By Vikki Bowes-Mok, Words Alive Volunteer
Luann Mathson (née Raposo) is Words Alive’s Family Literacy Program Volunteer of the Year. Since 2022, she has inspired a love of learning with young children and families in her Family Literacy sessions. As an engineer, Luann is especially gifted at tying themes of science, curiosity, and exploration into her workshops.
The “Let’s Read with Words Alive” Family Literacy Program ignites the love of reading in young children and their families by nurturing book-sharing habits at home through play-centered strategies and building home libraries over 6-week sessions of early literacy workshops.
Luann lives in San Francisco where she is a medical device engineer and was a first generation college student. She is passionate about making STEM subjects and careers more accessible to students and families. She enjoys watercolor painting, running, reading, and traveling in her free time.
Now let’s hear from Luann about her work with Words Alive.
Why do you volunteer with Words Alive?
It brings me so much joy to see kids genuinely fascinated and excited about the books we read together! They point out little details in the illustrations or characters that I’ve never noticed before and often make me laugh. Their unique creativity and imaginations bring fun and excitement to every story. It’s all about having fun, using your imagination, and sparking the joy of reading
Is there a story you’d like to share about working with Words Alive?
One time one of my students joined us to read wearing a full Spider-Man costume! We had a lot of fun trying to relate Spider-Man into the story.
What are you reading right now?
I just got back from a trip to Chile, so I’m reading Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende since it was partially set in Valparaiso, a coastal city I traveled to.
Any book recommendations?
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee