
DATE: Sunday, September 14, 1997            TAG: 9709120156

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 05   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   56 lines

EXPERT ON READING TO ADDRESS PARENTS, TEACHERS AT O. SMITH

The Chesapeake Reading Council is inviting all teachers, school administrators and parents to meet an expert in childhood reading.

The organization will present Richard Allington, a professor of education and chair of the department of reading at the State University of New York at Albany, for an ``Author's Tea'' to take place Wednesday at Oscar Smith High School.

``He will be here for an earlier workshop for school principals and later will appear at our tea,'' said Maureen L. Moynihan, president of the CRC, a non-profit group of Chesapeake teachers, school personnel and parents interested in literacy and spreading the love of books and reading.

``He's a nationally known author and reading expert and its wonderful that he's coming to Chesapeake to talk to teachers and parents.''

Allington is directing a study of literature-based curricula in schools serving large numbers of disadvantaged students. He has written more than 100 research articles, 14 children's books and is senior author of ScottForesman's reading series, ``Celebrate Reading!,'' and ``Focus: Reading for Success,'' a program for children who find learning to read difficult.

``At the tea, he will talk about his work, his writings and the books he's written with Patricia Cunningham, another noted educator and author,'' Moynihan said.

Allington, who is vice-president of the National Reading Council, has collaborated with Cunningham on ``Classrooms that Work: They Can All Read and Write'' and on an upcoming book, ``Schools That Work: All Children Are Readers and Writers.'' Allington also collaborated with author Sean Walmsley on ``No Quick Fix: Rethinking Reading Programs In American Elementary Schools.''

Moynihan said the Author's Tea had been in the planning stages since January. Jennifer Susser, the area sales representative for the ScottForesman publishing company, helped arrange Allington's appearance.

Moynihan said the program will be free and open to all concerned parents, teachers and individuals interested in promoting literacy and effective reading.

``That's what we're all about and we believe we can effectively do this by regularly bringing in noted authors and experts on reading and literacy,'' she said. ``We hope people will take advantage of an opportunity like this.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

WANT TO GO?

What: Author's Tea sponsored by the Chesapeake Reading Council.

Refreshments will be served after the event.

Who: Dr. Richard Allington, nationally known author and expert on

teaching reading and promoting reading and literacy in schools

When: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Oscar Smith High School, off Great Bridge Boulevard.

Cost: The program is free and open to the public. Special

T-shirts will be on sale for $8 a piece to benefit the Chesapeake

Reading Council.