UMSL’s Reading Clinic began in 1966 as a cooperative program between UMSL and the Normandy School District. It was housed off campus in a 3-story house donated to the school district by Jane Hardy in memorial to her parents.
Credit: University of Missouri–St. Louis. (2008). Normandy Reading Clinic, C. 1970s 3636 [photograph]. University Photos. http://irl.umsl.edu/photo/3637
For six decades, UMSL’s Reading Clinic has been providing clinically rich literacy education experiences to teachers, students, and families in the community. Throughout this time, it has been a hallmark and visible sign of the College of Education’s commitment to providing teacher education and educational literacies rooted in community.
Since the Clinic’s inception in 1966, several foci have been clear – high quality clinically rich literacy teacher education, outreach and engagement with families, a focus on literacy learning across the lifespan, and conducting research that propels the field forward.
Credit: University of Missouri–St. Louis. (2009). Barnes Library at Night 4013 [photograph]. University Photos. http://irl.umsl.edu/photo/4015
Around 2010, UMSL expanded our traditional graduate student related Clinics to undergraduate, online, and in partnership with schools and community organizations. We continue to charter new territory as we provide opportunities for educators to learn how to teach evidence-based literacy instruction within culturally and historically responsive frameworks and engage in virtual literacy coaching, a literacy practice of the future.
