Posted on Tuesday, October 4, 2005
Dr. Charlene Endrizzi, associate professor of education at Westminster College, will present "What Can Our Government Learn About Literacy from Teachers and Parents?" Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 11:45 a.m. in the Sebastian Mueller Theater located in the McKelvey Campus Center.
"This presentation evolves from my recent Watto Award in the Fall of 2004," Endrizzi said. "With the faculty development monies, I created a teacher researcher writing group, consisting of five classroom teachers, who responded to drafts of my current book manuscript, "No Family Left Behind: Sharing the Responsibility for Literacy Learning."
Data from Endrizzi's book, which is aimed at helping teachers develop literacy partnerships with parents, came from two research projects at regional elementary schools. Findings from these two research projects indicate how willing parents are to join teachers as literacy partners, if teachers are willing to initiate a partnership.
"Recent legislation evolving from No Child Left Behind has created antagonism between teachers and parents," Endrizzi said. "Currently teachers are blamed for low literacy test scores, when in reality teachers and parents are equally responsible for promoting literacy growth."
Endrizzi, who has been with Westminster College since 1993, earned her undergraduate and master's degrees from Fresno Pacific College, and her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona.
Endrizzi's presentation is part of the weekly Faculty Forum. Established in 1990, Faculty Forum serves as a venue for the exchange of ideas and information among Westminster College faculty. Speakers present their research, teaching ideas, lectures, performances, special programs, and uses of technology to keep faculty informed about the work of colleagues from many disciplines.
Contact Endrizzi at (724) 946-7189 or e-mail endrizck@westminster.edu for more information.
