Reading Clinic ‘Wonderful Addition’ To NSUBA

Reading Clinic Wonderful Addition To NSUBA

Oklahoma author and illustrator Kim Doner demonstrates how she would draw a raccoon during a presentation at the grand opening of the Northeastern State University Reading Clinic on the Broken Arrow campus.

BROKEN ARROW The Northeastern State University College of Education hosted a grand opening of the new Reading Clinic, located in Building C on the Broken Arrow campus, on Friday, Oct. 24.

The clinic is a wonderful addition for the Broken Campus, said Dr. Stephan Sargent, chair of the NSU Reading Program. It is essential in preparing our teacher candidates, both graduate and undergraduate, to be excellent teachers of reading. The Reading Clinic also reaches out to the community, with many families driving in from up to two hours away.

The Reading Clinic, a 5,600 square foot facility, provides tutorial assistance to students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade as part of the NSU graduate reading program. NSU education majors in the program gain practical experience working in the clinic under the supervision of university faculty, while students from the Tulsa Metropolitan Area enrolled at the clinic receive additional instruction in reading and literacy skills. Children participate to improve academic problems or to enhance their reading skills.

After having lived in an adapted space for so many years, its nice to have a space specifically designed for our reading clinic, said Dr. Kay Grant, dean of the NSU College of Education. The new Reading Clinic will greatly enhance our undergraduate program, while also serving to support our masters in Reading program.

Reading evaluations and tutoring services at the Reading Clinic are conducted by advanced students in Reading, Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Special Education, and other areas of education under the direction of university faculty.

The tutoring sessions and evaluations are occasionally audio or video taped for research, diagnostic and/or instructional purposes. To reach optimum efficiency in tutoring sessions, a number of assessments and evaluations are administered to determine initial placement, identification of strengths, needs and progress.

The opening of this clinic is the culmination of work from many people whose sole purpose is to make a better life for other people, said NSU President Dr. Don Betz. Bravo to Dr. Sargent and the faculty and staff for what they have created here.

The goals of the Reading Clinic are to prevent literacy problems in the early years of school, offer a supplemental instructional program for those who need it, and provide specialized services for the few whose problems persist after intervention.

This state-of-the-art facility, with it dedicated faculty and staff, cannot be found anywhere else in the country, said Dr. Ed Huckaby, associate vice president for Academic Affairs at NSUBA. Were really proud of our Reading department faculty for what they accomplish while working in this clinic.

Oklahoma author and illustrator Kim Doner made a presentation on the importance of reading, how she works in the creative process, and read from her latest book, On a Road In Africa, based on Doners experiences with real-life animal rescuer Chryssee Perry Martin in Nairobi, Kenya.

In addition to writing and illustrating childrens books and magazines, Doner, a graduate of the University of Tulsa, develops art classes for children and adults and hosts professional development workshops for teachers. She is a member of the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Graphic Artist's Guild, Oklahoma Center for the Book, International Reading Association and the Society for Creative Anachronism. Some of her books include Buffalo Dreams, Green Snake Ceremony and The Philosophers Club.

For more information on the Reading Clinic, or to enroll your child, contact Dr. Stephan Sargent at 918-449-6513 or sergents@nsuok.edu. For information on enrolling at NSU, contact Enrollment Management Services at 918-444-2200.

10/27/2008

Published: 2008-10-27 00:00:00