Auburn to host literacy expert Joan Sedita for writing instruction event

Auburn University’s College of Education will host literacy expert Joan Sedita on Oct. 27 for a public event focused on writing instruction and student literacy. The program, “An Evening with Literacy Expert Joan Sedita,” is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Melton Student Center Ballroom. Admission is free, and continuing education credit will be available.

The presentation will cover practical, research-based approaches to integrating reading and writing instruction. The event is being organized with University Writing and Keys to Literacy, the national organization Sedita founded. The focus reflects a growing emphasis at Auburn on writing as part of literacy instruction, alongside reading.

Amy Fitchett, a College of Education lecturer, said Alabama has recorded statewide literacy gains in recent years, particularly in early reading achievement associated with the Alabama Literacy Act and Science-of-Reading initiatives. She described writing instruction as a next step, saying that stronger writing skills can also help students become stronger readers.

How to attend

The event is open to the public, and people who plan to attend are asked to RSVP online by Oct. 16. The announcement does not provide further details about the RSVP process. The program is scheduled at Auburn’s Melton Student Center, and continuing education credit will be offered.

Sedita is the founder of Keys to Literacy and the author of its writing professional learning courses. She is known for evidence-based writing instruction and for developing the Writing Rope framework, which describes the skills and strategies students need to learn to become proficient writers.

A wider writing initiative

The visit is supported by a University Writing funding award to Fitchett and Victoria Cardullo, coordinator of Auburn’s Reading Education program. Fitchett said the organizers chose to use the award to focus on expressive language and to bring writing further into literacy instruction. She said Sedita’s work offers educators actionable strategies for connecting literacy components and improving instruction.

The award will also support development of “genre boxes” for local school writing clubs, additional faculty training through Keys to Literacy and participation in literacy-focused conferences. The initiatives are intended to give educators practical tools for classroom writing instruction, according to Fitchett.

This report draws on information from AUWire.