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Bilingual program embraces reading

Hispanic families gather to discuss storybooks chosen to ignite a love of reading.

By PETER SCHWEITZER
Published April 25, 2005

CLEARWATER - As the young Hispanic mothers and their children entered the sun-splashed cafe at the Clearwater Main Library, they greeted each other with smiles and warm embraces.

Wednesday night, they met for the fourth session of a six-week program targeting Hispanic families and titled "Prime Time Family Reading." The program originated in Louisiana to fight illiteracy and encourage reading as a family affair. Eighteen families are enrolled at Clearwater Main Library.

Jackie Ramirez, a 24-year-old single mom from Clearwater, said she participates so she can pass on her love of reading to her two children.

"We read every night," she said. "I want my kids to read and see how important it is. Reading helps them understand the world around them and their own lives as well."

Jana Fine, youth services manager at the Clearwater library, sees the program as an innovative way to encourage reading, introduce the Clearwater library to the Hispanic community, and have some fun at the same time.

"We try to make it fun for the kids and their parents," she said. "We begin the program with a meal and then we break into two groups for storytelling and discussion of the book's theme. The school-age children participate in the storytelling and book discussion while the younger ones make drawings or do some other activity."

The bilingual program focuses on an interactive approach to learning that is more Socratic than the traditional classroom atmosphere. The children's storybooks are distributed the week before and are discussed in terms of a particular theme. Each week the participants are given a new book to read.

Wednesday, they read The Woman Who Outshone the Sun, Lord of the Cranes and Miss Rumphius. They were also issued library cards.

The theme for Wednesday was compassion. A storyteller used bold gestures as well as voice inflection to emphasize certain characters or scenes. The translator then did the same in Spanish.

Cynthia Leung, an assistant professor in the University of South Florida's College of Education, began a discussion of the book based on the theme of the evening.

"My job is to get things moving and help the group to think about the issue presented in the book," she said. "Each evening I try to find questions that are thought-provoking and have some impact on their lives."

On Wednesday, about 15 families attended. All the adult participants were mothers who had brought their children.

Maria Cerro, 29, of Hidalgo, Mexico, admitted to speaking very little English. " "Muy poquito " is how she described her command of English. However, she wants more for her children who attend Sandy Lane Elementary in Clearwater.

"I'm taking English classes so that I can learn and help my children," she said in Spanish. "It's so important to read and write. I try to read with them every day."

Another native of Hidalgo, Martha Montezuma wants to encourage her children to read, especially in English.

"I work a lot and don't have much time. The time I do have I want to be with my kids and help them learn," said the 29-year-old Clearwater resident.

As they gathered in a semicircle, the poem Sing a Song of Popcorn was read. When Leung asked the group what was their favorite part, 9-year-old Adrian Gomez' hand shot up in the air: "I liked the part about not hurting animals."

Leung nodded in agreement. "That's very good."

The library hasn't decided whether to offer another session of Prime Time Family Reading after this class concludes.

"We're going to evaluate its effectiveness and see if we'll offer it again," said Paula Godfrey, coordinator of special projects and grant services for the Pinellas County Public Library Cooperative, the sponsor of the program.

[Last modified April 25, 2005, 01:04:14]