education, and a strong commitment to improving student learning in the state of Connecticut.

A full day department faculty retreat focused on preparation for NCATE accreditation in 2010, including discussions around strategic plans, was held December 15, 2006.

Revised RDG 140-Reading Efficiency

The department reclaimed RDG 140-Reading Efficiency that used to be offered by the CCSU Learning Center. This course was revised to provide a clinical analysis of first year students’ reading difficulties and to put emphasis on developing vocabulary and comprehension skills in content area reading. A longitudinal action research study on the impact of this course on students’ academic performance throughout their degree program at Central was also designed and implemented beginning fall 2006. Revised by E. Demos

Revised RDG 440-Literacy in Secondary Schools

The department, in consultation with the Teacher Education, revised the only literacy course required for pre-service secondary teachers to include a 30-hour field experience component. Revised by Cara Mulcahy

New RDG 507-Special Topics in Reading and Language Arts

The department developed a special topics course focusing on inquiry into special topics in reading and language arts. The proposal will be submitted to the university Curriculum Committee for approval in fall 2007. Developed by H. Abadiano

The department developed and approved its Strategic Plan 2007-2010, May 2, 2007. Chair: E. Demos

Faculty Advisors: Catherine Kurkjian and Ray Newton

The Honor Society was created by the International Reading Association (IRA) in 1985 to recognize and encourage scholarship, the development of personal and professional leadership, and service to the field of reading at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Membership requirements are academic placement at the top 25% of the student’s class and recommendation of a faculty member. Twenty-three new members were inducted in May 3, 2007.

Elected Officers:

President: Alison Campanelli

Vice-President: Abbey E. Katuzney

Treasurer: Allison M. Godbout

Secretary: Jennifer Baillargeon

In fall 2006 the Honor Society sponsored two projects: The Baby Book Drive and the Book Drive for Victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Students delivered and distributed thirty packages of pre-school children’s books to new mothers at the New Britain General Hospital in Connecticut. The goal was to impress on the new mothers the importance of reading to their children starting at an early age.

During the Thanksgiving month the Honor Society collaborated with Anna Reynolds Elementary School in Newington to collect new or used books that were still in good condition to be donated to an elementary school in Biloxi, Mississippi whose school library received significant damage because of hurricane Katrina. The students were able to collect at least a thousand books that were sent to The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Elementary School in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Students in RDG 412-Literacy in Elementary School created Books on Tapes and donated them to Lawrence Elementary School, Middletown, CT. Instructor: J. Kara-Soteriou

The Standards Handbook Committee developed an Undergraduate Reading and Language Arts Standards Handbook that were distributed to all students taking their first of a series of undergraduate reading and language arts courses as part of their initial educator certification requirements. The Handbook outlines the knowledge, skills, and competencies teachers need to ensure that all their students learn. These are the fundamental descriptors of expectations of teachers in the State of Connecticut.

Cara M. Mulcahy, Chair

Raymond R. Newton

Kenneth J. Weiss

Abadiano, H.R., & Turner, J. (2007). New literacies, new challenges. New England Reading Association Journal, 42(2).

Abadiano, H.R., & Turner, J. (2006). Engaging adolescents in literacy learning. New England Reading Association Journal, 42(1), 60-63.

Kara-Soteriou, J. (2006). How do you get started when your middle and high school students know more technology than you? New England Reading Association Journal, 42(1), 64-70.

Kara-Soteriou, J. (2007, spring). (Guest Ed.). The New England Reading Association Journal (Volume 42, No. 2). New literacies. Published for the New England Reading Association by Old Port Press, Portland, ME.

Kara-Soteriou, J. (2007). Editorial. New England Reading Association Journal (43), ii-iii.

Kara-Soteriou, J., & Rose, H. (accepted). What can bats, snakes, cockroaches, and fuzzheads teach us about good character traits? A literature-based thematic unit and other ways to teach good character. Young Children.

