Are there aspects of teaching early literacy in your classroom that you would like to learn more about? Would you like to know what research tells us about it? Now is your chance. Book on to this Literacy Association of Ireland (LAI) webinar to hear committee members discuss teachers’ questions on some of the hot topics in early literacy. Dr Tara Concannon-Gibney, Regina Dunne and Dr Jennifer O’Sullivan will be discussing early literacy topics including phonological awareness, phonics, emergent writing, EAL, assessment, oral language, and vocabulary. The webinar will be moderated by Dr Gene Mehigan. Join us on 3rd March at 3.30pm.

Follow LAI on Instragram (@literacyireland) and Twitter (@LiteracyIRL) where, in the week leading up to the webinar, you will get an opportunity to submit questions on any of the topics listed above.

Panelist's Biography

Dr Gene Mehigan (Host - Marino Institute of Education)

Vice President for Education & Strategic Development at Marino Institute of Education

Gene Mehigan is Vice President for Education and Strategic Development at Marino Institute of Education, Dublin. In his professional career to date he has been a primary school teacher, a literacy specialist, an educational consultant and a teacher educator. He is past President of both the Literacy Association of Ireland (LAI) and the Irish Learning Support Association.

Dr. Tara Concannon-Gibney

Dr. Tara Concannon-Gibney lectures in the area of literacy at Dublin City University (St. Patrick’s campus). A former primary school teacher, she has worked with pre-service and in-service teachers in Ireland and in New York for over a decade. She is the author of Teaching Essential Literacy Skills in the Early Years Classroom: A Guide for Students and Teachers (Routledge). She is also a past-president of the Literacy Association of Ireland and a current member of the executive committee. 

 Regina Dunne (Literacy Association of Ireland)

Deputy Principal - St. Catherine’s N.S Rush, Co. Dublin

Regina Dunne is an executive committee member of the Literacy Association of Ireland. She is Deputy Principal of St Catherine’s National School, Rush, Co Dublin. Regina was previously Team Leader for Literacy at the PDST and Academic Coordinator for English Language Teaching and Learning at the Applied Language Centre, UCD.

Dr. Jennifer O`Sullivan (Marino Institute of Education)

Dr Jennifer O' Sullivan has been lecturing in literacy in Marino Institute of Education since 2012.  She qualified as a primary teacher in 2003 (DCU, St Patrick’s College), completed an MEd (Literacy) in 2008 (DCU, St Patrick’s College), and was awarded a PhD in education (phonemic awareness and early reading development) from Trinity College Dublin in 2019.   During her time teaching, Jennifer also worked as an associate and facilitator with the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT).  She currently sits on MIE’s Academic Council.

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