An ongoing service project for students pursuing degrees in Elementary Education at Northwestern State University continues to positively impact teacher candidates, young children and their families.
For several years, Dr. Michelle Fazio Brunson had coordinated an initiative to create family literacy bags that are presented free of charge to families with young children to encourage an early love of reading, build vocabulary and strengthen comprehension. The project also encourages children and parents to read together routinely, with parents becoming more closely involved in their children’s learning and development. Grant funding from the International Paper Foundation has been an important part of the initiative.
“Service-learning projects provide early childhood education majors with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills relating to developmentally appropriate practices while meeting critical community needs,” Fazio Brunson said. “Aligning with research on best practices in service learning, the NSU Early Childhood Education program immerses undergraduate teacher candidates and graduate students in collecting books and school supplies, creating and donating family literacy bags that support literacy development in the home. By participating in these projects, early childhood education majors gain practical experience while promoting positive outcomes for children and families.”
Fazio Brunson said the benefits to both students and families is obvious.
“Designing the activities helps preservice teachers connect theory to practice while developing professional skills. They learn how to communicate effectively with families, design literacy-rich materials and reflect on the diverse needs of children and caregivers,” she said. “Research suggests that preservice educators who develop stronger literacy knowledge and instructional confidence are better prepared to support young children’s literacy development. Ultimately, this service-learning project strengthens the NSU teacher preparation program by providing authentic opportunities for community engagement and reflective practice.”
“I have participated in this service-learning project since my first semester at NSU and have observed children’s joyful responses when receiving the materials,” said Taylor Poole of Pollock. “Teachers, children and their families all benefit from this project.
Victoria Sepulvado of Zwolle agreed.
“This semester, I saw first-hand how developmental domains impact each other in kindergarten children,” she said. “Kindergarten children must learn how to manage basic routines, their emotion, and how to stay focused. Simultaneously, some children pick up concepts faster than others. Thus, children who come to kindergarten with strong emergent literacy skills tend to be more successful as they navigate new social and physical tasks at the same time.”
Sepulvado said working with young children who need extra support taught her the importance of individualizing instruction and providing extra resources.
“Participating in the service learning project and donating books and school supplies helped give children access to materials that they would not have had otherwise,” she said. “Growing up, I was fortunate enough to always have what I needed, so this experience gave me a new perspective on supporting all students and giving back when possible.”
“The service-learning project has allowed me to connect what I’ve learned through my courses to real-world experiences,” Cheyenne Lopez of Anacoco said. “ In early childhood settings, literacy is very important. It is the foundation for all future development. By donating books and supplies, I know I can make a difference in a few children’s lives. This makes me proud knowing something small, like donating books, will permanently shape someone’s life.”
“Family literacy bag service-learning projects provide reciprocal benefits for teacher candidates, young children and their families,” Fazio Brunson said. “Early childhood education majors gain hands-on experience with family engagement and literacy instruction, while families receive resources that support literacy learning at home. These projects promote stronger family-school partnerships, enhance children’s literacy development and prepare future educators to engage families as essential partners in children’s educational success.”
Information on NSU’s Early Childhood Education degree program is available at https://www.nsula.edu/program/