June 12, 2024

Literacy is Fun and Games, Literally

Second grade teacher and reading intervention endorsement alumna, Gretchen Rowland-Horrigan ’24, hosted Oregon Trail Elementary School’s first ever Literacy Night, helping K-5 students and their families learn tangible strategies for promoting literacy at home while having fun.

Gretchen Rowland-Horrigan, Reading Intervention Endorsement '24 Gretchen Rowland-Horrigan, Reading Intervention Endorsement ’24Gretchen Rowland-Horrigan, Reading Intervention Endorsement ’24, is passionate about literacy. A second grade teacher at Oregon Trail Elementary, Rowland-Horrigan’s capstone project recently came to life in the school’s first-ever Literacy Night–an event designed to cultivate a love of reading and learning amongst both students and their families while bridging the gap between classroom instruction and home engagement, and, most importantly, making literacy fun.

Open to students in kindergarten through fifth grade and their families, Literacy Night was carefully designed for each family to walk away with budget-friendly, fun, and easy strategies for promoting literacy at home. Through interactive stations, phonemic awareness exercises, book exchange tables, and student book reviews accessible via scannable QR codes, Rowland-Horrigan used creativity and play to place literacy front and center.

Emma Davis, a reporter for Pamplin Media Group and the Happy Valley Times, attended the event as well. In her article, she shares Rowland-Horrigan’s hopes for Literacy Night’s impact on its attendees: “I want parents to see themselves as partners in their children’s education. I hope this event sparks a tradition of family-centered literacy initiatives, creating a literacy-centered ripple effect of positive learning experiences for years to come.”

About Lewis & Clark’s Reading Intervention Endorsement

Lewis & Clark’s Reading Intervention Endorsement is a 14 credit hour program designed to be completed over the course of one to two years of part time study. Classes are offered in the evenings and during the summer. Students can begin the program in September, January, or June.

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District Partnership Opportunities

Gretchen Rowland-Horrigan was a member of the North Clackamas district partnership reading endorsement cohort. More information about our district partnership opportunities is available on our website.