A new grant will help Methodist University take strides in improving literacy skills within the Fayetteville community.
A new grant will help Methodist University take strides in improving literacy skills within the Fayetteville community.
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi recently awarded MU a $2,000 grant to partially fund its “Love of Literacy (LOL)” initiative.
In collaboration with the Children Understanding Books (CUBS), Methodist Kids Association (MKA), and the Hay Street United Methodist Church (HSUMC), Methodist University representatives will provide weekly one-on-one social and academic mentoring to 320 students at Margaret Willis Elementary School starting this September.
The Love of Literacy project will also allow young students to eventually learn from Aniesha Jackson, a North Carolina-based Black author whose children’s books focus on diversity and social emotional learning. On top of it all, the students will be able to take home their very own children’s book.
“The funding for this project is extremely impactful as it promotes positive perceptions of reading among our students,” said Sarah Hall Beasley, a reading remediation teacher for first and second grade students at Margaret Willis Elementary. “Students will broaden their love of literacy while increasing their own reading abilities. Additionally, students will perceive themselves not only as readers, but also as writers, as they collaborate to create their own books.”
Beasley also mentioned that MU plays a pivotal role in the success to the program.
“Our students look forward to visiting with their tutors while simultaneously engaging in interactive learning activities,” she said. “The students’ joy is palpable in this partnership!”
For more information about the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, visit their website.