Clinic for Literacy

New Website for Clinic for Literacy

Note, summer 2023: Please check out the clinic's new website literacy.uark.edu for complete and up-to-date information about UACL, its camps and resources.

Summer 2023 Announcement

We are proud to announce we are holding the Summer 2023 Literacy Camp. The camp will be in-person this year, with sessions on the Fayetteville campus. Registration deadline is June 16.

Literacy Camps Offered Throughout the Year

The University of Arkansas Clinic for Literacy provides students opportunities for improved achievement in reading and writing. Teacher candidates serve students through analysis of literacy needs and intervention. Literacy coursework grounded in Science of Reading (SoR) taught at the university is immediately applied through work with students to support school literacy experiences.

The clinic hosts literacy camps for kindergarten through sixth-grade students during fall and spring semesters. A two-week literacy camp is also held during the summer months immediately prior to the beginning of the school year.

Each U of A teacher candidate providing intervention for the students understands SoR and the various challenges that students face in learning to read. Candidates use the principles of Response to Intervention (RtI) and how to best use formative assessment combined with evidence-based practices to make reading and writing gains with each student. The goal is to teach students strategies aligned school-based instruction.

Enrollment has increased 70 percent from the Clinic for Literacy's inaugural Summer Reading Camp with nearly 35 percent of the students re-enrolling each semester.

The U of A Clinic for Literacy serves students from multiple districts and private schools as well as home schools. Everyone is welcome! Past participants come from:

  • Farmington
  • Fayetteville
  • Rogers
  • Springdale
  • West Fork
  • Elkins
  • Prism Education Center
  • Providence Academy
  • Homeschool families

Parent Testimonials

"The UA Literacy Camp has been invaluable for my daughter who has always struggled with reading. She now has a joy, confidence, and excitement for reading that has made a lasting impact."
— Parent of a third-grade participant

"The UA Literacy Camp not only increased my son's fluency and comprehension, but tremendously built his confidence."
— Parent of a fourth-grade participant

Clinic Leadership

Heather D. Young, Ph.D.
Clinic Research Coordinator
hkindall@uark.edu

Heather Young is an assistant professor. She is a former elementary school teacher and literacy coach. Dr. Young has a Master of Science in Reading Education from the University of Tennessee and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arkansas. She is trained in Connections OG in 3D, an evidence-based intervention specifically addressing phonemic awareness and phonics.

Kristi Mascher, Ph.D.
Clinic Programming Coordinator
Literacy Camp Director
kamasche@uark.edu

Kristi Mascher is a teaching assistant professor. She is a former kindergarten and gifted education teacher. Dr. Mascher has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arkansas.

Rhett Hutchins, Ph.D.
Clinic Technology Coordinator
rjhutchi@uark.edu

Rhett Hutchins is an associate teaching professor in the Educational Studies program. Dr. Hutchins has a doctorate in Language and Literacy Education from the University of Georgia where he gained experience leading and working in their literacy clinic.

Megan Chaffin
Clinic Graduate Assistant
machaffi@uark.edu

Megan Chaffin is a graduate assistant for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, working on a doctorate in Literacy Education. She is a former elementary classroom teacher.