Mission
The University of Arkansas Clinic for Literacy (UACL) exists to provide individualized opportunities for improved achievement in reading and writing.
Vision
The vision of the UACL is to be a leader in the development of literacy learning, and to provide care and support to individuals needing literacy intervention or enrichment.
History
The UACL was created with the mission of providing supportive literacy learning to children and teacher candidates, as well as in-service teachers desiring focused professional development. The clinic was funded through a gift from the COEHP Dean’s Office in spring 2014. Monies were given to build storage and display areas for UACL books, assessments, and materials, as well as technology. Monies were also gifted to purchase the initial materials for the UACL. Construction of the physical space in Peabody 318 was completed during summer 2015.
The first UACL out-reach program was piloted as a Literacy Camp through CIED 5593, Advanced Diagnosis and Intervention during the July 2016 summer session. Camp was held at Washington Elementary in Fayetteville with 28 pre-service and in-service teachers as tutors and 28 K-6 students as clients. The clients attended camp sessions M-F for two weeks. They were assessed on their literacy skills. Areas of challenge were noted, and individual evidence-based interventions were designed, and instruction was delivered. Additionally, clients were taken through the writing process in small groups to compose an original piece of work. Children’s book author Michael Shoulders attended the final day of camp to talk with the children about the writing process. Parents were invited to conference with tutors about their student’s progress and celebrate their student’s work over the two-week camp.
Since that initial summer, the UACL has hosted Literacy Camp and/or literacy seminars in some format during the fall, spring, and summer academic sessions. In person tutoring was a staple until Spring 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted instruction. From Fall 2020 through Spring 2022, Literacy Camp sessions have continued via Zoom with a hybrid version offered during Summer 2022. Fully in-person tutoring resumed Spring 2023.