AASU to Hold Week of the Young Child Conference April 10

Savannah, GA—Armstrong Atllantic State University will hold a conference on "Reading, Writing, and the Young Child" April 10 as part of a national celebration of the Week of the Young Child. Sessions will be held from 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. in various locations in University Hall. A book fair will be held in the second floor atrium in conjunction with the event. Additionally, a children's health fair will be held April 11 from 9:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. in the Sports Center.

The national conference is held each year to highlight the importance of families, early childhood professionals, and communities working together to support every child's healthy development and early learning. Local celebrations are designed to build broader support for early childhood programs that nurture young children's early learning and growth.

"Quality early childhood education is one of the best investments Savannah can make for our children's future," said Maryellen Cosgrove, professor of early childhood education at AASU. "Research shows that children attending high quality programs are more likely to develop the language, pre-mathematics, and social skills they need to succeed in school."

Renown author and keynote speaker Peter Catalanotto has illustrated over twenty-one books, including "An Angel for Solomon Singe," "All I See," "Letter to the Lake," and "Getting Used to the Dark: 26 Night Poems." He has also written and illustrated "The Painter," "Dylan’s Day Out," and "Mr. Mumble." Catalanotto is sponsored by Live Oak Public Libraries Foundation, Savannah Writers’ Workshop, and the City of Savannah with support from the Savannah College of Art & Design and Armstrong Atlantic. Other conference topics will include multicultural education, literacy assessment, writing visually, and much more. The conference will conclude with presentations of the School Nurse of the Year award and certificates of completion.

AASU's early childhood professionals work together to improve professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education and to build public support for high-quality early childhood education programs. AASU is an affiliate of the National Association of Education of Young Children, the largest organization of early childhood educators dedicated to improving the quality of early education programs for children from birth through age eight.

The following individuals were instrumental in organizing the conference:
Maryellen Cosgrove, Stephen Agyekum, Patricia Ball, Bettye Anne Battiste, Patti Brandt; Eva Caldwell, Evelyn Dandy, Mary Ellen Donatelli, John Hobe, Carole Massey, Marsha Moore, Patricia Norris-Parsons, Joan Schwartz, Meg Walworth, and Irene Welch-Mooney.

To register for the conference, contact Early Childhood Education at 912.927.5281.