Next Friday, March 2, should mean something to Word Nerds everywhere. The National Education Association (NEA) and at least 50 other organizations are promoting literacy all next week with activities culminating on Friday with Read Across America (RAA) day.
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| Word Nerds helping to promote reading! |
RAA started 15 years ago when a special task force decided to devote a day to celebrate reading. Organizers wanted to “build a nation of readers” because they knew that children who enjoy reading have better success in school.
Motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers. (www.nea.org)
This year, RAA is linked to Dr. Suess’s birthday and the release of the movie “The Lorax,” based on one of his books. Cast members from the movie, including Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, will serve as co-chairs for RAA this year, and they have filmed videos designed to encourage young readers.
At the official RAA site and the NEA site you can find plenty of information about activities, events, discounted books, and other resources to promote literacy. The NEA also needs volunteers to pledge donations of money or to organize reading events. You can check with local schools and libraries to see if anything has been planned for your area. NEA also has “Fan” and “Cause” pages on Facebook that you can join to stay up to date on important information.
With so much focus in our culture on celebrities, sports stars, and consumption, I’m excited to see so many people spending time and energy to encourage reading. Literacy definitely deserves, and needs, national attention.
Do you know about any events in your town associated with RAA? How can you participate, even in a small way? What can you do throughout the year to help make better readers in your community? Click on comments below and share how you’ll be celebrating reading!
Yes, Shelley, they do that at our local elementary school too! Patti, I’m sure you’ll think of something fun!
I love Read Across America! I worked in the public school system for the past 3 years, and the elementary schools celebrate this in the most fun way! All of us teachers/staff got to dress up as the Cat in the Hat and read books to the kids all day long. Super fun!
I didn’t even know about this. Now I’ll have to think of something to do next week to celebrate it.