Maya Payne Smart
Maya Payne Smart is a parent educator, literacy advocate, and the author of Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six (Avery/Penguin Random House). Her website, MayaSmart.com, publishes new book lists, literacy activities, and other free family resources weekly to help parents play their dual roles as first teachers and educational advocates. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s in social studies with honors from Harvard University. She serves as affiliated faculty in Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education at Marquette University.
Keynote Address Friday, February 2, 2024
Sponsored by Keys to Literacy
Inside America’s Reading Crisis: How You Can Help and Why You Should
The tragedy of poor reading achievement dipping to new lows in pandemic times is affecting the prospects of a whole generation—and of the society that will share their future. Neuroimaging data reveals that the verbal, motor, and overall cognitive performance of Covid babies is much lower than pre-pandemic babies. They show reduced vocalizations, delayed language development, and impaired vocabularies, all undercutting their reading readiness. It’s critical to get all hands on deck to give all today’s kids a shot at the great equalizing and empowering force of literacy. In this keynote, Smart pairs information about cutting-edge research findings with inspiring stories of people within and outside of the education sector who’ve made it their business to champion reading for all. Audiences leave with the practical knowledge and inspiration to launch early literacy efforts from within their own spheres of influence.