Kara-Soteriou, J., Zawilinski, L., & Henry L.A. (2007, April). Children’s books combined with technology in the classroom: A dynamic combo for supporting the writing workshop. Reading Teacher, 60(7), 698-707.

Kurkjian, C. (2006, fall). (Ed.) The New England Reading Association Journal (Volume 42, No. 1). Vocabulary. Published for the New England Reading Association by Frontline Graphics, Fairfield, IA.

Kurkjian, C. (2006, spring). (Ed.) The New England Reading Association Journal (Volume 42, No. 2). Adolescent Literacy. Published for the New England Reading Association by Frontline Graphics, Fairfield, IA.

Kurkjian, C., & Livingston, N. (2007, February) The importance of children’s literature in a global society. The Reading Teacher. 60(6), 594-602.

Kurkjian, C., Livingston, N, & Cobb, V. (2007, September) Inquiring minds want to learn: The info on nonfiction and informational series books. The Reading Teacher. 60(1), 86-96.

Kurkjian, C., & Kara-Soteriou, J. (with CARR Research Committee) (2006). Update on on-going research: Literacy and technology in Connecticut public high schools: A study of the Connecticut Association for Reading. CARReader, 3, 29-31.

Livingston, N., & Kurkjian, C. (2007, May). Summer reading: Books too good to miss. The Reading Teacher, 59(8), 818-824.

Mulcahy, C. (in press). Marginalized literacies: Critical literacy in the language arts classroom. Information Age Publishing: Charlotte, NC

Mulcahy, C. (2007). Literature cyberlessons: Avenues for new literacies. New England Reading Association Journal. 42(2).

Pratt, L., & Weiss, K.J. (contracted 2007). Student teachers, teacher research and ethics. In S. Israel & C. Lassonde (Eds.), Integrating ethics within the context of teaching and teacher research. New York: Peter Lang Publishers.

Pratt, L., Weiss, K.J., & Mania, F. (in press). Being a teacher researcher (Part I Opener and Case Study). In C. Lassonde & S. Israel (Eds.), A comprehensive guide to teacher research. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

Weiss, K.J. (2006). Teachers who make a difference: Thank you for the music. New England Reading Association Journal, 42(2), 57-59.

Abadiano, H.R., Kurkjian, C., & Weiss, K.J. (July 9-14, 2007). The interface of discourse and the affective and effective contexts for interaction. 10^th International Pragmatics Conference, Goteborg, Sweden (accepted for presentation)

Abadiano, H.R., Demos, E., Kurkjian, C. (Facilitator), Mulcahy, C., Turner, J., & Weiss, K. (September 29, 2006). Panelists: Hot topics in literacy education: A cross-state focus-forum for those involved with Higher Education. New England Reading Association’s 58^th Annual Conference, Lowell, MA

Abadiano, H.R., Carter-Lowery, Lingren, R., Lisi, P., Rigazio-Digilio, A., Sogunro, O., & Walden, C. (July 22-25, 2006). Assessing participants’ satisfaction with Central Connecticut State University programs in the Caribbean: Master’s degrees in educational leadership and in reading and language arts for Jamaican educators and school administrators. Thirteenth International Literacy and Education Research Network Conference on Learning, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Abadiano, H.R., & Olusegun, S. (June 26-29, 2007). Home-abroad connections: Impact of program on curriculum and instruction at home. 14th International Conference on Learning, Johannesburg, South Africa (accepted for presentation)

Abadiano, H.R., & Quinones, A. (June 26-29, 2007, June). Enhancement of children’s literacy development through after-school programs. 14th International Conference on Learning, Johannesburg, South Africa (accepted for presentation)

Kara-Soteriou, J. (April 30, 2007). Using computers to increase students’ literacy skills and motivation while reading literature. An invited presentation at the Southern Fairfield County Chapter of the Connecticut Reading Association, Wilton, CT

