UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

The University of Texas at Tyler Seeking Participants for Reading Program, ‘Born to Read’

July 20, 2017

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

The University of Texas at Tyler is currently seeking participants for a reading program that promotes early childhood literacy instruction, Dr. Ross Sherman, College of Education and Psychology dean, announced.

The Born to Read program provides Tyler area expectant mothers and legal guardians of children up to a year old the tools they need to promote and support their children's early language and literacy development. The cost is free to the first 55 parents who sign up by August 30. To register, call 903.566.7016. Parents must attend two seminars to be held September 2017 and January 2018 and all other program activities through July 30, 2018.

"The program's purpose is to promote children's early language and literacy skills, while helping parents understand their critical role as their child's first and most important teacher," said Dr. Kouider Mokhtari, The University of Texas at Tyler Anderson-Vukelja-Wright Endowed Professor of Literacy Education. "Participating parents will receive an initial literary tool kit, which includes books and valuable resources that help and encourage parents to raise a reader."

Mokhtari engages in research, teaching and service initiatives aimed at advancing literacy instruction and increasing students' literacy achievement outcomes.

A 2017 literacy grant from the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society made the program possible. Program sponsors are The University of Texas at Tyler K-16 Literacy Center, Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club and Tyler Family Circle of Care.

Dr. Muthukrishnan Sathyamoorthy, The University of Texas at Tyler College of Engineering associate dean, was also instrumental in the colleges' efforts to establish the program as the rotary club's past president.
"Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club has been supporting this program for the last eight years, and the club is pleased to be an enthusiastic partner in this enhanced effort to continue to help the Tyler community," said Sathyamoorthy.

For more information, contact Mokhtari, 903.566.7177 or kmokhtari@uttyler.edu or Sathyamoorthy, 903.565.5939 or msathyamoorthy@uttyler.edu.

One of the 14 campuses of the UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at The University of Texas at Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 10,000 high-ability students. The University of Texas at Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.