Importance of our Dictionary Project and more

Bev will talk to our group concerning her findings and the importance of our Dictionary Project and the impact of poverty on those skills.   Also what we as parents and grandparents can do to encourage reading in the next generations.

 

Beverly Otto, Ph.D., an early childhood educator for over 30 years, is professor emeritus in the Teacher Education Department at Northeastern Illinois University. She earned her doctorate at Northwestern University in teaching and learning processes, with a focus on emergent literacy. Dr. Otto teaches courses in language and literacy development for preservice and inservice teachers, along with research for classroom teachers. Her major professional goal is preparing teachers to support children’s lifelong learning through language and literacy development. Dr. Otto also served as department chair as well as associate dean in the College of Education. 

Dr. Otto is the author of Literacy Development in Early Childhood:  Reflective Teaching for Birth to Age 8 (Pearson) and Language Development in Early Childhood Education (Pearson).  She has authored articles published in international, national, and state professional journals. Her field-based research on emergent literacy has been presented at international, national, state, and local conferences. She has served as a consultant to early childhood centers, school districts, and the Illinois State Board of Education.