Dr. Elizabeth G. Belcastro - Geneva College, a Christian College in Pennsylvania (PA)

Dr. Elizabeth G. Belcastro

Beth Belcastro Office Phone: 724-847-6132
egbelcas@geneva.edu
ebelcastro1@comcast.net

Disciplines/Field of Instruction

Education Department: Special Education

Degrees Received

Ed.D. in Reading Education, 2009, University of Pittsburgh
M.A. in Specific Learning Disabilities, 1989, West Virginia University
B.A. in Elementary Education, 1983, Fairmont State College

Courses Taught

Education 576 - Advanced Studies of Severe Disabilities
Education 572 - Advanced Studies of Academic Skill Intervention for Exceptional Children
Education 472 - Academic Skill Intervention for exceptional Children
Education 474 - Reading Intervention
Education 214 - Initial Field Experience in Special Education
Seminars:
The Role of a Literacy Coach
Parenting a Child with Autism: A Book Study

Publications

Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Jenkins, K., Zigmond, N., & Wilson, R. (2008). Four coaches coaching: What coaches do and why they do it. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Hathaway, J., Risko, V., Rosemary, C., & Roskos, K. (2006, December). Literacy Coaching: A Synthesis of the Research and Literature. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Presentations

Ankrum, J. W., Belcastro, E. G., Morewood, A. L., & McMahon, J. (2010, December).Differentiated Reading Instruction: Year One Data from the Classrooms of Exemplary Primary Teachers. Presented at the 60th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Fort Worth, TX.

Mathers, B. G., & Belcastro, E. (November. 2010). Reading Intervention: Pre-service Teachers Discuss their Experiences in the Field. Presented at the 51st annual Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children Conference, State College, PA.

Belcastro, E., Schmalz, K., Baughman, C., Baxter, A., Cover, C., Ellefson, K., Fevang, K., Fisher, E., Forstate, K., & Price, L. (2010, November). Grasping the Meaning of Reading: Research-Based Comprehension Strategies for Struggling Readers. Presented at the 51^st annual Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children Conference, State College, PA.

Belcastro, E., Bean, R., & Ankrum, J. (2010, April). “Coaching Conversations: The nature of talk between a literacy coach and three teachers.” Poster Session to be presented at the International Reading Association, Chicago, Illinois.

Belcastro, E., & Bean, R. (2009, December). “Coaching conversations: The nature of talk between a literacy coach and three teachers.” Presented at the 59th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Jenkins, K., Kenavey, L., & Zigmond, N. (2008, December). Defining Literacy Coaching: Lessons Learned from “The Blind Man and the Elephant. Presented at the 58th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Orlando, Florida.

Belcastro, E., & Heisey, N. (2008, October). SBRR: Piece of Cake! Presented at the 41st annual Keystone State Reading Association Conference, Valley Forge, PA.

Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Heisey, N., Jenkins, K., & Wilson, R. (2007, November). What Do They Do All Day?: Literacy Coaching Practices and Outcomes. Paper session presented at the 57th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Austin, Texas.

Heisey, N., & Belcastro, E. (2007, October). SBRR: Practical Suggestions for Classroom Implementation. Presented at the 40th annual Keystone State Reading Association Conference, Hershey, PA.

Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Heisey, N., Morewood, A., & Zigmond, N. (2007, March). Crossing Boundaries: Teachers’ and Coaches’ Perceptions of an On-Line Course in Pennsylvania’s Reading First Schools. Presented at the Council of Graduate Students in Education Academic Research Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Hathaway, J., Risko, V., Rosemary, C., & Roskos, K. (2006, December). Literacy Coaching: A Synthesis of the Research and Literature. Symposium session presented at the 56th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Current Projects

I am currently collaborating with colleagues on several research projects focused on literacy coaching and literacy instruction.

Awards & Distinctions Received

Recipient of the Fairmont State College Public School Teaching Fellowship, Fairmont State College and Harrison County Board of Education, 1992
Recipient of the WV Governor’s Recognition Award for Teaching Excellence, Harrison County Board of Education, 1999

Affiliations

Member, American Association on Intellectual and Development Disabilities
Member, Arc, 2009-present
Member, Council for Exceptional Children, 2009-present
Member, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2007-present
Member, International Reading Association, 2006-present
Member, National Reading Conference, 2006-present
Member, College Reading Association, 2006-present
Member, Keystone State Reading Association, 2006-present
Member, Beaver County Reading Association, 2006-present
Member, Pi Lambda Theta, 2006-present
Member, Council of Graduate Students in Education, 2006-present

Miscellaneous

I enjoy reading devotional and motivational books, fitness walking, traveling, and spending time with family.