The School of Education has been a leader in literacy education since 1948, when the School created one of the nation’s oldest programs dedicated to reading and the language arts. We continuing this long-standing tradition of community partnership and clinic-based programs with year-round literacy clinics and programming for Syracuse area schools. These programs provide a comprehensive, research-based approach to addressing the literacy challenges of young children and adolescents, while offering hands-on experiences for graduate students in the M.S. in Literacy Education (Birth-Grade 12) program.
Although we use the term “clinic”—an older notion of intervention that emphasized students’ deficits and weaknesses—the our Literacy Clinics are community-oriented rather than adopting a commercial or medical model.
SOE’s spring literacy clinics provide targeted tutoring for students at Roberts PreK-8 School in the Syracuse City School District. This after-school program supports early development in students in kindergarten-grade 3 with identified literacy challenges, while helping graduate students fulfill practicum and coaching requirements. Students (associated with RED 629: Data-Driven Early Literacy Intervention and Coaching) assess and provide individualized tutoring to 1-2 tutees including:
In addition to working directly with students, graduate students develop literacy coaching skills by collaborating with classmates, reviewing tutee progress during seminars, and reflecting on their own professional development. This program is typically one hour twice a week, or about 25 hours total.
SOE’s summer literacy program provides asset-based inquiry instruction, focused on enhancing students’ reading, writing, research, and presentation skills. Master’s students align their instructions with national and state literacy standards in guiding student inquiry. Young students from Roberts PreK-8 School in the Syracuse City School District are steered towards creatively synthesizing materials that interest them through a process of inquiry and analysis of books and curated internet resources. This clinic is part of the ELA summer school curriculum.
Publishing is viewed as an integral part of literacy, with sharing what has been read and discussed reinforcing lessons and strengthening social interactions. Each session conclused with a Friday Showcase of student presentations on what they’ve learned and analyzed using PowerPoint, posters, infographics, videos, photovoices, or podcasts. Students present their final or in-progress projects to peers and teachers, receiving constructive feedback and reflections.
SOE faculty and graduate students assess young students’ literacy strengths and needs at both the beginning and the end of the clinic, focusing on their ability to decode, understand vocabulary, comprehend, and write. These reports are shared with teachers and parents, and assessment data is used for planning and reflection. This program is typically 1.5 hours, 5 days a week, or about 50 hours total.
Writing Our Lives provides Syracuse area youth with creative opportunities to write, create, produce, and share their stories. In partnership with Elmcrest Children’s Center, a multi-service, Syracuse-based education center with roots in the early 19th century Syracuse Free School, the program offers an experiential placement opportunity for School of Education students enrolled in RED 614: Teaching 21st Century Writers In and Out of School. This program is typically 1.5-2 hours once a week, or about 25 hours total.
Literacy assessments and tutoring are available year-round for students with literacy challenges who are referred or recommended by parents or teachers.
