Read Across America
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss
Grab Your Hat and Read with the Cat!
It's that time of year again, time to gear up for NEA's Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2. First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined NEA President Dennis Van Roekel to share their love of reading with hundreds of local schoolchildren at the Library of Congress last year and have been invited to return to join celebrity readers for our national kickoff. Secretary Duncan has already said yes and we're looking for a repeat of the reading fun shown here.
Parenting Magazine features NEA's Read Across America
Head to the newstands for a copy of the March issue of Parenting Magazine. Our new media partner features a spotlight on NEA's Read Across America and host of reading resources for parents, including
Green Eggs and Ham Family Literacy Bag
Looking for ways to engage parents? Reading Rockets has created a family literacy "bag" of activities for Seuss favorite Green Eggs and Ham to help parents read with their children. Explore the rest of the site for more literacy bags, including an upcoming literacy bag for The Lorax.
What better way to celebrate the joy of reading than to stock your shelves with your favorite Dr. Seuss books? We know you're busy, so our friends at First Book, a nonprofit organization providing books to kids in need have made it ridiculously easy to get books for this special day. All you have to do is the following:
- Register your school or program with First Book.
- Browse the First Book Marketplace's selection of Dr. Seuss titles from Green Eggs and Ham to Hop on Pop to Cat in the Hat, all for around $3.00 a book.
- Though February 8 was the last day to order to make sure your books arrive in time for March 2, NEA's Read Across America Day, you can still order Seuss books for events later in March or all year long.
- Don't forget to read, rhyme and smile with your students as they take part in your Seussational events.
Questions? Contact the First Book Help Team at help@firstbook.org or 866-READ-NOW.
PLEDGE PLEDGE PLEDGE
Head to the Read Across America pledge site and let us know what you've got planned. You'll find pledges from schools and cities around the country, even around the world. Don't forget to add your pledge and encourage friends and colleagues to do the same. Go to the Read Across America pledge site.
Grants Update
NEA and Youth Service America are offering $500 grants with $500 in books to youth-led service projects held from March 2, Read Across America Day to Global Youth Service Days, April 15-17, 2011. The judges are busy evaluating the proposals. Check back on this site for a list of the winners. For more opportunities to learn and serve, go to the Youth Service America web site.
A Valentine's Day Treat for Readers
Looking for sweet educational treats for readers? Reading Rockets, in conjunction with author Laura Malone Elliott (A String of Hearts), is offering a series of easy writing prompts that lets students have fun with Valentine poems and sayings. You'll also find an e-card and kid-friendly video of Elliott demonstrating how to make cards and poems.
2011 Read Across America Calendars Available
The 2011 Read Across America Calendars, featuring award-winning books and links to keep you reading all year long, is now available from NEA's Read Across America while supplies last. E-mail readacross@nea.org for more information.
Join our Cause page on Facebook
You'll be able to share photos, videos, and ideas, plus hear the latest news from NEA's Read Across America and its partners.
Send Your Video to SchoolTube
Looking for your 15 minutes of fame? SchoolTube has created a Read Across America channel designed to showcase student and educator videos from around the country. To sign up and share your videos, go to SchoolTube at http://www.schooltube.com/user/NEAreadacrossamerica.
About NEA's Read Across America
The National Education Association is building a nation of readers through its signature program, NEA's Read Across America. Now in its thirteenth year, this year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources.
NEA's Read Across America Day, NEA's national reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books, and you can too!
