The Second Childhood Conference

“Supporting Young Children’s Literacy Development”

January 17-18, 2009.

              The Early Childhood program in the Department of Psychological Sciences in the College of Education, Qatar University, is pleased to announce that it will host the Second Conference on Early Childhood Education on January 17-18, 2009, in Doha, Qatar

Conference Theme

The conference theme “Supporting Young Children’s Early Literacy Development” will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on how to foster and support young children’s literacy development. Participants will be provided with opportunities to learn about best literacy development practices from top scientists and practitioners in the dynamic and fast evolving field of early literacy. Our keynote speakers include Dr. Lourdes Diaz Soto, Goizueta Endowed Chair and Professor of Education at The University of Georgia – Dalton State, USA. Specific areas that the conference will focus on include:

• Exploring the multiple contexts in which children acquire literacies.
• Ways in which early childhood practitioners can support children’s acquisition of literacy
• Exploring connections between different domains of literacy, such as oral and written language.

 Conference Topics (list is not exhaustive):

·        Play and literacy

·        The role of the environment in supporting literacy

·        Linking Language, Literacy and Reading Development

·        Early literacy and children with special needs

·        The role of parents and teachers in achieving early literacy

·        Dual language and early literacy development

·        Technology and early literacy.

·        The role of culture in early literacy.

·        The influence of social context on the acquisition of literacy.

·         

Location

    Qatar University, Ibn Khaldoon Hall

Language(s) of the Conference

   Arabic and English

Conference paper and presentation formats

Presenters must choose one of the following formats for their papers/presentations:

• Research forums (for in-depth explorations of original research and conceptual issues related to the themes of the conference)
• Workshops (for exploring specific strategies and techniques to promote children’s literacies; workshops are mostly geared towards ideas that can be implemented in classrooms)
• Exhibitions and posters (for presentation and informal discussion of ideas and strategies related to conference themes)
• Themed experience-sharing session (for themed discussions about issues relating to conference themes. Presenters can make a short presentation, and then engage participants in structured discussions).

 General Conditions for participation in the Conference

• All proposed activities except research studies must submit a summary by October 10, 2008.  Participant will be notified by November 15 regarding the  status of their submissions.
• Research studies must submit a summary and a one-page abstract by December 7, 2008.
• An author’s name can appear on no more than two proposals
• Given the large number of attendees in the past, the conference cannot assume responsibility for the participants’ travel and accommodation expenses.

For research presentations please submit the following:

• Name of participant and institutional affiliation if any
• An abstract (500- 600 words) It is preferred that the abstract include a problem or thesis statement, methods/primary sources used for the research, research findings and conclusions  
• A completed registration form (included in this flyer)

For all other presentation formats please submit the following:

·        Name of presenter and institutional affiliation

·        A short (no more than 500 words) description of the proposed presentation, including title, objectives of the session, and an overview of the content.

·        A completed registration form (included in this flyer)

All submissions will be reviewed by the conference program committee.

Submissions can be made through:

1. By email to childhoodconference@gmail.com
2. By mail. Please send submissions to
   Dr. Radhika Viruru, Coordinator, Early Childhood Programs

College of Education, Qatar University

P.O. Box 2713

Doha, Qatar.

3. By fax at 974-485-1328, attention Dr. Radhika Viruru

Contact Information:

For logistical inquiries, please contact Salwa in the Department of Psychological Sciences at s.alishaq@qu.edu.qa

Other modes of contact include: 

Telephone:        974 485-2242 or

974 485-2741.

Fax:                  974 485.1328

For all other inquiries please contact:

Dr. Radhika Viruru

Coordinator, Early Childhood Education at 974-485-2781 or by email at radhikav@qu.edu.qa