Fostering Dialogue. Teaching Children’s Literature and Reading for Fun at University

Research in Australia, Chile, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK and USA has shown that pre-service and in-service teachers are not regular readers, and they are not often focussed on the joy of reading when teaching reading skills. But if they read for pleasure, share their reading tastes and literary experiences and value the aesthetic reader profile, they are more able to inspire children to read and to create reading communities (Chambers 1993, Cremin 2020, Granado 2014, Merga 2016, Muñoz et al. 2022, Skaar, Elvebakk & Nilssen 2018): “Teachers who model recreational reading can foster a love of reading in their students” (Tichenor et al. 2021, p. 1).

As a consequence, it is worth reflecting on how programmes on children’s literature at university level can develop positive attitudes towards reading so students keep and share this intrinsic motivation throughout their life. This is why we hope that the 3rd Fostering Dialogue Conference will create new spaces for discussion and collaboration on teaching children’s literature and the pleasure for reading in university settings. This is an opportunity for sharing approaches, tools and solutions to addressing these challenges.

Conference fee 
Early bird rate: €50 (registration before 30 September 2024) 
Regular Fee: €75 (registration before 13 November 2024) 
Student presenters: no fee (registration before 30 September 2024) 
Student assistants: €25 (registration before 13 November 2024) 
Once the registration payment is completed, REFUNDS ARE NOT possible. Participant registration fee includes access to all live-streaming presentations and special events; digital conference kit; online social events.