Preparing Educators to Communicate and Connect with Families and Communities (Literacy, Language and Learning) - Softcover

This unique and visionary text is a compilation of fascinating case studies by New York State teachers, parents and professors. These down-to-earth case studies highlight effective specific approaches to provide bridges between home and school and a look to the future for preparing teachers to communicate and connect with families and communities. This book promises to make a signifi-cant contribution to preparing teachers to engage all families and communities in the education of our children. It is filled with activities coming out of an incredible body of educational research done by the contributors. This book has given us the answers to the questions that Schmidt raised and it will move family involve-ment from high rhetoric to high practice. This book will change the way we prepare teachers and it is a must read for those in teacher education programs.

After more than 20 years of teaching in public schools, Patricia Ruggiano Schmidt completed her doctoral studies in Reading and Language Arts at Syracuse University. Her dissertation, "Cultural Conflict and Struggle: Literacy Learning in a Kindergarten Program" received recognition by the "International Reading Association" and was published by "Peter Lang". As a Professor of Literacy at Le Moyne College, she teaches courses in the elementary and secondary programs and has developed a model, known as the "ABC s of Cultural Understanding and Communication." This model is implemented around the world and helps elementary and secondary teachers communicate and connect with families and communities and design culturally responsive literacy lessons. Recently Dr. Ruggiano Schmidt was the recipient of the "International Reading Association, Elva Knight Research Award." This work has promoted the study of links between literacy learning and culturally responsive teaching in urban and rural elementary and secondary schools.

Presently, Dr. Ruggiano Schmidt lives with her husband, Tom, next to a small lake and golf course in East Syracuse, New York.