By Emily Carson
News Editor
Members of St. Bonaventure University’s Xi Nu of Kappa Delta Pi received recognition for a literacy program they developed for the Olean Child Daycare Center.
“KDP is an international education honor society,” said Emily Call, a graduate advisor for the group. “Education majors with specific GPA and credits received are inducted if they chose.”
Call said one of the things that each member promises when inducted into the society is to help the community.
“Since we are an educational society, we have chosen to do different activities throughout the community such as our literacy workshop at OCDC,” said Call. We work hard to promote education at our school and in the community. We knew the importance of educating our community on literacy and how important literacy is for young children.”
Through a program called Literacy Alive!, KDP chapters from across the country are asked to create a literacy-focused community service program that could be submitted to a board for review.
“This program had to bring literacy skills to the community, and had to be something they benefitted from,” said Call. “In all, Literacy Alive! is KDP’s way of getting its members involved in service in the community using literacy.”
16 members of Xi Nu developed a two-pronged plan to help replace the books, movies and toys that had been destroyed by a flood at the OCDC and to combat early childhood literacy issues.
“We felt that working with OCDC would be a great place because they are always willing to take in Bona students and professors to gain new ideas,” she said.
In order to raise funds for the program, Call said members of KDP sold draw string bags at Bonagany and in the Reilly Center.
“Some of the $100 profit we made off of our bag sales went to OCDC so that a book could be purchased for each student around Christmas time,” said Call.
Last spring, members held a literacy workshop at OCDC. Members broke up into small groups and each read a book to parents and their children, and then discussed it.
“It was a fun workshop we were engaging the children in the story, and also teaching a follow-up activity or concept that went along with the book,” Call said. “We also gave OCDC a copy of each of the books we used in our workshop to enhance their school library.
Call said completing the project had a very rewarding impact on her.
‘We worked very hard to plan the workshop, identify books to be used, and identify skills or concepts to teach. I was able to use my knowledge to teach other professional what I have learned through the education program at Bonas.
In its first ever submission to Literacy Alive, Xi Nu earned the Premier Achievement Award, as well as a check for $300.
Call said KDP plans to create a program to submit to Literacy Alive! again.
“This year we want to possibly do something similar but focus more on math and science. We are tossing around ideas.”
carsonek10@bonaventure.edu
