Hopeville Screening and Panel Event
The City of Waterbury invites the community to the Mattatuck Museum on Tuesday, November 19 from 5 to 9 pm for a free screening and panel discussion of the thought-provoking documentary “Hopeville: How to Win the Reading War,” which highlights the struggles around the reading crisis facing our nation and the instructional methods available to change course.
The screening will feature the documentary’s in-depth look at the current state of reading instruction in schools, highlighting various teaching methods, challenges in curriculum design, and the evolving role of technology in education. The film aims to inspire conversations about how we can collectively work towards improving literacy rates across the nation.
Following the screening, a diverse panel of education experts and literacy advocates will engage in a robust discussion, offering their insights on how our community can support literacy initiatives, what changes are needed, and how we can bridge the gap in reading proficiency among students of all backgrounds. Mayor Paul Pernerewski, Interim Superintendent Dr. Darren Schwartz, Director of UCONN Waterbury Dr. Fumiko Hoeft, Assistant Professor of Literacy from CCSU Dr Dena Mortensen, Literacy Facilitator Kristina Martinez, and First Grade Teacher Emily Summa will be on the panel, moderated by Director/Writer Harvey Hubbell V.
Harvey Hubbell V, the director of “Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars,” a dyslexic learner himself, said he wants to keep other kids from facing the same challenges he did while learning to read. In the film, he talks to scientists, educators and parents to show research that points to ways to close the literacy gap in America and win the reading wars. “These aren’t teachers – these are educational ninjas,” he said while praising the first-grade teachers helping to instill strong reading foundations for all students. “They are building our nation.”
Tickets are available through mattmuseum.org/calendar
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2741940-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2741940-2
