TV host to address state educators

The public television host of "Martha's Sewing Room" is the keynote speaker for a statewide reading conference on campus Nov. 4.

Martha Campbell Pullen will address more than 100 kindergarten-through-eighth-grade teachers and university students attending the university's fifth annual program on ways to promote reading and writing.

"Reading: A Precious Heirloom to Give Our Children" is the title of her 8-10:30 a.m. presentation in Memorial Hall. To help illustrate her remarks, five Mississippi State students will model antique dresses from Pullen's collection of 19th century clothing.

"Ms. Pullen will focus on ways to motivate writing by using historical clothing," said conference coordinator Nancy Verhoek-Miller, professor of curriculum and instruction.

Also editor of "Sew Beautiful" magazine, Pullen is a former reading teacher who holds a doctorate in education.

Other session speakers and topics during the 8 a.m.-3 p.m. conference include:

• Writer and storyteller Sara McDaris of Huntsville, Ala., reading comprehension through storytelling and music;
• Linda Coats of Mississippi State, activities to motivate writing;
• Gene Martin of Mississippi State, use of crossword puzzles to illustrate technology and the teaching of reading;
• Sandy Devlin of Mississippi State, approaching writing through creative dramatics;
• Diane Greene of Mississippi State, use of graphic organizers to help teach reading; and
• Verhoek-Miller, use of historical dinnerware as a starting point for reading activities.