(Posted July 14, 2003)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. ? More than 100 educators from across the state will meet with other scholars at the Governor's Institute for Early Childhood Educators held from Sunday, July 20 to Friday, July 25, on the campus of Juniata College.

The group is comprised of teachers, caregivers, administrators and professors who specialize in early childhood education -- birth through third grade.

?This Governor?s Institute provides a unique opportunity for professional development and collaboration at all levels as early educators from the across state join forces to improve early literacy instruction for children,? says Fay Glosenger, Martin G. Brumbaugh Professor of Education at Juniata and site director for the Institute.

Participants will study the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening and the Pennsylvania Early Childhood Learning Continuum Indicators. In addition, topics such as the five essential elements of learning to read, the use of assessment in driving literacy instruction, the reading and writing connection and the literacy and numeracy connection will be addressed

?This is the fourth year that Juniata has hosted the Pennsylvania Governor?s Institute for Early Childhood Educators,? says Glosenger. ?We are delighted to contribute to state efforts to enhance the quality of education and care for young children in Pennsylvania.?

This year the Pennsylvania Department of Education authorized two early childhood institutes at two college campuses in the state; the other institute was held at Villanova University in Philadelphia, June 22-27. Glosenger says Juniata received a $120,000 Pennsylvania Department of Education grant to host the event.

The 100 teachers who attend the institute will receive two graduate credits.

The conference opens with registration at noon, Sunday, July 20 at Ellis College Center and a 4 p.m. welcome will be delivered by Dr. Corinne Eisenhart, early childhood advisor at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. At 7 p.m., there will be an Ellis College Center keynote session on ?The Joy of Books,? by children?s author Hans Wilhelm, author of ?I?ll Always Love You? and ?Bunny Trouble.?

On Monday, July 21, Marilou Hyson, associate executive director for professional development for the National Association for the Education of Young Children will speak on ?Learning to Read and Write? at 8:30 a.m. in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Science Center. At noon, Eisenhart will make a presentation on ?Early Literacy and the Pennsylvania Department of Education,? followed by a session on ?Comprehensive Literacy -- The Power of the Interactive Read Aloud? at 2:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall by Lee Kappes and Cathy Feldman, both of REACH Associates.

Tuesday, July 22 will start with an 8:30 a.m. keynote session in Alumni Hall presented by Helen Conahan-Dettrey, director of the Institute for Teaching and Learning. The talk focuses on ?SBRR and the Five Building Blocks of Learning to Read.? At 1:15 p.m., also in Alumni Hall, Roland Good, professor of school psychology at the University of Oregon, will make the presentation ?Early Childhood Assessment and the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills.? The rest of the day is devoted to team discussion activities and interaction with Dr. Good.

The sessions on Wednesday, July 23 start at 8:15 a.m. in Alumni Hall with the presentation ?Accelerating Learning and the Struggling Early Learner,? by Meg Still, an educational specialist with Rigby Professional Development Inc. At 1:15 p.m., also in Alumni Hall, the focus shifts to technology as Deborah Booz, technical resource instructor for Carlisle Area Schools, presents ?Literacy Connections: Early Literacy and Technology.? The remainder of the day is devoted to team projects and discussion activities

The agenda for Thursday, July 24, starts at 8:15 a.m. in Alumni Hall with the keynote session ?Emerging Reading and Writing -- Kid Writing,? by Eileen Feldgus, co-author of ?Kid Writing: A Systematic Approach to Phonics, Journals and Writing Workshop.? At 1:15 p.m., Peg Schooling, early childhood education coordinator for the Lancaster School District, will present ?Lancaster School District: The Reading and Writing Connection,? followed by a 2:30 presentation ?Keystone Central School District: The Reading and Writing Connection,? by Kelly Hastings, director of curriculum and federal programs for the Keystone Central School District. Both sessions are in Alumni Hall.

At 7:30 p.m., in Ellis College Center, there will be a keynote speaker after the conference?s celebration banquet. Susan Enfield, executive assistant to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, will talk about ?The Promise of Early Learning.?

The Institute wraps up Friday, July 25 with an 8:15 a.m. presentation in Alumni Hall on ?Integrating Early Literacy and Numeracy,? by Kristie Garvin, an educational consultant from Erie, Pa. with the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit. At 10:15, also in Alumni Hall, there will be an interactive panel with faculty and conference participants. The PA Governor?s Institute for Early Childhood Educators is one of 29 Pennsylvania Governor's Institutes and Academies held in 24 different areas across the state this summer.

For more information, visit the state's Web site at http://www.pde.state.pa.us, or call Fay Glosenger, chair of education, at Juniata College at (814) 641-3645.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.