Kara-Soteriou, J. (2006, December). Pre-service teachers’ use of literature cyberlessons with K-6 students. Symposium presentation at the National Reading Conference 55^th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA

Kara-Soteriou, J. (2006, September). New Literacies of the Internet: what are they and how do we teach them? A roundtable presentation at the 58th Annual Conference of the New England Reading Association, Lowell, MA

Kara-Soteriou, J., & Kurkjian, C. (2007, May). High school teachers’ expertise and needs in teaching the New Literacies: A Connecticut Association for Reading Research investigation. Research poster presentation at the 52^nd Annual Convention of the International Reading Association, Toronto, Canada.

Kara-Soteriou, J., & Kurkjian, C. (2006, November). How to develop and implement Literature Cyberlessons in the classroom. Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Connecticut Reading Association, Cromwell, CT.

Kara-Soteriou, J., & Kurkjian, C. (2006, October). New Literacies and technology integration in high school classrooms. Poster presentation at the 37th Annual Conference of the Northeastern Educational Research Association, Kerhonkson, NY.

Kurkjian, C. (2006, December). Literature cyberlessons in k-12 classrooms. Symposium presentation at the National Reading Conference 56^th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA.

Kurkjian, C., Abadiano, H.R., Kara-Soteriou, J., & Mulcahy, C. (November 29-December 2, 2006). Symposium: Literature cyberlessons in K-12 classrooms. 56^th National Reading Conference, Los Angeles, CA

Kurkjian, C, Abadiano, H.R., & Decsy, K. (August 7-10, 2006). Infusing technology into higher education: Reading and language arts teachers. International Reading Association’s 21^st World Congress on Reading: Building Literacy Bridges, Budapest, Hungary

Kurkjian, C., & Kara-Soteriou, J. (with Farr, W., Mulcahy-Ernt, P., Mulready, Ann-Marie, & Zimmerman, P.). (2006, November). New Literacies in high school classrooms. Roundtable presentation at the Annual Conference of the Connecticut Reading Association, Cromwell, CT.

Mangiafico, R., Turner, C., & Turner, J.P. (2007). What’s the buzz: A perfect match reading-writing workshop and urban schools. Panel presentation accepted to the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

Weiss, K.J. (November 2007). LOL? The impact of Text Messaging on writing, speaking and collegial exchanges in the college classroom. National Council of Teachers of English, New York (accepted for presentation)

Weiss, K.J. (April 26, 2007). Exploration of the use of Text Messaging by college students, and its possible impact on their social and literacy behaviors. Creative Activities Series sponsored by the CCSU-SEPS Graduate Studies Committee

Weiss, K.J. (October 31, 2006). The journey to academic integrity: Its rewards and pitfalls. CCSU Center for Teaching Excellence and Leadership Development Lunch Series

Weiss, K.J. (October 14, 2006). Exploring the use of Instant Messaging by college students, and its impact on their social and literacy behaviors. 10^th Connecticut State University Faculty Research Conference

Achane, T. (2006, July). Students’ challenges in responding to text: Reader response. A presentation at the Reading Celebration, Reading Institute/Lucy Calkins Reading and Writing Project, Columbia Teachers College, NY

Burns, A. (2007). Boys and literacy: What’s the connection?. A research poster presentation at the 1^st Annual Literacy Essentials Conference, New Britain, CT

Decsy, K. (with H. Abadiano & C. Kurkjian). (August 7-10, 2006). Infusing technology into higher education: Reading and language arts teachers. International Reading Association’s 21^st World Congress on Reading: Building Literacy Bridges, Budapest, Hungary

Dodenhoff, M. (2007, August). Technology workshop: Using notebook and smart board. A professional staff development for teachers, 3-5. Suffield Public Schools, Suffield, CT

Karhu, C. (2007). Put on a face: Integrating art and writing. A literacy activity demonstration center at the 1^st Annual Literacy Conference, New Britain, CT

