Literacy in Delaware County

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Authors
Van Acker, Audrey L.
Hartman, Alaina M.
Advisor
Thatcher, Karen L.
Issue Date
2013-05
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.?.)
Department
Honors College
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Literacy forms the foundation upon which all learning is built; yet the statistics regarding the inadequacy of literacy in our nation are overwhelmingly unfortunate. Parents and caregivers should provide opportunities for learning about oral language and print beginning at birth to allow a child to develop literacy skills appropriately and to thrive throughout life. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) collaborate with parents and other professionals to identify and serve children who present atypical development in literacy proficiencies. As two speech-language pathology students at Ball State University, we researched literacy and its presentation and impact with specific regard to the bil1h to preschool age population in Delaware County. Indiana. We organized Baby Steps, a 5K Run/Walk, from which we used the proceeds to purchase used books we donated to the families at Head Start of Delaware County, the families at A Better Way in Muncie, Indiana, and the Ball State University Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic in Muncie, Indiana. Finally, we read with first through third graders at an afterschool program at the Maring-Hunt Library in Muncie, Indiana to put our acquired knowledge to use. Through fundraising, book donations, and reading with children in the Delaware County area, our mission was to share the knowledge we gained by bringing awareness of the importance of literacy to the community.