9 parents, 15 kids finish Motheread/Fatheread reading program

To begin the New Year, nine parents and 15 children participated in a Motheread/Fatheread adult course and Story Exploring course at Green Meadow School and at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library.

The Motheread/Fatheread adult course combines the teaching of literacy skills with child development and family empowerment issues. Parents and children learn to use the power of language to discover more about themselves their families, and their communities.

It offers classes for both the adults and children. In adult classes, participants learn to be story readers, writers, and tellers in a group structure that supports their own sense of worth and ability. These classes are appropriate for all adults regardless of reading ability or prior educational experience. By teaching the “why” of reading rather than just emphasizing the “how,” classes encourage parents to be reading role models for their children. For children, Story Exploring provides a structured environment for learning reading, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.

At Green Meadow School, the courses started on Dec. 3, 2013, and ended on Jan. 31, 2014. Before completion certificates were awarded to the participants, the parents at this site each gave a short presentation or reflections that highlighted their learning experiences in the training sessions.

Joan Durano said: “Motheread/Fatheread program was a good help for me and my children. I learned reading techniques that helped and will encourage my children to read, more especially to the little ones. All of the books and excerpts that we read and tackled will serve as an example to me. All the thoughts, opinions, writings, reading, and reading aloud that we all have shared in the class are a different experience that I had in a long time. And I started to share some of that to my children and I will continue to do it. Teach them that reading is fun and it will give them a bright future ahead, because for me this program is all about them…our children.”

Vera Apeda said: “I’ve been waiting for a program like this because as a single working mother of two great kids, sometimes or almost all of the time I’m tired from work, but so grateful to have them in life. I would like to thank this program, it helped me a lot, and learned a lot. I will try to apply this everyday for the benefit of my kids.”

Another parent, Rachael Merced, said: “In this Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy Course, it fills me with confidence to read books to my children, spend quality time with them, and we were connecting stories to events in our daily lives. As a parent reading books and learning new words with my children is a good way of teaching while they are still young. Teach them to be responsible, be prepared and let them learn, encourage our children.”

Nida Agbayani ended with, “…I appreciate this program because it helped me, remind me to help my children to improve their listening, speaking, and reading skills and also writing.”

Participants for this cycle were Joan Durano, Nida Agbayani, Verna Apeda, and Rachael Merced. Bryan Manabat facilitated the trainings at this site.

Green Meadow School chair Saturnino Sungcuan and MR coordinators Viola Deleon Guerrero and Beth Demapan attended the mini-event. They gave short remarks and thanked participants for their commitment to teaching their children the love of books and literacy skills. Light refreshments followed.

On Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, parents Adelfa Corpuz, Sun Young Kang, and Jeong Won Kim completed the adult course at Joeten-Kiyu Public Library. The eight-session course started last Dec. 16, 2013, and was led by the Motheread Program coordinator Viola Deleon Guerrero.

In both class trainings, Motheread/Fatheread trainers exposed participants to varied multicultural children’s literature that will engage their children at home. Effective research-based techniques and strategies were shared in both courses that will lay the foundation for reading success, and success in school. Facilitators also emphasized the role that parents play as the first teacher of their child, and that a lifetime of literacy starts at home.

A Story Exploring course for children was also held in concurrence with the adult courses. Story Exploring provides a structured environment for learning reading, critical thinking, and problem solving skills for students.

Story Sharing instructor Milagros Merjilla led the children at Green Meadow School with the assistance of Anita Delgado from time to time. Merjilla is also the president of GMS.

Participating children at GMS were Anna Julia Dalusong, Vimarie Alfeche, Honey Satur, Renz Satur, Robin Agbayani, and Art Vincent Afeche.

Assistant Motheread coordinator Beth Demapan engaged the children in reading adventure at Joeten-Kiyu Public Library. Malia Benavente, Kekoa Ito, Kiyokazu Suzuki Gonzales, Genzo Suzuki Gonzales, Ian Song, Joan Song, Justin Calvo, Ashley Kim, and Toby Rospel were the participating children at this site.

Adult course sessions and story exploring for children are ongoing at the Joeten Kiyu Public Library every Monday, from 5pm to 6pm.Another series of Motheread/Fatheread adult course cycles will begin at the Head Start Centers this March.

– March 10, 2014, every Monday at 5:30pm; Tanapag and Kagman Head Start Centers.

– March 11, 2014, every Tuesday at 5:30pm; Dandan and San Antonio Head Start Centers.

– March 12, 2014, every Wednesday at 5:30pm; Oleai and Chalan Kanoa, and Songsong Head Start Centers.

– March 13, 2014, every Thursday at 5:30pm; Garapan (JMR), Tinian, and Sinapalo Head Start Centers.

CNMI Motheread/Fatheread program is a literacy program administered by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council. For more information, contact cnmimotheread@gmail.com or call 235-7319, cell: 989-8542, and text us at 788-5785. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]