Van Buren teachers receive grant

VAN BUREN — Van Buren Local School District's ELA teachers Adam Greer (8th grade) and Karen Dishong (6th grade) received a $1,200 HancockREADS grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. The 2025 funding will be used to enhance access to diverse selections of high-interest nonfiction digital texts in middle school ELA Growth classes. The grant aims to support literacy development by implementing structured nonfiction reading activities focused on improving student comprehension skills. Activities will focus on students' abilities to analyze, summarize, and evaluate informational texts, fostering critical thinking and academic success. The program promotes real-world learning through linking nonfiction reading to practical experiences by engaging in discussion groups, research projects, and guest speakers, connecting student's reading careers to beyond the classroom. The grant also supports differentiated instruction for students with different reading levels, allowing readers to receive the support needed to engage with nonfiction content confidently.