The phrase “literacy crisis” has become commonplace, used not only by education experts but by local politicians, journalists and even TikTok users arguing about their favorite movie, book or TV show. Despite the prevalence of these somewhat frivolous uses of the term, the problem of a nationwide literacy crisis is very real. From local initiatives to proposed Senate bills, the whole country is trying to find a way to remedy low literacy levels among students and adults alike. This summer, the TCU College of Education played its part by hosting two institutes to promote literacy education among local schools and teachers.
The Critical Pre-K Age 
The inaugural TCU Early Literacy Institute Powered by PNC focused on pre-K teachers, teaching aides and educational leaders working in Title I schools. The institute's theme, “Literacy Starts Together,” encompasses literacy not only in the classroom but in students’ families and communities.
“High-quality early education builds foundational literacy, social/ emotional skills and collaboration between schools and families,” said Jan Lacina, Bezos Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education. “All of these early education components improve students’ graduation rates and quality of life. Teacher professional development is crucial to achieving early learning success; our professional development is unique as we focus specifically on PreK educators.”
In addition to a talk on early childhood development by keynote speaker Gloria Ladson-Billings, breakout room sessions with College of Education faculty equipped attendees with new strategies and techniques — as well as books, puppets and Play-Doh — to take back to their classrooms and enhance their students’ literacy skills both in school and at home.
Engaging the Public-School Community 
The Summer Literacy Institute, hosted in partnership with Fort Worth Independent School District, returned for its fifth year. Two John Newbery Medal winners served as keynote speakers, sharing their distinguished contributions to children’s literature. Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of “One Big Open Sky,” spoke on her career in children’s historical fiction and how stories help children better understand the world around them. Meg Medina talked about writing her first foray into the fantasy genre, “Graciela in the Abyss,” and how storytelling helped her explore her emotions. Breakout sessions featured a roster of literacy experts from across the country, covering topics such as bilingual education, structured literacy, HQIM scripted lessons and geospatial mapping.