The Literacy Clinic is a collaborative learning site that focuses on the preparation of future teacher leaders and researchers. We prepare beginning teachers to teach literacy and to integrate literacy instruction within and across content areas. We also prepare experienced teachers to become literacy specialists or literacy coaches through our Literacy Specialist program (K-12). Teachers in our Literacy Clinics provide reading and writing assessment and instruction to children, adolescents and adults in the community.
Our Literacy Clinic/s have transformed over time from a face-to-face University-based clinic that prepares practicing educators to become literacy specialists to school and community-based literacy clinics that prepare pre-service & in-service educators and, now, includes an online Literacy Clinic that holds the potential to reach educators, students, and families beyond our usual catchment area. In each of these learning ecologies, we provide literacy tutorials based on the sciences of reading within culturally and historically responsive frameworks. Educators work 1:1 or in small groups with students who are reading and writing below grade level. We are advancing innovative ways to connect with families and their literacy practices. In addition, we are passionate about connecting educators, students, and families with children’s authors from St. Louis and across the nation.
We are pleased to announce the continuation of our online Literacy Clinic that provides important literacy tutoring to students in the area. For more information and the link to apply, download a flyer .
We invite parents to apply for the Clinic by completing this application form. Please note that you will not hear from us until there is a space available.
We particularly invite students and families in the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ footprint to apply (e.g. Normandy, Jennings, Ferguson-Florissant, Ritenour, and St. Louis Public Schools).
For additional questions, you can contact us by email.
NEWS
- On February 22, 2025, the E. Des Lee Tutorial Education Initiative will sponsor an interactive workshop for teachers, tutors, and families called “Why use Decodable Texts? Considering Different Kinds of Texts in Homes, Schools, and Libraries.” The workshop will be held on ZOOM from 10:00-11:00 am CST. You can register at the link provided on the flyer.
- New Leaf Literacies initiative promotes joy of reading and nature at Woerner Elementary School
- In February 2024, the E. Des Lee Tutorial Initiative sponsored a series of UFLI Implementation Workshops for tutors, reading interventionists, tutor educators, community-based literacy organizations, and educators in the region. Over 55 people attended the workshops focused on an educative curriculum designed for teachers and students to teach phonics in an explicit and structured manner. In September of 2024, the E. Des Lee Tutorial Education Initiative again sponsored a series of UFLI Implementation workshops that were attended by over 100 people.
- UMSL’s Literacy Clinics participated in the National African American Read In sponsored by NCTE. This year, approximately 25 K-8 th grade students and 15 educators participated in an interactive workshop with children’s author Janice Harrington. She led students in a read aloud of her book “Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner” and guided the students as they wrote poems. Her presentation highlighted St. Louis history as Turner was a biology teacher at Sumner High School in St. Louis.
- UMSL and Girls Inc. celebrate summer literacy program at EyeSeeMe bookstore
- UMSL Literacy Faculty cultivates an active view of reading and community connections.
- Dr. Kelly Byrd, author of children’s book “Like Sunshine on an Otherwise Miserable Day” visits with teachers, families, and students who participate in UMSL’s Literacy Clinic. Fall 2022 Dr. Kelly Byrd Visit.
- Dr. Kelly Byrd joins UMSL as a Scholar in Residence in 2022. Dr. Byrd is an expert in children’s literature and family literacies. She has published a children’s book called “Like Sunshine on an Otherwise Miserable Day” (2019). She is the founder of “Love for Learning” a family literacy organization.
- Dr. Meredith Labadie joins UMSL as a Scholar in Residence in 2021. Dr. Labadie is an expert in early childhood literacy, critical literacy, and teacher education. Her research has been published in The Reading Teacher and the journal of Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education. She is active in many professional organizations for literacy educators.
- Students in UMSL’s Literacy Clinic participate in 2022 Summer Writing Residency with Children’s Author Kelly Starling-Lyons: Kelly Starling-Lyons Literacy Event.
- UMSL’s Literacy Clinic participates in NCTE’s 2021 and 2022 African American Read-In: African American Read-In
- The following story was published in UMSL’s Daily and features Dr. Nick Husbye’s work with a school-based literacy clinic at Lucas Crossing in 2017.
- This article was written in 2012 before the university-based Literacy Clinic moved to the Collabitat. The story describes how the framework of UMSL’s Literacy Clinic connects teachers, K-12 students, and parents.
In collaboration with the E. Des Lee Endowment for Tutorial Education
