Celebrate reading in your classroom with Read Across America Day. This celebration is held each year on March 2, the birthday of author Dr. Seuss. This year, Read Across America celebrates its 10th anniversary. It is also the 50th anniversary of The Cat in the Hat!
Are you planning a Read Across America celebration in your classroom or school? Here are a few ideas for ways you can celebrate.
- Encourage students to read every day, but especially on Read Across America Day. Have a special DEAR time on March 2 by having your students all reading some of their favorites by Dr. Seuss.
- Do an author study with your class. Choose to read and learn about Dr. Seuss, or choose another author to study. Encourage your students to read books by the chosen author to discuss.
- Invite parents and grandparents to your classroom to share Read Across America Day. Have your students read to their parents, or have parents and grandparents read to them.
- Focus on reading all day! Share a story during Math class. Read a poem during Social Studies. Read from your science book during science class. Hear a story about a famous author in art class.
- Visit Seussville during computer class. This site lets students learn all about Dr. Seuss, his books and his life.
- Have students write and read stories about reading. Have them tell why reading is important to them and how it helps them. Let them read these aloud and talk about the importance of reading.
- Share Read Across America Day activities with a class in another state. If you have a pen-pal class, talk about ways that you can celebrate together. Or share ideas with another class in your own school or in another school in your district.
- Make a classroom chart of all of the books your students read on Read Across America Day. Challenge other classes in your school to make their own charts and compare them at the end of the day.
- Get everyone involved – from the principal to the office staff to the custodian. You might even want to invite your school superintendent to share some reading stories with your class.
- Whatever you do – celebrate reading on Read Across America Day and everyday!
The NEA has created its own Read Across America site with many ideas for bringing this celebration to your classroom. They have an online resource kit, a pledge page for teachers to submit their own plans, and an e-newsletter to keep up to date on ways to celebrate reading all year round.
Education World offers some teaching tips and ideas for a day-long or year-long celebration.
Find more great ideas at Teacher’s Net.
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