Lareau, S., Pandolfio, J., Rand, D., & Turner, C. (2007). Impact of knowledge of expository text structure on 5^th and 8^th grade students’ expository writing. A research poster presentation at the 1^st Annual Literacy Conference, New Britain, CT

Mangiafico, R. (w/ C.Turner & J.P. Turner). (2007). What’s the buzz: A perfect match reading-writing workshop and urban schools. Panel presentation accepted to the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

Murphy, E. (2007, June). Using hyperStudio. A professional staff development for teachers. M.D. Fox Elementary Schools, Hartford, CT

O’Brian, R.(2007, August). Determining text readability. A professional staff development for teachers. Ben Bronz Academy, West Hartford, CT

O’Brian, R., & Rand, D. (2007). Interactive reading strategy lessons. A professional staff development for teachers. Ben Bronz Academy, Suffield, CT

Pryce, K. (spring 2007). Technology in reading instruction. A professional staff development for teachers, 3-5. Suffield Public Schools, Suffield, CT

Pryce, K. (spring 2007). Guided reading. A professional staff development for teachers, 3-5. Suffield Public Schools, Suffield, CT

Pryce, K. (spring 2007). Technology in reading instruction. A professional staff development for teachers, 3-5. Suffield Public Schools, Suffield, CT

Shanahan, K., & Schmidt, B. (2007). Games that build phonemic awareness. A literacy activity demonstration center at the 1^st Annual Literacy Conference, New Britain, CT

Schulman, J. (January 3, 2007). Writing successes or what works for improving CMT writing scores? A professional staff development for teachers, grades 5-8. Carmen Arace Intermediate School, Bloomfield, CT

Schulman, J. (February 7, 2007). Tips and strategies for taking CMT. A professional staff development for teachers, grades 5-8. Carmen Arace Intermediate School, Bloomfield, CT

Schulman, J. (April 4 2007). Using reading and writing data to inform instruction. A professional staff development for teachers, grades 5-8. Carmen Arace Intermediate School, Bloomfield, CT

White, O. (2007). Writing, reading and the reluctant learner: Strategies for enhancing student engagement. A paper presented at the 1^st Annual Literacy Conference, New Britain, CT

Woodard, A. (fall 2006). Reading comprehension. A professional staff development for teachers, K-3. Jumoke Academy Charter School, Hartford, CT

Woodard, A. (fall 2006). Running records. A professional staff development for teachers, K-3. Jumoke Academy Charter School, Hartford, CT

Woodard, A. (fall 2006). Phonics code module. A professional staff development for teachers, K-3. Jumoke Academy Charter School, Hartford, CT

Richard Todd O’Brian, 6^th Year

Learning Center at Ben Bronz Academy, West Hartford, CT

Kate Howard-Bender, MS

Weaver High School, Hartford, CT

Dr. Cara Mulcahy (left) presenting the 2007 CCSU Graduate Academic Award to Kate Howard-Bender, MS	Dr. Lynda Valerie (left) presenting the 2007 CCSU Graduate Academic Award to Richard Todd O’Brian, 6th Year
2006 CARR Wirth-Santoro Scholarship Recipients (L-R) Joseph Pandolfio, Debbie Rand, Carolyn Turner, & Susan Lareau

Research: Impact of knowledge of expository text structure on 5^th and 8^th grade students’ expository writing

Award Recipients:

Susan Lareau, E-Learning Specialist, Hartford Financial Services, CT

Joseph Pandolfio, Kennelly Elementary School, Hartford, CT

Debbie Rand, Windham Center School, Windham, CT

Carolyn Turner, Bellizzi Middle School, Hartford, CT

Research: Boys and literacy: What’s the connection?

