Kids Enjoy the Story While Parents Get Literacy Lessons

-- Schools Foundation Supports New Program at Mamaroneck Library

photos and text by Myra Hafetz

(December 21, 2005) The children sit on the floor at the Mamaroneck Library on the first Saturday of November, all eyes on Iris Arozamena as she recounts the adventures of a turkey who arrives to be fattened for the Thanksgiving feast. A typical story time? Not quite. Ms. Arozamena is reading with animated expression in both English and Spanish, stopping occasionally to ask the children questions, which they answer in Spanish. Parents pay close attention from the back.

The readings, which started up in October and will run through May, are part of a monthly literacy project operated by the Hispanic Resource Center and the Mamaroneck Public Library with support from the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation and the Barbara Bennett-Rones Memorial Endowment. Mariana Boneo Lvoff, co-president of the Hispanic Resource Center teamed up with Marcia Hupp, director of the children’s library, and Iris Arozamena, a teacher at the Mamaroneck Avenue School, to develop the program. The aim is to provide parents with tools to increase their young children’s reading abilities.

“Our goal is to bring the Spanish community into the library and open up the resources to all,” said Ms. Hupp. “Spanish families have a lot to offer. They bring a beautiful culture,” said Ms. Arozamena, “and doing this kind of work is really to make sure that literacy is a part of their life. My goal is to develop lifelong literacy.”

For each reading, Ms. Arozamena has a collection of new Spanish and bilingual books to choose from, courtesy of the grant. When she finishes with the story time, the youngsters go off to a related art project, while she talks with the adults about developing vocabulary, comprehension and, most importantly, abstract thinking when reading to a child. The program seeks to establish solid foundations for ongoing discussions between the parents and their children.

The workshops are conducted in Spanish, as well as some English, to encourage parents to read in the language that is most comfortable for them and to be sure that the children don’t lose their Spanish. As Ms Arozamena explained, “literacy skills are transferred from one language to the other, and being bilingual is an important asset for this population.”

“Children and parents really enjoyed the session,” said Ms. Boneo Lvoff. “The kids were actively raising their hands, running to show their parents what they’d made, but also paying rapt attention to Iris as she was reading. She is very engaging.”

The sessions end with refreshments and more discussion about the participants’ experiences in the schools and how to promote good study habits at home. Topics include how to read together, how to create a quiet space for reading and doing homework, and how different cultures celebrate their holidays. Both the readings and the discussions emphasize the importance of friendship, the family, the home, and the community.

The reading programs are at the Mamaroneck Public Library on the first Saturday of each month at 3:00 pm. For more information, call the library at 698-1250.

The Mamaroneck Schools Foundation is a volunteer, non-profit community organization that provides public schools in Larchmont and Mamaroneck with funds for innovative programs, materials and enhanced facilities and equipment beyond the scope of the regular school budget. The Foundation can be reached at (914) 698-9079, or visit its website at www.MamaroneckSchoolsFoundation.com

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