Auburn College of Education to host national literacy expert Joan Sedita this fall

Auburn University’s College of Education, in partnership with University Writing and the national organization Keys to Literacy, will host nationally recognized literacy expert Joan Sedita this fall for a public event focused on strengthening writing instruction and advancing student literacy outcomes.

“An Evening with Literacy Expert Joan Sedita” is scheduled for Oct. 27 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Auburn's Melton Student Center Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public, and continuing education credit will be available. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP online.

The presentation will highlight a talk by Sedita, the founder of Keys to Literacy and author of its writing professional learning courses, on practical, research-based strategies for integrating reading and writing instruction — an area College of Education faculty say is critical as schools build on recent gains in literacy.

“As a strong believer that literacy instruction includes both receptive and expressive language, I believe we must invest in and develop our writing instruction,” College of Education lecturer Amy Fitchett said. "Writing gives us the power to communicate our understanding, share ideas and create meaning.”

The event featuring Sedita is being made possible through a recent University Writing funding award to Fitchett and Victoria Cardullo, coordinator of the College of Education’s Reading Education program. Fitchett said the recognition affirms the College of Education’s commitment to preparing future teachers of writing.

“It was a tremendous honor for us, and the elementary and reading education team, to receive this award from the University Writing Center because it recognizes our ongoing commitment to creating courses that develop strong writers and future teachers of writing,” Fitchett said.

Fitchett said Sedita’s work helps educators better understand how the components of literacy fit together, providing actionable strategies to improve both instruction and student outcomes. And the Oct. 27 event comes at an opportune time as Alabama continues to see gains in early literacy, driven in part by the Alabama Literacy Act and Science-of-Reading initiatives. Fitchett said the focus is now expanding to include writing as a key next step.

“Alabama has seen measurable statewide gains in literacy over the past several years, particularly in early reading achievement tied to the implementation of the Alabama Literacy Act and Science-of-Reading initiatives,” Fitchett said. “This initiative (writing instruction) represents the next phase in strengthening literacy instruction by extending evidence-based practices aligned with the Science of Reading to the expressive domain of literacy: writing.”

She added that strengthening writing skills also reinforces reading development, emphasizing the close relationship between the two.

“Helping students become better writers will make them stronger readers,” Fitchett said.

Sedita is widely recognized for her work in evidence-based writing instruction and for developing the Writing Rope framework, which identifies the writing skills and strategies students need to be taught in order to become proficient writers. Fitchett said Sedita’s national impact and research-based approach made her a natural fit for Auburn’s efforts to expand literacy instruction.

“Joan Sedita is widely recognized as a leading expert in evidence-based writing instruction aligned with the Science of Reading,” Fitchett said, noting that her work has helped educators better understand the skills required for effective writing.

Fitchett said she and Cardullo were intentional in using award funding to bring Sedita to campus, viewing writing as “the next frontier” in literacy instruction.

“When Dr. Cardullo and I discussed how to utilize the award funds, we wanted to focus intentionally on expressive language and position writing as the next frontier in advancing literacy instruction,” she said. “Bringing Sedita to campus creates an opportunity to deepen that work.”

Beyond the Oct. 27 event, the Writing Center award will also support additional initiatives, including the development of “genre boxes” for use in local school writing clubs, expanded faculty training through Keys to Literacy and participation in literacy-focused conferences.

Fitchett said those efforts are designed to translate research into practical tools educators can use immediately in classrooms, helping to strengthen writing instruction across the region.