A Cross-Disciplinary Undergraduate Research Project: Bonding through Books with Incarcerated Mothers and Grandmothers

Abstract

This study addresses two areas of need in the literature. First, we recognize the impact of experiential-learning on student outcomes and fewer opportunities within the social sciences. Second, as academics in criminal justice and education, we are aware of educational needs of incarcerated persons. The current study blended together experiential-learning alongside a reading program within one state’s women’s correctional facility, targeting (grand)mothers. Two faculty and 40 students, spanning two academic departments, completed a research-based experiential-learning project with one community partner. This undergraduate project sought to benefit students, incarcerated (grand)mothers, and the (grand)children of incarcerated (grand)mothers through a read-aloud program. Through student observations, themed results found incarcerated (grand)mothers had negative school experiences regarding reading. Subsequently, they did not read with their (grand)children prior to incarceration but used reading as a means to escape their incarceration. Students’ reflections demonstrated value to self, participants, and the community, through participation in research-based experiential-learning.