The power of a shared story

In the summer of 2017, the Helen M. Robinson Center for Reading, housed in the Stevens Literacy Center, reopened after The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education’s remodeling project was completed in January. It welcomed back the community, children, and Ohio University students to create more memories through reading.

The center, now in its 20^th year of serving K-12 students, and its students are literacy ambassadors, transforming children struggling with reading into lifelong lovers of books and stories. Starting as a six-week program with 10 families, the center has grown rapidly. The success of its 2017 summer program and camp led to 30 ambassadors and 30 families being served in fall 2017.

Reading and writing new stories

“My student ran in and told me that she has been looking forward to this all week,” said Patton College junior Krista Reiff, who, with other ambassadors, develops lesson plans and curriculums for their students. “I look forward to our time together all week as well. I get a chance to make a difference, but I also get to put what I’ve learned in the classroom into practice.”

For students, their work as literacy ambassadors also reinforces their connection to the Athens community.

“I’m working with a second-grader now, and it is meaningful to me, because my second-grade teacher was the person who instilled my love for reading,” said Patton College senior Autumn Pack. “I have that opportunity to share that now as a teacher. Reading changed my life, and it can change [the lives of] my students.”

The Robinson Center for Reading is a warm, welcoming space where technology works hand-in-hand with well-loved books and children’s and teachers’ imaginations.

“We call the [Helen M. Robinson Center for Reading] ‘Aunt Helen’s Tree House’ because we want children to look forward to coming here,” said Francis, PHD ’07 and director of the Robinson Center. “We hear them excitedly saying that they’re going to the tree house. We’re embracing our region, opening our doors, and sharing good stories.”

Illustration by Leonie Bos