Local students participate in Read Across America
Students across Warren County joined students from across the United States Friday in celebrating the joys of reading as part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America campaign.
Read Across America was created five years ago by a special reading task force of the NEA. The annual event is held to motivate children to read and their parents and teachers to encourage reading every day of the year. The day is always held on or near March 2, the birthday of childrens’ author Theodore Giesel, more commonly known as Dr. Suess.
According to NEA, last year’s Read Across America was celebrated with reading events in all 50 states with 35 million readers of all ages.
This year, events were held locally at several schools. Friday morning saw 30 high school students under the tutelage of senior English teacher Melba Clark travel to Warren County Middle School to read to that school’s students.
Middle School teacher Regina Matheny said by doing this, the high school students were being great role models to the younger students. “Middle-schoolers really look up to the these seniors,” she said. “And when they see them reading, they’ll see reading is something cool people do.”
It was with this same principle that groups of middle school students traveled Friday to Hickory Creek and West Elementary schools to read to students there.
At Dibrell Elementary, the Read Across America celebration was postponed until Monday. In preparation for the event, each grade level was given an Accelerated Reader point goal. Those students in grade levels that met the goals saw their teachers come to school Monday dressed either in their pajamas or as a Dr. Suess character.
Among those colorfully dressed as Dr. Suess characters were sixth-grade teacher Sheila Gann as Cindy Loo-Who, and third-grade teacher Tim Farris as Horton.
“Our reason for doing this,” said Dibrell librarian Cheryl Priest, “is to encourage reading because, simply put, if a student can read he or she will be OK.”