Powerful+Voices+for+Kids+One+Sheet


 * POWERFUL VOICES FOR KIDS**


 * //A University-School Partnership between the Media Education Lab at Temple University's School of Communications and Theater and the Russell Byers Charter School (RBCS) in Philadelphia//**

//Powerful Voices for Kids// is designed to strengthen children's abilities to think for themselves, communicate effectively using language and technology tools, and use their powerful voices to contribute to the quality of life in their families, their schools, their communities, and the world.

The program consists of these components:
 * summer enrichment program in media literacy for children in grades K-6;
 * professional staff development program for elementary educators;
 * multimedia curriculum development and video documentation;
 * in-school and afterschool mentoring;
 * research on the impact of media literacy education on student learning and the development of alternative assessment methodologies;
 * parent outreach

In 2009, //Powerful Voices for Kids// was piloted, providing 24 teachers with training and materials in media literacy education, engaging 77 RBCS children in a media literacy summer enrichment program, and offering curriculum-based in-school support that is benefiting 420 children during the 2009-2010 school year. We also published a research report exploring the relationship between media and technology use and academic achievement among African-American children. We believe that the program is likely to generate innovations in teaching and learning that will improve the academic success of underserved youth on a national scale.

In 2010, Powerful Voices for Kids reached more than 80 children during the summer and over 70 K-12 teachers who attended the "Open Doors" program to learn more about digitla and media literacy. In moving forward, we will refine the program's content and format, and develop exportable packages for staff development, multimedia curriculum and assessment materials, thereby positioning //Powerful Voices for Kids// to be available to elementary schools throughout the region, and, ultimately, across the country. We will be seeking additional partnership schools in 2011.


 * //Funding Support.// We received $50,000 from the Verizon Foundation in 2009 and $150,000 from the Wyncote Foundation in 2010. **


 * //Leadership// . The program is co-directed by Renee Hobbs, a Professor in the Department of Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media and Founder of the Media Education Lab at Temple University, and Laurada Byers,** Founder of the Russell Byers Charter School in Philadelphia.


 * //For More Information:// Visit the Media Education Lab website at: @http://mediaeducationlab.com **