ASC professor receives Motheread training (11-21-05)
Sylvia Evans, Barbara Hillan and Dr. Linda Christian received training through Motheread to assist Even Start.
Dr. Linda Christian, associate professor of Teacher Education, received training through Motheread to assist Even Start in working with parents and children on literacy.
The Motheread program is scheduled to start in November and will be available to families currently enrolled in Even Start.
According to the website http://www.motheread.org, Motheread is a private, non-profit literacy development organization, established in 1987, working through the United States to integrate literature-based curriculum and training into literacy, early childhood education, and family support programs.
"I worked with Marguarite Salazar and the Colorado Endowment for Humanities grant to fund people to be trained with Motheread," said Christian. "It is a really cool program and increases literacy skills in parents and children using children's books. There is also a parenting component."
According to Christian, Even Start is the first in the San Luis Valley to implement this program. She also said Motheread benefits families by helping children to become better students and providing adults with literacy and critical thinking development.
The Even Start program provides literacy training and development to low-income families. The goal of Even Start is to provide educational opportunities to parents as well as children.
Christian said she will use her training to lend support to Even Start and also act as a consultant. Christian trained with Sylvia Evans and Barbara Hillan, both who are with the Even Start Program.
By Linda Relyea
