By José A. Álvarez
Change has come to the College of Education’s Literacy Center.
The Center has gone through a physical transformation that has made it more inviting and is helping it accomplish its mission: read, write and rise.
The Center went through three changes:
“The changes have benefited our community, including the kids, parents, and our staff, in countless ways,” said Dr. Katie Sciurba, assistant professor in COE’s School of Teacher Education. “The bright new colors of the furniture have created a more welcoming environment, and we've noticed that the parents interact more with each other now that the space is more ‘living-room-like’.”
The Literacy Center is part of COE’s School of Teacher Education and serves as a clinical training site for students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Reading Education programs. The Center offers literacy-based enrichment classes for children and adults. Also, San Diego State University graduate students, all of whom are credentialed teachers, receive practical hands-on experience as they work in the Literacy Center to help children and youth in City Heights and other local communities.
With the renovation, the Center lobby now comfortably sits at least 20, whereas it only held a capacity of about 12 people before.
The cameras will enable SDSU faculty and graduate students to complete cutting-edge research in literacy education, and the space—which is often utilized for therapy sessions as well—can also serve to impact the research being conducted by faculty in other disciplines like child development and family therapy. The small group spaces have helped to reach larger numbers of students, whether through small-group tutoring sessions, the new sewing class—So She Sews—or as a study area for SDSU graduate students studying for their comprehensive exams.
“We think the Literacy Center is impacting the community by providing a space for reading and writing enrichment, particularly for children who need and deserve a little extra support,” Sciurba said. “We are also fostering an environment where folks of all ages can network with one another, discuss schooling options for their kids and learn about additional resources in the community. One of our greatest joys has been receiving follow-up letters from parents expressing their desire to return to us for continued services and seeing the friendships kids develop with one another in their classes and small groups.”
Change has come to the College of Education’s Literacy Center.
The Center has gone through a physical transformation that has made it more inviting and is helping it accomplish its mission: read, write and rise.
The Center went through three changes:
- Using supplemental funds, the Center bought new furniture - namely for the lobby area, where parents wait for their children,
- Video cameras were installed throughout the Center, which will be used for data collection by faculty, as well as by graduate students, and
- Storage spaces were converted to small-group meeting rooms throughout the Center.
“The changes have benefited our community, including the kids, parents, and our staff, in countless ways,” said Dr. Katie Sciurba, assistant professor in COE’s School of Teacher Education. “The bright new colors of the furniture have created a more welcoming environment, and we've noticed that the parents interact more with each other now that the space is more ‘living-room-like’.”
The Literacy Center is part of COE’s School of Teacher Education and serves as a clinical training site for students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Reading Education programs. The Center offers literacy-based enrichment classes for children and adults. Also, San Diego State University graduate students, all of whom are credentialed teachers, receive practical hands-on experience as they work in the Literacy Center to help children and youth in City Heights and other local communities.
With the renovation, the Center lobby now comfortably sits at least 20, whereas it only held a capacity of about 12 people before.
The cameras will enable SDSU faculty and graduate students to complete cutting-edge research in literacy education, and the space—which is often utilized for therapy sessions as well—can also serve to impact the research being conducted by faculty in other disciplines like child development and family therapy. The small group spaces have helped to reach larger numbers of students, whether through small-group tutoring sessions, the new sewing class—So She Sews—or as a study area for SDSU graduate students studying for their comprehensive exams.
“We think the Literacy Center is impacting the community by providing a space for reading and writing enrichment, particularly for children who need and deserve a little extra support,” Sciurba said. “We are also fostering an environment where folks of all ages can network with one another, discuss schooling options for their kids and learn about additional resources in the community. One of our greatest joys has been receiving follow-up letters from parents expressing their desire to return to us for continued services and seeing the friendships kids develop with one another in their classes and small groups.”