search
Donate

Learning Lab

Child working on Molly of Denali activity

WOUB Learning Lab partners with KOC to increase child literacy in Perry County


Posted on:

< < Back to

ATHENS, OH – The WOUB Learning Lab is partnering with the Southern Local School District Kids on Campus (KOC) After School Program in Perry County to improve literacy, thanks in part to a grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

“The project aims to improve literacy outcomes among underserved and at-risk students by leveraging PBS educational resources,” said WOUB Early Childhood Education Specialist Lisa Kinnard. “The WOUB Learning Lab will enhance literacy education within the Kids on Campus afterschool program at Millcreek Elementary School.”

Kids on Campus, a rural community-university partnership, is dedicated to empowering underserved, at-risk children through educational opportunities. This grant will facilitate closer collaboration between WOUB and KOC, focusing on enhancing literacy outcomes within the program.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides grant funding to support literacy and education initiatives serving individuals of all ages. It funds nonprofit organizations, schools and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores in the states in which they operate. This local grant is a part of more than $4 million recently awarded to help extend a brighter future for K-12 students.

“We understand investing in youth literacy means investing in the future of students and our collective communities,” said Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “Through these grants, we hope to enhance the programs’ efforts to foster students’ critical thinking skills, creativity and confidence so they can unlock their potential and achieve their dreams.”

WOUB will host workshops during KOC instructional time, introducing students to various types of informational text by:

  • Utilizing activities from the Molly of Denali Family and Community Learning workshop series
  • Integrating educational technology into literacy activities enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes
  • Supplementing hands-on learning with PBS resources such as educational videos, interactive games, and online learning platforms
  • Collaborating with KOC to organize a family literacy night, offering extended literacy-based activities and providing families with resources for continued learning at home, including distributing books to children
  • Showcasing PBS Learning Media to educators, enabling them to access tools for ongoing literacy enhancement beyond the grant period

“We will serve up to 70 students from kindergarten to sixth grade,” said Kinnard.

The goal of the project is to improve literacy outcomes in 30% of the students. The project will run from October 2024 to April 2025.

 

About WOUB Public Media Learning Lab

Using the trusted and valued educational resources of WOUB Public Media and PBS, the WOUB Learning Lab empowers teachers, students, parents and caregivers to use 21st century learning tools and media proven to impact student success. Through professional development, classroom integration of educational technology, promotion of WOUB children’s programming and PBS Learning Media and supporting parents and families in the education of their children, the WOUB Learning Lab is a go-to resource for high-quality educational advancement support.