May 11, 2009

Purdue honors language professor with book distribution

Susan Nierstheimer, an assistant professor, died Dec. 19, 2005, after a two-year battle with cancer. This marks the fourth straight year for the books distribution in her honor.

"Susan’s wish was to put books into the hands of children," said Susan Gunderson, an instructor in the College of Education and friend of Nierstheimer. "She truly believed that all children can learn to be readers. She wanted to make sure that the children who are recipients of this gift receive books that they can read and that they can share with their families."

The books were purchased with the proceeds of the Susan Nierstheimer Book Fund. The fund provides children's books for first-grade students participating in Reading Recovery, an early intervention program that helps first-graders who are having difficulty learning to read and write.

The children will each receive four books, carefully selected from a range of current children's literature. The books build upon the reading skills and strategies developed in Reading Recovery and first-grade classroom instruction. The selections include a book students will be able to read easily; two chapter books that are more challenging; and one book that the children will be able to share with a parent.

Books will be distributed to 130 children in Reading Recovery programs at eight area schools. The books carry the inscription: "A gift for you from the Susan Nierstheimer Memorial Book Fund, providing books for children who have participated in the Reading Recovery Program."

Nierstheimer completed her doctoral dissertation on the Reading Recovery program. She co-authored a reading textbook for college students in addition to publishing articles in various reading journals.

Before coming to Purdue, Nierstheimer taught in public elementary schools. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Illinois State University and a doctorate from Purdue’s College of Education in 1996. She taught literacy courses to future teachers at Purdue for two years and at Illinois State for five years before returning to Purdue in 2002.

Those interested in donating to the memorial fund should make checks payable to the Purdue Foundation, 403 E. Wood St., West Lafayette, Ind. 47907-2007. "Susan Nierstheimer Book Fund" should be noted in the memo line.

Writer: Tonya Agnew, 765-494-0568, tragnew@purdue.edu

Source: Susan Gunderson, 765-494-7936, susang@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Books were delivered to Cumberland and Klondike schools in the West Lafayette Community School Corp. Students at Lafayette School Corp., Tippecanoe School Corp. and Twin Lakes School Corp. elementary schools will receive books on the following dates and times: Delphi Elementary, 1 p.m. Wednesday (May 13); and Twin Lakes schools on Thursday (May 14). Oakland Elementary received books Monday (May 11).

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