May 18, 2013
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Memphis elementary school principal Raychellet Williamson is using television to teach literacy -- closed caption television that is.
Children at Williamson's Shannon Elementary will be watching 60 minutes of closed caption TV a day over the holiday break.
Every child is expected to bring documentation, signed by a parent, of their closed caption use.
Williamson told The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/10aPk3f) she got the idea from a Kent State University literacy professor Tim Rasinski.
Rasinski said closed captioning is a way for children to see more words in print. Every time they see a word, it gets imprinted in their memories. Eventually it becomes a word they recognize immediately.
Williamson started promoting closed caption TV in November and some students say they already have seen an improvement in their reading.
