Judson to host Maria Walther for A Day at Judson-Literacy Event Oct. 19

Judson's Graduate Programs in Literacy Education will host its semiannual "A Day at Judson" seminar, featuring literacy expert Maria Walther, at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Lindner Campus Commons, 1151 N. State St., Elgin.

Twice a year, this highly anticipated seminar invites area educators to come and interact with leading experts in the field of education. Attendees can earn six professional development hours. This October, Walther will present her workshop titled, "The New Essentials of Literacy Teaching." During the daylong event, she says she will share "practical, classroom-tested strategies to transform" literacy teaching.

Walther is the author of "Transforming Literacy Teaching in the Era of Higher Standards: Grades K-2" (Scholastic, 2015), among other educationally driven titles including: "Next Step Guided Reading Assessment," "Month-by-Month Reading Instruction for the Differentiated Classroom," "Teaching Struggling Readers with Poetry," "Month-by-Month Trait-based Writing Instruction" and "Literature is Back." Yet, her greatest joy and achievement is teaching first-graders at Indian Prairie School District 204 in Aurora. Moreover, Walther has been instrumental in providing professional development to teachers near and far by way of her reading materials and workshops. She is the recipient of numerous honors and accolades, including the Illinois as Reading Educator of the Year and the ICARE for Reading Award winner.

The early registration deadline for this seminar is Saturday, Sept. 19. No on-site registrations will be available for this event. Individuals interested in registering after Sept. 19 should call (847) 628-1105 to check availability.

For more information about the October "A Day at Judson" event, visit www.judsonu.edu/ADayAtJudson.