21TRA182 LAI Connects: A Closer Look at the Science of Reading

In this webinar, the presenters will discuss the ‘how’, ‘what’ and ‘why’ of the science of reading and highlight the importance of aligning reading instruction to the large body of evidence available on how children learn to read.

Presenters:

Gene Mehigan (PhD) 

Gene Mehigan is Principal Lecturer at Marino Institute of Education, with leadership responsibilities for English and Continuing Professional Development. As Head of the English Department his lecturing responsibilities include the teaching of English methods to undergraduate and post graduate students. His research interests are in the teaching of reading, education provision in disadvantaged settings and in teacher education. Much of his early research into the teaching of reading was carried out while working as a learning support and special needs teacher in Darndale Junior School. More recently his research has focused on the impact of the revised curriculum on teaching reading in the early years in primary school. In 1994 Gene was commissioned by the INTO to head up a team to design courses for teachers in Learning Difficulties in Literacy and has since adapted this material for online provision. Prior to joining the staff at Marino he worked as coordinator of the Common Inservice Remedial Course in Church of Ireland College Rathmines and the Primary Curriculum Support Programme. A past president of the Association of Remedial Teachers of Ireland (ARTI) he is currently a member of the Project Team on Child Literacy and Social Inclusion for the National Economic and Social Forum. He is also a steering committee member for a number of National Programmes including the National Pilot Project for Teacher Induction (NPPTI), Reading Recovery and An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (S.C.G). In recent years he has worked with the World Bank as a Government advisor to the Department of State for Education in The Gambia on the development of a sector wide approach for the reform of literacy education.

Jennifer O' Sullivan 

Jennifer 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.

Patrick Burke

Patrick is a Lecturer in Education and member of the English Language and Literacy team. He originally graduated with a degree in Education and Psychology from MIC/UL, after which he worked as a classroom teacher and post-holder in a diverse primary school in Dublin. He went on to study for a Master of Education degree in Reading/Literacy at Frostburg State University (MD, USA). During this time he was an International Fellow in the Children’s Literature Centre, where he collaborated on a number of initiatives to develop a love for reading among young people in the local area. He subsequently worked as an advisor with the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), which involved the design and delivery of CPD in Gaeilge and English nationally. Patrick is involved in a number of professional and research-based projects in literacy education. Most recently, this included membership of the NCCA development group for the Primary Language Curriculum (3rd-6th class). He is currently undertaking doctoral studies on the subject of disciplinary literacy, under the supervision of Dr Eithne Kennedy, DCU.