MSMC Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning K-6Programs at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center

 Involve teacher candidates and trained volunteers to provide authentic literacy experiences for children to improve as literacy users, both in skill and in interest.  Close the literacy achievement gap for students who are not successful in school with tutoring and out-of- school literacy programs to promote lifelong literacy.  Study the programs to ensure they are meeting participants’ needs and to offer other communities models for exemplary community based literacy programs.

 One-on-one tutoring with MSMC graduate students in literacy.  Students are assessed, then instructional lessons are taught to target literacy needs.  Data are collected to support student growth across semesters and to share with school district.

 1 Graduate class worked with 18students in grades K-5 to provide one-on- one instruction, 3 days a week, for five weeks.

 3 Graduate classes in literacy are tutoring students in grades 1-6, one afternoon a week for 10 weeks.  More than 40 students are participating.

K-2 Read Aloud Club  Teacher candidates select quality multicultural books to read and engage children in conversations about the book and their world.

Children prepare for a Readers Theater of the book, What Are Your Doing?  Literacy activities such as Reader’s Theater, bookmaking, and exploring other texts, follow each read aloud.

 Teacher candidates facilitate book talks with older children who read and engage in conversation and art related activities about the book.  The books represent the diverse cultural backgrounds of children.

 Family Literacy Nights December 2013 & April 2014  New literacy graduate course sequence to provide tutoring 2x per week  Study model for continuous improvement