Written by: Tiffany Westry
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Jacqueline WoodsonAcclaimed author Jacqueline Woodson and UAB School of Education alumnus Tsuguhiko Kato were honored for their contributions in the area of literacy at the 26th annual Midsouth Reading and Writing Conference.
The conference, hosted by the UAB School of Education, was held at George Washington Carver High School in Birmingham on June 18-19.
Woodson was the recipient of the 2015 Roberta Long Award for Diversity in Children’s Literacy. Named after retired UAB professor of education Roberta Long for her passion for multicultural children’s books and her efforts to encourage teachers to use diverse literature in their classrooms, the Roberta Long Medal is given to an author whose body of work celebrates diversity in children’s literature. Woodson is the 2014 National Book Award winner for Young People’s Literature for her memoir “Brown Girl Dreaming.”
“Jacqueline Woodson’s range of literature and the authenticity of her work made her an ideal recipient for this year’s Roberta Long Award,” said Fran Perkins, associate professor and conference organizer. “Her work engages students on all levels and has cross-cultural appeal.”
Tsuguhiko KatoUAB School of Education alumnus Tsuguhiko Kato was the recipient of the 2015 Maryann Manning Research Award.
The Maryann Manning Research Award is given to an outstanding researcher whose work informs teachers about readers’ language and literacy learning processes. The award is named for Maryann Manning, Ed.D., renowned literary expert and longtime UAB faculty member who dedicated her life to improving the literacy lives of children and their families. Kato is a former student and a co-researcher of Manning’s.
“Their early literacy research informed teachers’ perspectives regarding more relevant ways of teaching and assessing early literacy, which is often reduced to isolated letters and sounds,” said Perkins. “Their research was presented and well-received at national literacy forums.”
The Midsouth Reading and Writing Conference drew nationally recognized literacy researchers, practitioners and authors. Hundreds of area teachers, literacy coaches, specialists and administrators attended workshops and presentations on a wide range of relevant topics, including literacy instructional strategies, technology, and children’s and young adult literature.