The San Diego Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) will feature two distinguished Common Core experts at its April meeting.

At USD’s Hahn School of Nursing Building (Linda Vista Road and Marion Way).

Info: [email protected] or 619-713-5462.

Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan and Grace Nall, a National Board Certified Teacher, will provide an overview of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and how they apply to authors and illustrators of children’s books. They will share their insights and answer any questions you may have about the CCSS and its implications for your work.

Across the nation, school children, teachers, and parents are getting ready for the CCSS. In addition to changing educational programs and practices, these new standards have changed the current publishing industry in that the market is being saturated with CCSS-aligned curricula and texts. What does this mean for authors and illustrators? Come to the session and learn more.

Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Learn Learning (IFL) at the University of Pittsburgh where she develops CCSS-aligned curricula and researches best educational practices which support learning in the CCSS. Dr. Loh-Hagan’s newest picture book is titled Paper Son: Lee’s Journey to America (Sleeping Bear Press, 2013), co-authored by Helen Foster James.

Grace Nall is a Curriculum Designer of Teacher Resources, an elementary school teacher, an adjunct faculty at Brandman (aka Chapman) University, and a writer. She has worked on the Common Core Curriculum Design Team for San Diego Unified School District. Nall has written feature articles for online and print publications, such as San Diego Family Magazine.

She co-authored with Dr. Priscilla H. Porter, senior author of the Harcourt School Publishers Textbook California Series for Grades K-6 in which their article, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Using Primary Sources to Enhance Content Knowledge” was published in the 2012 Annual Edition’s Social Studies Review, the official journal for the California Studies for the Social Studies.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is an international organization serving writers and illustrators of children’s literature, including books, magazines, educational material, plays, electronic media and film. SCBWI facilitates networking and information exchange amongst writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, literary agents, librarians, educators, booksellers, and others involved with literature for young people. The San Diego chapter covers the San Diego region and is one of the most active chapters in the country.