As part of the closing activity for the adult course session, the participants agreed to “animate” the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” by James Marshall, by role-playing the characters of the story.
This is a modern version of the classic story that we all know so well.
In Marshall’s version, when Goldilocks mother ask her to buy some muffins, she warns her not to take the shortcut through the forest.
But Goldilocks is a little girl who “does exactly as she pleases,” and she ignores her mother’s warning.
Soon she comes across a charming cottage, where no one is at home.
Unknown to her, the bears who lived there have gone for a bike ride while their breakfast porridge cools.
She let herself in, spills the porridge, breaks the chair, and tries out all the beds until she falls asleep.
When the bears return, they are shocked to find their house a wreck.
Goldilocks wakes up to find three bears scowling at her, and she jumps up, leaps out the window, and they never see her again.
Each participant role-played the characters of the story expressively, and it was well appreciated by the children and audience present that night.
It was truly a unique experience for the participants to enjoy themselves acting out the characters enthusiastically.
After eight sessions, participants to the Motheread/Fatheread adult course will become familiar with many ways to use stories to improve children’s academic skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, comprehension and critical thinking.
The adult curriculum also helps parent participants understand and grasp the underlying messages in the stories that they will read to their child/children — valuable life lessons evident only through close scrutiny.
The successful completion of the adult course at GES will not be possible without the diligence and sacrifices of the elementary teachers: Elaine C. Dela Cruz and Claire Dela Cruz.
They had coordinated the course session schedules with the Motheread trainers and the parent participants and reminded parents of the class sessions when participants missed to attend this important literacy program.
The hard-working teachers also committed their time to attend to the children of the participating parents for the entire eight sessions.
Their hard work had paid-off — 11 parents out of 16 have completed the course: Lowell Parco, Grace Parco, Agripina Pangelinan, Silverio Kapileo, Jesus Flora, Mercy Apritado, Janna Salvador, Angelina Caoile, Erma Tubera, Rowena Dimalanta and Agnes Maranan.
The course was facilitated by Rhea Ayne Penalosa-Chong, and was co-facilitated by Bryan Manabat.
Program coordinator Viola Deleon Guerrero remarked upon the noteworthy involvement of the parents in their children’s educational development.
She also helped the trainers award the certificates to the participants.
The CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy Program is a literacy project of the NMI Council for the Humanities in partnership with the Public School System, the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, and other generous donors.
Interested participants are invited to join the scheduled adult course session at the public library on June 11, 6 p.m.
For more information contact Viola Deleon Guerrero or Bryan Manabat at 235-7319, 285-1268, or e-mail [email protected]
