Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy

The Council’s longest running program, Motheread® was established on Guam in 2000 to contribute to improving family literacy.  The Council is a state affiliate of the national Motheread® office based in Raleigh, NC. This specialized community-based program, which is part of many humanities councils throughout the country, combines teaching literacy skills with child development and family empowerment issues.  Trained facilitators from partner organizations work directly with participants in small class settings and use a literature-based curriculum that draws upon child development themes. Literacy ensures an appreciation for all aspects of the humanities. Motheread® teaches critical thinking while inciting a love for reading, improving quality of family time, and expanding social competency skills.

The Motheread® program targets the “underserved” community, including those who are incarcerated, economically disadvantaged, and recent immigrants with limited English skills. The program also targets individuals interested in facilitating Motheread® sessions. With eight years of grant support from Guam Community College, the Council has partnered with over twenty-eight nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies and village mayors to facilitate 50 cycles and reach over 1,500 community members and their families through Motheread®.

In January 2011, the Council held its seventh National Training Institute through grant funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities under the “The Micronesian Question” project. Nineteen Motheread® facilitators were trained, many of who are Micronesians or are from organizations and agencies that work directly with Micronesian communities on Guam. The last Motheread session concluded at the end of August 2011 bringing the program in reach of nine sites throughout the island, including sites in Mangilao, Hagatna, Tumon, Yigo and Dededo. There were a total of 87 participants.

http://motheread.org/

Click here to view the Motheread photo gallery.