College of Education (COE) Professor Charlotte Frambaugh-Kritzer and Associate Professor Stephanie Buelow were recently recognized for their groundbreaking work in literacy education. Their project, Literacy Clinic: Innovative Field Experiences for K–12 Teacher Candidates, was selected to be a part of the 2024 Innovation and Impact Showcase, which celebrates innovative and high-impact teaching practices at UH Mānoa.
The showcase is an initiative launched by the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence, the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Assessment and Curriculum Support Center, and the General Education Office.
“Seeing our teacher candidates engage in meaningful literacy instruction is truly inspiring,” said Frambaugh-Kritzer, Professor of Secondary Literacy/Reading and Co-Director of the Hawaiʻi Writing Project. “The Literacy Clinic serves as a bridge of hope and opportunity for K–8 students while shaping future educators who are now prepared to foster equitable literacy opportunities in their own classrooms. I am deeply grateful to our partner schools for their invaluable support in making this work possible. As I like to say, this is where the magic happens.”
The Literacy Clinic pioneers targeted and scaffolded clinical experiences for teacher candidates, pairing them with diverse K–8 students in need of literacy support. The clinics emphasize the practical application of literacy strategies through micro-teaching, fostering meaningful connections between theory and practice. The project has already impacted over 415 students, receiving high praise from administrators, teacher candidates, and students alike.
“I am deeply committed to fostering a learning environment where teacher candidates, K–8 students, and school partners feel valued, supported, and inspired,” said Buelow, Program Chair for Undergraduate & Post-Baccalaureate Programs in the School of Teacher Education, Associate Professor of Literacy/Reading, and Co-Director of the Hawaiʻi Writing Project. “Through intentional design and collaboration, the Literacy Clinic creates a space where teacher candidates engage with students to move beyond theoretical understanding to apply their knowledge in real time to design, implement, and reflect upon lessons that are standards-based and tailored to the learners they serve.”
More than transformative literacy education, the Literacy Clinic is grounded in the idea that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive, and every teacher candidate has the capacity to make a significant difference in the lives of their students.
Stephanie and Charlotte’s Literacy Clinic video: https://vimeo.com/1014555762?share=copy
Innovation and Impact Showcase highlight reel: https://vimeo.com/1032535488
