Enhancing Literacy: Meeting the Needs of K-12 English Language Learners
Keynote Speakers
Thursday, Oct. 8, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Dr. Luis Moll
Luis C. Moll, born in Puerto Rico, is a professor, Department of Language, Reading and Culture, College of Education, University of Arizona. He joined the faculty of LRC in 1986. Prior to that, he worked at the Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition and the Communications Department (1979-1986), both at the University of California, San Diego. He has been the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the College of Education at University of Arizona since January 2004. He has been involved in providing support to faculty for proposal generation in a variety of areas including informal science education, early childhood education, and transnational educational initiatives. Dr. Moll’s research addresses the connections among culture, psychology and education, especially in relation to the education of Latino children in the US. Among other studies, he has analyzed the quality of classroom teaching, examined literacy instruction in English and Spanish, studied how literacy takes place in the broader social contexts of household and community life, and attempted to establish pedagogical relationships among these domains of study.
Friday, Oct. 9, 1:15 pm - 2:20 pm
Franscico X. Alarcón
Francisco X. Alarcón, Chicano poet and educator, was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1954 and teaches at University of California, Davis, where he directs the Spanish for Native Speakers Program. He is binational, bicultural, and bilingual and has written multiple works of award-winning poetry for both adults and children. His most recent book of bilingual poetry for children is Animal Poems of the Iguazú / Animalario del Iguazú (Children’s Book Press 2008). His bilingual book titled Poems to Dream Together / Poemas para soñar juntos, received the 2006 Jane Addams Honor Book Award. His previous bilingual book for children, Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems / Jitomates risueños y otros poemas de primavera (Children’s Book Press, 1997) was awarded the 1997 Pura Belpré Honor Award by the American Library Association and the National Parenting Publications Gold Medal. He also received the 2000 Pura Belpré Honor Award for his second book of bilingual poems for children, From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems / Del ombligo de la luna y otros poemas de verano (Children’s Book Press 1998), and the 2002 Pura Belpré Honor Award for his fourth book of bilingual poems for children, Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems / Iguanas en la nieve y otros poemas de invierno (Children’s Book Press 2001). He has published another book for children, Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems / Los ángeles andan en bicicleta y otros poemas de otoño (Children’s Book Press 1999).