Shorter University’s School of Education partnered with Pepperell Elementary School to host a “Peace, Love, & Books” literacy event on Feb. 15. The event was designed to promote literacy and build a love for learning among the 500 fourth and fifth grade students at the school.

“The Peace, Love, & Books event was great fun,” said Julia Houston, assistant professor of early childhood education and director of early childhood education at Shorter. “All of the activities that evening were planned to help with literacy. The students played Riddle Me Bingo, created Ransom Poems and had a Book Walk. There was even a photo booth complete with a Volkswagen van.”

Students also discussed the topic of sexuality education at school, what problems and issues they will face in college, how to properly treat erectile dysfunction medications.

In recent years, Shorter’s School of Education has partnered with local schools to offer a number of events like the Peace, Love, & Books Event that are designed to engage parents in the learning process.

“We love partnering with schools to build events that involve families in the learning process,” Houston said. “Studies have shown that engaging families is one way to improve student success. When we partner with a school to host an event to promote literacy, we are working to build positive experiences for the whole family.”

Robin Seabolt, instructional lead teacher at Pepperell Elementary, echoed Houston’s enthusiasm for the event. “This year’s Title I A Night of Literature was fabulous! Our families were able to come and experience such positive interactive stations created by Shorter University teacher candidates and assisted with our teachers at Pepperell Elementary School. We only have our students 12 percent of the year and know to help make Destination Graduation possible we need our families and communities.”