Thursday, October 8, 2009

More Words, More Children:
Empowering At-Risk Children Through Reading

Susan B. Neuman, Ed.D.
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education

Returning to the University of Michigan after serving as U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education under President George W. Bush, Susan B. Neuman is a Professor in Educational Studies specializing in early literacy development. In her former role as Assistant Secretary, she is especially proud of her work in establishing the Reading First program (funded at $6 billion) and the Early Reading First program (funded at $75 million). At the University of Michigan, she has directed the Center for Improvement for the Early Reading Achievement (CIERA), focusing early childhood policy, curriculum and early reading instruction, pre-kindergarten through grade 3.

Neuman is involved in a number of research projects focusing on changing the odds for children in poverty. She received her doctorate at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, in 1977 and her B.A. at American University. Prior to the University of Michigan, she was a Professor at Temple University, the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and Eastern Connecticut State University.

Her two newest books include: Nurturing Knowledge: Building a Foundation for School Success by Linking Early Literacy to Math, Science, Art and Social Studies, with Kathy Roskos in 2007, which has been described as a “vital resource for building purposeful, knowledge-building experiences that children need to be successful readers and writers” and Reading to Your Young Child: A Parent’s Guide, with Tanya Wright in 2007, which as been described as “an indispensable resource for parents of preschool children.”

In addition, she has published The Handbook of Early Literacy Research (Volume I); Access for All: Closing the Book Gap for Children in Early Education, Handbook on Early Literacy Research (Volume II) with David Dickinson, Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Children Achieving: Best Practices in Early Literacy, Single-Subject Experimental Design: Applications for Literacy, Literacy in the Television Age, and Language and Literacy in Early Childhood.

For more information on Dr. Susan B. Neuman and to learn about speaking opportunities, see www.apbspeakers.com.

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