Dr. Kathryn Au

Wednesday, October 28th

12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

Erickson Room: 252

What Constitutes as Instruction for Students of

Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Backgrounds? How

Can We Get It to Happen in Schools?

Abstract: Research on effective instruction for students of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds can be summarized in 10 categories. When it comes to promoting literacy achievement, these categories are consistent with the process approach to writing and literature-based instruction. What can be done to support schools serving students of diverse backgrounds with the implementation of these effective approaches? Issues addressed include helping schools to meet rigorous standards, build teachers' ownership of improvement efforts, and create the infrastructure to sustain multi-year improvement efforts.

Kathryn H. Au, Chief Executive Officer of SchoolRise, LLC, received a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Kathy spent the first 23 years of her career at the Kamehameha Elementary Education Program (KEEP) as a teacher in grades K-2, and then researcher and teacher educator. In 1995 she became a professor at the University of Hawai‘i, where she was the first person to hold an endowed chair in education. Kathy focused her efforts on establishing the Ka Lama Teacher Education Initiative to assist Native Hawaiians to become teachers in their own communities. Kathy is best known for her research on culturally responsive instruction, and she has published widely on issues of literacy and diversity. Her latest book is Literacy Achievement and Diversity: Keys to Success for Students, Teachers, and Schools (Teachers College Press, 2011, with introduction by Patricia Edwards). Kathy served as president of the International Literacy Association in 2009-10. She is also a past president of the Literacy Research Association and a recipient of the Oscar S. Causey Award for outstanding contributions to reading research.

2015-2016 Literacy Colloquy Presentation