Projects and Initiatives
Five Pillars of Professional Learning
Professional learning and development is a core focus of the Richard O. Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy (JCCL) as demonstrated through projects and initiatives that engage young students, pre-service and in-service teachers. Within the JCCL, we embrace five fundamental principles for professional learning. We:
Emphasize the vital significance of relationships, highlighting their critical role.
Recognize the pivotal position of teacher knowledge at the cornerstone of our efforts,
Prioritize process over outcome, valuing the learning journey alongside its results.
Stress the importance of argumentation in facilitating the exploration of new insights.
Advocate for symmetric power and trust-based relationships to establish a solid foundation for encouraging risk-taking in teaching and learning.
I hear the demands to raise scores in our schools. I see the impact of the pressure to get more done in less time to meet standards. And I wonder what we lose when we let go of those small moments when we kneel down next to a child and look at the world from their level.
Key Initiatives
UNI Literacy Clinic
The UNI Literacy Clinic is a critical part of the Literacy Education program and supports identified students (1st-6th grade) with literacy learning needs in an after-school program in fall and spring semesters, and as a morning clinic program at school sites in the summer. One-to-one tutoring is provided to clients by UNI students enrolled in the Advanced Literacy Practices course and the co-requisite Experience in Literacy: Tutoring course.
UNI Literacy Initiative
A new professional development effort called the UNI Literacy Initiative brings 15 teachers to campus for a two-week summer institute to study elements of transformative comprehensive literacy and identify a research project to be carried out in their classroom during the school year (with ongoing support and guidance from JCCL staff). This research is then presented at a statewide “Share Fair” at the Iowa Reading Conference.
Young Readers & Writers Project
Each year, we engage with a community partner to bring young readers and writers to the UNI campus where they will have the opportunity to hear from and work with a variety of authors and illustrators. In addition, during the summer of 2024 we are planning a special back to school camp for third- to fifth-graders that will get them ready to learn with several adventures on the UNI campus.