Read Across America Day in Houston

Read Across America Day for the year 2008 is March 3. This annual holiday, celebrated across the United States, was started by the NEA, or the National Education Association. On this day, near Dr. Seuss's birthday, everyone is encouraged to celebrate reading. This reading holiday was invented in 1997 by the NEA and started 10 years ago on March 2, 1998.

To help promote reading, the NEA will be sending three "Cat-A-Van" tours to provide about 12, 000 books and thousands of cash grants to public schools across the country. The Cat-A-Vans will visit about 18 cities, traveling more than 1,200 miles.

Read Across America is actually a literacy campaign that lasts all year. However, Read Across America Day is still important, as it encourages the promotion of every day reading and gets free books out to students and schools across America.

In Houston, there are a variety of ways Read Across America Day is being celebrated. According to Macon.com, Houston's schools have many activities planned. At Hilltop Elementary, Kohl's employees will be reading aloud to students on Monday March 3. These Kohl's employees are volunteers for the "Kohl's Cares For Kids" program. There are also other Houston area schools who will be read to by the Kohl's employees. At least one of these schools will also receive a check from "Kohl's Cares For Kids".

David Perdue Elementary will be celebrating "Read Across America Day" and Dr. Seuss's birthday each five days of the school week. Monday students will have "Career Day" and be read to by Kohl's volunteers. Tuesday is "Kid In Hat Day", where the kids will wear hats. Wednesday is "Grinch Green Day" when the students will wear green. Thursday is "Fox in Socks" day. The students will wear crazy socks and eat green eggs and ham for breakfast. Friday is "Red and White Day". The students will wear red and white, have a 20 minute silent reading period, and eat birthday cake to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday. Many other Houston area schools are celebrating in different or similar ways as well.

The Houston Public Library is holding Read Across America storytime events, Dr. Seuss storytime events, and Dr. Seuss birthday events, as well as a Dr. Seuss Marathon Read Aloud event. These events are being held at various Houston neighborhood and regional library locations.

As a homeschool teacher, I also happen to be celebrating Read Across America Day with my students (my children). We plan to make hats similar to the one worn by the "Cat In The Hat" in Dr. Seuss's books. The children will then wear the hats and read Dr. Seuss stories aloud to one another. We may also attend one of the library storytime events. We will be getting out and doing a variety of activities throughout the week. Although we read a great deal every day, I still feel it is important to celebrate this day and let the children know just how important reading is.

How Can Your School Or Organization Celebrate Or Get Involved?

There are many ways to celebrate or get involved with this special day.

ReadingRockets is offering free downloadable print guides for parents, teachers, and anyone else interested in improving children's reading achievement. They also link to similar free publications from other sources.

Another idea on getting involved is to volunteer to read to children at schools, hospitals, and daycare centers. To do this, you will need to contact the appropriate departments at the locations you are interested in offering your services to.

Simply celebrating the holiday by reading with or to your children or students and holding your own events and activities also helps to promote this special day.

LEFbooks.org (The Literacy Empowerment Foundation) is giving away free books to literary organizations and schools across America, for a small handling fee of 65 cents per book. They do this throughout the year. To promote Read Across America Day, help a teacher or organization become aware of this or request some books for your own literary organization. The books are currently for reading levels from Preschool up to grade 2.

Any other ideas you have related to celebrating reading and motivating children to read will also help to promote and celebrate Read Across America Day. There is no exact formula or limit to reading, celebrating reading, or promoting reading. Simply get out there and do it.

Sources:
http://www/nea.org
http://www.seussville.com/
http://www.readingrockets.org/guides/
http://www.nea.org/readacross/index.html
http://www.nea.org/booksacross/index.html
http://www.macon.com/197/story/282006.html
http://www.lefbooks.org/reading_resource_project/
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=816607
http://www.houstonlibrary.org/about/news/20080301_seuss.html