Award Recipient: Aggie Burns, Literacy Specialist, Torrington Public Schools, CT

Tara Achane, Mansfield Middle School, Mansfield, CT

Elise Murphy, M.D. Fox Elementary School, Hartford, CT

Kris Pryce, Suffield Public Schools, Suffield, CT

Megan Zaba, Chamberlain Elementary School, New Britain, CT

April 2007. Andre Hill was promoted to Regional Literacy Coordinator with the Jamaican Ministry of Education. (Mr. Hill is a 2006 graduate of our master’s degree program in Jamaica.)

Abadiano, H.R. (2006-2007). Literacy and assessment consultant, SAND Elementary School, K-6. Hartford, CT

Abadiano, H.R. (September 2006). Grants Proposal Reader, Connecticut State Department of Education After-School Grant Program, Hartford, CT (State grant for 2.1 million)

Abadiano, H.R. (2006-present). International Review Panelist of the International Reading Association. An invited membership to critique documents representing current thinking about literacy in the field and to recommend citations that should be included in the "Literacy Hub" database.

Abadiano, H.R. (2006-2007). Interviewer, Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, CT

Abadiano, H.R. (2006-2007). Literacy Consultant, Weaver High School, CT

Abadiano, H.R. (March 18-21, 2007). Chair, Connecticut State Department of Education Teacher Preparation Program Evaluation Committee, University of New Haven, CT

Abadiano, H.R., & Mulcahy, C. (2005-present). Invited members, IRA Special Interest Group: International Partnerships for Critical Thinking/Active Learning (IPSIG)

Abadiano, H.R., Kurkjian, C., Turner, J., & Weiss, K. (2007). Reviewers of Conference Proposals, National Reading Conference (NRC).

Demos, E. (2005-present). Coordinator, New Britain Summer Youth Program, CT

Demos, E., & Turner, J. (2005-present). Co-Chair & Executive Board Member, New Britain Alliance for Youth, CT

Kara-Soteriou, J. (2007, Spring). Guest Editor, The New England Reading Association Journal (NERAJ).

Kara-Soteriou, J., & Kurkjian, C. (2004-2007). Research Chairs, Connecticut Association of Reading Research (CARR).

Kurkjian, C. (2007). Vice-President Elect, The New England Reading Association (NERA).

Kurkjian, C. (2005-present). Editor, The New England Reading Association Journal (NERAJ).

Kurkjian, C. (2003-2007). Department Chair, Children’s Books, The Reading Teacher Journal. A publication by the International Reading Association.

Kurkjian, C. (2004-2007). Selection Committee, National Reading Conference Student Outstanding Research Award

Kurkjian, C. (2005-2007). Conference Area Chair, Study Group National Reading Conference

Kurkjian, C. (2005-2007). Reviewer, National Reading Conference Proposals

Kurkjian, C. (2006-present) Board Member, (Student Membership) Connecticut Reading Association (CRA)

Kurkjian, C. (2000-2007). Conference Chair, (Student Volunteers) Connecticut Reading Association (CRA)

Kurkjian, C. (2005-present). Advisor, Alpha Upsilon Alpha Honor Council of the International Reading Association, Central Connecticut State University

Turner, J. (2006-present). Consultant, Parent University, New Britain Public Schools. A series of professional development for parents of New Britain public elementary schools, 3-5.

Turner, J. (2005-present). Chair, School Board, Cross-cultural Academy of Arts and Technology State Charter School, Hartford, CT

Turner, J. (2006-2007). Vice-President, Phi Delta Kappa, CCSU Chapter, CT

Valerie, L. (2005-present). Editor, CARReader, Connecticut Association of Reading Research.

Weiss, K. (fall 2006). Conference Chair, 2006 Connecticut Reading Association Annual Conference, CT

Weiss, K. (fall 2006). Chair, Connecticut Loves to Read Day. Sponsored by the Connecticut Reading Association (CRA), CT

Weiss, K. (2006-2007). President-elect, Connecticut Reading Association (CRA), CT

Weiss, K. (2005–2007). Membership Records Manager, Connecticut Reading Association (CRA), CT