Local teacher taking a different approach to help address literacy challenges

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Sonya Hernandez, a Spanish teacher at W.J. Christian School says her experience teaching Spanish has opened her eyes to the challenges students often face when learning something new.

With the recent concerns surrounding literacy challenges in Birmingham City Schools, Hernandez decided to try a different approach to address the problem by creating a student based digital magazine called the P.L.A.Y.S to help students find interest in strengthening their reading and writing skills.

“I just want to do my part in trying to improve literacy,” said Hernandez. “We have to find a way to, that’s going to get their attention.”

The program, targeted to 7th and 8th graders all across the Birmingham area allows the students apart of the program to interview their peers and write an article about them. After editing the article, it is published in the digital magazine for all to read .

“They’re writing the articles about the kids because kids learn from kids, and it’s also helping them because they experience not only reading literacy but writing literacy, digital literacy, oral literacy, because they’re actually interviewing and creating the articles and designing the pages.” said Hernandez.

It’s one method the students participating in the program say has helped going into the new school year.

“We do a lot of writing, rough drafts, just like ideas that’s a lot of writing. It’s helped me because I’m like well I did this before,” said Lani Stinson, an incoming freshman.

Stinson says she’s also noticed the excitement from her fellow peers to get involved.

“When you see something about you, you’re going to want to post it, and that’s good,” said Stinson.

Hernandez welcomes parents and their students to join the program just in time for the new school year.

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