Welcome
The University of New Hampshire's Community Literacy Center (CLC) is a resource for PreK-12 learners, families, and educators that supports the literacy learning of area children through collaboration with schools, families, and community organizations.
Quick links to CLC programming!
- NEW! Multilingual Book Group at the Dover Public Library, a collaboration between the CLC, the Dover Adult Learning Center of Strafford County, and the Dover Public Library. This project is funded in part by a Community Project Grant from New Hampshire Humanities. Registration is here.
- Camp Pageturner registration is here.
- Book to Art registration is here.
- Superstar Writers registration is here.
- 1-1 Literacy Support registration is here (in-person) or here (remote). (New students may register at any time)
- Write Free registration is here.
- Literacy Specialists Forum registration is here. (Meetings on 10/17, 11/28, 1/9, 3/12, 4/16)
Blog
Tinder and Flint, the Community Literacy Center blog, shares ideas about ways to incorporate literacy research in your classroom or home.
Sign up to receive the Center's online newsletter
Contact Information
Bethany Silva
Research Assistant Professor of Education
Community Literacy Center Director
Phone: (603) 862-3733
Email: bethany.silva@unh.edu
University of New Hampshire
Morrill Hall
62 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Ruth Wharton-McDonald
Associate Professor of Education
Phone: (603) 862-2380
Email: ruth.wharton@unh.edu
University of New Hampshire
202A Morrill Hall
62 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Get Social
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The idea for a Community Literacy Center housed in the Department of Education evolved from the relationship between partner schools and the UNH Education Department. A long-time dream of Ruth Wharton-McDonald, the Community Literacy Center connects practicing teachers, pre-service teachers, youth, families and Education Department faculty around the common goal of excellent literacy learning throughout the state of New Hampshire.
Through teacher networks, individual tutoring, group literacy activities, research, and more, the Community Literacy Center offers a student-centered, balanced approach to literacy grounded in research-based instruction.
Join us as we create a Community Literacy Center that is a vibrant alliance of educators and learners working together toward the goal of improved literacy.
Programs for Adults
Literacy Specialists Forum
A place to share ideas, collaborate, and support each other's literacy work.
| Who: reading specialists, literacy coaches, literacy specialists and other school literacy leaders.
Time: 6:30-7:30 PM |
Register here for Zoom link and password. |
| Dates:
Online • 10/18, 11/15, 1/10, 3/21, 4/18 |
To receive PD hours, complete registration above and check the CEUs box. Attendance is required to earn CEUs. |
Become a part of a community of literacy educators seeking to share challenges, highlight successes, and connect across districts.
The Literacy Specialists Forum (LSF) is a professional group for school literacy leaders like reading specialists, reading coaches, and literacy coaches. LSF meetings are self-governed with the leadership team selecting a topic from a list generated by the members. At meetings, LSF members discuss literacy research, problems of practice, and useful resources. New members always welcome.
1:1 Literacy Support
Write Free
| Grades: 5-12 | Wednesdays |
Time: |
| Online & In-person. | Suggested participation fee of $7/session | Registration |
Join the Community Literacy Center (CLC) on Wednesday evenings for online Write Free! Have a paper that you’re writing for school? Some poetry that you’d like someone to read? CLC staff will be available to help you work on the projects of your choice. Come for as many or as few sessions as fit your schedule!
Book->Art
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Grades K-4 |
Wednesdays |
Times: |
| Site: 109 Suite, Morrill Hall | Cost: $60 | Registration |
Developing a love for literature is an important part of becoming a lifelong reader. This club seeks to help develp that love for literature by linking fun activities with fun books.
Handbook
Write Free FAQ
Have an essay that you’re writing for school? Some poetry that you’d like someone to read? A novel in the works? Join the CLC for Write Free! We’ll have UNH volunteers available as writing coaches to work on the projects of your choice. Don’t know what you want to write? Come on in and we’ll help you generate ideas to get that writing going.
Write Free is open to youth in grades 5-8. Attend as many or as few sessions as fit your schedule.
Although Write Free is free, please consider paying the optional $7 participation fee per session to help defray costs.
FAQ
Who are the writing coaches?
The writing coaches are UNH undergrad and graduate students.
Why do you call them "writing coaches" instead of "tutors"?
Although the writing coaches can help you work to improve your writing, their goal isn't instruction or assessment, like a tutor's often is. The writing coaches are there to help you work on the writing that's important to you.
Why do I need to sign up in advance?
Our writing coaches are volunteers, and knowing who will be at Write Free helps us make sure our writing coach numbers and our participant numbers are pretty close to equal. It also lets us know who to contact in case there's bad weather and we have to cancel a writing session.
Do I have to go to every session?
We'd love to see you every week, but we understand that people get busy! Sign up for as many or as few weeks as you want. We do request, though, that you only sign up for weeks when you know you can attend. Spots are limited, and if you sign up and then don't show up, that means someone else will miss out.
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event (when it's in person!)?
The CLC isn't able to provide transportation to or from the event. There are three parking spaces outside of Morrill Hall. There is a larger visitors' parking lot a short walk across Main Street, in front of the Hamel Rec Center. Both of those lots cost $1.50 for one hour of parking. You can find more information about parking at UNH here. If attending online, you'll receive a link to the Zoom meeting the day before Write Free.
What should I bring to Write Free?
Bring your preferred mode of writing, be it a notebook, computer, tablet, phone, or parchment. Bring your creativity, and bring some ideas of writing you'd like to work on.
What if I don't know what I want to write?
We'll have ideas to help spark your writing.
(For in-person) I save most of my writing in the cloud. Will I have access to wifi?
Yes.
Interested in working with the Community Literacy Center? We’re excited to have you on board!
Access our opportunities via Handshake.
Questions? Call 862-3733 or email literacy.center@unh.edu.
Online Resources
- The Community Literacy Center BlogThe CLC blog provides short articles about reading and writing research and ways that research can be used by families and educators.
- TwitterFacebookFollow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook where we share resources and engage in conversations about literacy.
- Online Newsletter
Our bi-weekly online newsletter shares information about upcoming programming through the center, connections, and opportunities.
Resources for Youth
- Teen InkOnline magazine written for and by teens.
- Scholastic Art and Writing AwardsNational awards program for art and writing by youth in grades 7-12.
- Young Writers ProjectNonprofit writing community for teen and pre-teen writers.
Resources for Teaching and Learning
- Community Literacy Center BlogArticles on reading, writing, and literacy research.
- Connected Reading WikiResources for teaching reading in a digital age.
- Educator InnovatorOnline meetup for educators engaging in Connected Learning
- EdutopiaArticles on teaching and learning
- Innovation: EducationBlog about technology and learning from the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education
- KQED LearningResources for educators and students focused on media, youth voice, civic participation, and richer learning.
- Youth RadioLesson plans on podcasting, blogging, writing news stories and more from the Youth Radio journalism community.
Professional Networks
- International Reading AssociationGlobal advocacy and membership organization dedicated to literacy education.
- National Council of Teachers of EnglishProfessional organization focused on improving the teaching and learning of English and language arts at all levels of education.
- New England Reading AssociationNew England professional network dedicated to reading and language arts instruction.
- New Hampshire School Library Media AssociationNew Hamphire professional organization representing school library media specialists and paraprofessionals.
- National Writing ProjectA network of sites dedicated to improving writing and learning for all learners.