Join the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy for our 10th annual

SYMPOSIUM ON CHILDREN

Getting Ready to Read

DATE:

TIME:

Thursday, October 19, 2023

12:00-4:00pm

Doors open at 11am and lunch will be available. A one-hour reception will be held immediately following the event from 4-5pm.

LOCATION:

In-person event at Marriott Columbus OSU
3100 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43202 (map)

The first phase of reading development occurs between 0 and 5 years of age, when young children are developing their skills as emergent readers and writers. During this phase, children are developing fundamental understandings of the symbol systems used to read and write, including letters and words. Children will draw upon these understandings in the primary grades, when children are formally taught to read. The Crane Center’s 10^th Symposium on Children is designed to enhance fundamental understanding of reading and writing development during early childhood for practitioners, administrators, researchers, and policymakers to support young children as they get ready to read!

This year’s Symposium on Children will feature Dr. Sonia Cabell, associate professor at Florida State University and research faculty at the Florida Center for Reading Research, and a recognized expert on early language and literacy development. Dr. Cabell will discuss the science of early childhood reading and writing development and ways to support skill development among young children as they get ready to read.

Following the keynote, attendees can choose to attend a breakout session before coming back together for brief flash talks will feature innovative early literacy work from around the state with implications for both early literacy policy and practice.

We look forward to welcoming you back in-person for this very special 10^th anniversary of the Symposium on Children.

11:00am – 12:00pm

DOORS & EXHIBITOR HALL OPEN

Lunch is available for all attendees.

12:00 – 12:15pm

WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

Dr. Laura Justice, executive director of the Schoenbaum Family Center and Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy

Dean Donald Pope-Davis, PhD, College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University

Tanny Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crane Group

12:15 – 1:15pm

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

1:15 – 1:30pm

BREAK

1:30 – 2:30pm

BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one)

BREAKOUT 1 – Writing Into Literacy: Supporting Young Children’s Early Writing

Encouraging young children to write can help them to unlock the code of reading. Writing can serve as a springboard for growing children’s knowledge of print and sound. Early writing becomes more sophisticated over time, from scribbles to letter-like forms to writing with letters and words. Learn why early writing is important, how it develops, and how adults can support young children’s written efforts to help them grow their literacy skills.

Dr. Sonia Cabell, associate professor at Florida State University and research faculty at the Florida Center for Reading Research

BREAKOUT 2 – Supporting Early Literacy and Communication for Young Children Learning to Use AAC

Discover specific approaches to support early literacy learning for children who use or are learning to use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Explore routines designed to maximize interactions while nurturing receptive vocabulary and content knowledge and explicitly address foundational skills. Gain insights into the importance of literacy in AAC beginning in early childhood.

Dr. Karen Erickson, Director of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at UNC Chapel Hill

BREAKOUT 3 – Stories and Synapses: The neurobiology of shared reading during early childhood and novel approaches to screening and guidance

Dive into neurobiology and explore how a child’s brain is naturally “wired” for reading during their early years, exploring evidence from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) research. Discover the impact of shared reading and digital media exposure on a child’s developing mind and how these experiences shape a child’s literacy journey. Learn about novel, family-centered approaches to early literacy screenings and to fostering nurturing reading routines at home.

Dr. John S. Hutton, pediatrician, children’s book author, early literacy and MRI researcher, and director of the Reading Literacy Discovery Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

2:30 – 2:45pm

BREAK

2:45 – 3:45pm

FLASH TALKS: A LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OHIO

#1 Statewide efforts to support children and families

Kara Wente, Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth

#2 Bolstering literacy: Teacher capacity, multi-tiered support systems, and partnerships

Dr. Melissa Weber-Mayrer, Chief of Literacy for the Ohio Department of Education

#3 Early Literacy Center: Playscapes to build early literacy

Becky Schaade, library director at Fairfield County District Library

#4 Ohio Ready to Read: Librarians empowering families in early literacy

Julia Shaheen, literacy manager at Stark County District Library and trainer for Ohio Ready to Read

#5 Evidence-based curriculum supplement: Sit Together and Read

Dr. Laura Justice, executive director of the Schoenbaum Family Center and Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy

Facilitated by: Jamie O’Leary, associate director of policy and external affairs at the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy

Each year Crane’s Symposium on Children addresses a critical or emerging topic impacting young children. By bringing together key stakeholders in early childhood research, practice, and policy, we can assess and better understand the current state of the topic, gain insights based in evidence, learn about inspiring innovations, and leave with actionable takeaways.

Sonia Cabell, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Reading Education in the School of Teacher Education and the Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida State University. Before receiving her Ph.D. at the University of Virginia, she worked as a second-grade teacher and literacy coach in Oklahoma and Virginia. Dr. Cabell’s research focuses on early language and literacy instruction, with a particular interest in preventing reading difficulties in young children. She has authored over 70 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, and early childhood language and literacy curricula. She is the lead editor of the Handbook on the Science of Early Literacy from Guilford Press and co-author of Literacy Learning for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Key Practices for Educators from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In 2021, Dr. Cabell, along with her colleague Dr. Tricia Zucker, was awarded the Diane Lapp & James Flood Professional Collaborator Award from the International Literacy Association. Dr. Cabell has served as Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator on federally funded research projects totaling approximately $10 million dollars. She has been an advisor or consultant for a variety of national organizations and state departments of education. Learn more about her work at Cabell Lab or follow her on Twitter @soniacabell.