Lucy Calkins, Professor of English Education who founded and directs the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, has been named to hold the Robinson Chair in Children's Literature at TC. Through the Project, Calkins leads an initiative serving more than 300 K-8 schools, and through her work has helped thousands of teachers to develop more effective writing curricula and build students' communications skills.

The Robinson Chair in Children's Literature was established in 2001 through the generosity of Richard Robinson, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of NYC-based publishing giant Scholastic, Inc. During that year Robinson, an alumnus of Teachers College, received the Cleveland E. Dodge Medal for Distinguished Service to Education from TC.

Commenting on her appointment, Calkins told Inside TC, "I am thrilled to receive such an honor. How crucial it is that we give children access to the best of children's literature, and that we help them compose richly literate lives. I do believe that stories can help all of us hold tight to what matters most."

Calkins, who received her Ph.D. from New York University, has published extensively on the subjects of teaching and learning, and has authored several books including Raising Lifelong Learners: A Parent's Guide (Perseus); A Teacher's Guide to Standardized Reading Tests: Knowledge is Power (Heinemann); The Art of Teaching Reading (Allyn & Bacon) and The Art of Teaching Writing (Heinemann). Calkins succeeds Professor Barbara Kiefer as holder of this Chair.

Published Friday, Sep. 3, 2004