The 2012 January Early Literacy Conference

Saturday, January 14, 2012 presented by Rice University's School Literacy and Culture Project

A 2010 IBM survey of international business leaders cited creativity as the most important skill in today’s economy. How does this finding impact the real world of schools, teachers, and students? Join the School Literacy and Culture Project of Rice University’s Center for Education for our 13th annual half-day early literacy conference as we focus on practical ideas for supporting creative thinking and problem-solving in the classroom.

Dr. Patsy Cooper (SLC’s Founding Director), Associate Professor of Education at Queens College, City University of New York, and Karen Capo (SLC’s current Director) will deliver the opening address. Karen will set the stage by asking the question, What is Creativity and Why Does It Matter? Patsy will provide our first perspective, The Very Practical Role of Imagination in Early Literacy.  This year we will offer two featured breakout sessions. We are pleased to welcome Anthony Brandt, Associate Professor of Composition at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, who will inspire all educators with his session, Why Young Minds Need Art.  Also,Patsy Cooper will reprise her popular keynote from last year, Let's Try It Again: A Positive Approach to Helping Young Children Recover from Their Missteps and Misbehavior.

Other breakout sessions for teachers of toddlers through second grades, led by School Literacy and Culture Project (SLC) staff and guests, will include several on SLC’s renowned language/literacy based storytelling curriculum for first time attendees as well as a variety of other sessions addressing special interests such as toddler literacy, bilingual concerns, integrated curriculum, and creative writing for the school-age child. Details will be available in mid-December on this web page. 

Attendance is limited, so please register early! For the past few years, the conference has filled quickly.

8:00 - 8:30 8:30 - 8:45 8:45 - 9:45 10:00 - 11:00 11:15 - 12:30	Morning Schedule Registration, light breakfast, vendors Welcome - Rice University Opening Address - Karen Capo, Director, School Literacy and Culture Project, Rice University, and Patsy Cooper, Associate Professor of Education, Queens College, CUNY Breakout Session I Breakout Session II and evaluations	Registration Deadlines (subject to space availability) • Thurs., January 5, 2012 - Early Bird registration • Sat., January 7, 2012 - postmark deadline for mailed forms •  Mon. January 9, 2012 - online registration • Wed. January 11, 2012 - faxed forms (713-348-4229) Important Notes • Please note the fees below. On-site registration, if there are still spaces available, will cost $75. • CEU purchasers must sign in at the CEU registration table upon arrival and sign out when they leave, in order to receive credit. • Please carpool! This year a parking voucher costs $5.00 (if pre-paid). Conference-day parking costs $11.00. • Check this web page for updates and space availability.
Parking Fee: $5.00 (prepaid voucher with registration) or                         $11.00 (day of conference) Please park in the Central Garage (click here for map), a short walk from Duncan Hall. (Use entrance #20 and turn right at the second stop sign.) Due to high attendance, carpooling is encouraged. More detailed campus maps showing Duncan Hall and parking locations can be downloaded here.

Fees:
$50 - Early Bird registration (must be received by Thursday, January 5)
$60 - Regular registration (deadlines - postmark: Jan. 7; online: Jan. 9; faxed: Jan. 11)
$45 - Per person Group Registration fee (6 or more teachers from the same campus; forms submitted together)
$20 - CEU fee -- (.4 CEU)
$5 - Discount parking voucher
No charge for a school administrator with 4 paid attendees from the same campus
$75 - Onsite Registration the day of conference (if there is still space available)

Click here for flyer.

Click here for a list of sample sessions.

For additional information, please contact us at 713-348-5332 or email Debbie Lingrey.

Click here for information on the 2011 conference.

Click here for information on the 2010 conference.

Click here for information on the 2009 conference.

Click here for information on the 2008 conference.

Click here for information on the 2007 conference.

Click here for information on the 2006 conference.