Students celebrate National Read Across America Day, Reading Week

Each year, National Read Across America Day is observed on March 2, the birthday of children’s book author Ted Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. In celebration, many schools often dedicate an entire week as “Reading Week.” In Carson City, students and teachers at several schools hosted special events and activities designed to encourage reading.

On Tuesday morning, Mark Twain Elementary School officially launched things off with three tethered hot air balloons and the theme of “Soar into Reading.” Additionally, grade-schoolers at Fremont Elementary School celebrated the special occasion with several community partners and local dignitaries, who virtually visited classrooms to read to students via Zoom.

The volunteer reading efforts were organized by committees of teachers who came together to create several fun and engaging events to encourage students to gain, increase and appreciate their love for reading. Many other schools in Carson City also celebrated the start of reading week with book-related themes like Harry Potter dress-up days at Fritsch Elementary, a “Million Word Reading Challenge” at Empire Elementary, “Hats off to Dr. Seuss” wear-a-hat day at Bordewich Bray Elementary and special distinguished virtual guest readers including University of Nevada, Reno President Brian Sandoval and other UNR student-athletes at Seeliger Elementary School.

Nationally, an estimated 45 million educators, parents and students across the U.S. will participate in the observed reading day. This will be the 24th year since 1997 that the National Education Association has called on every community to enjoy the benefits of reading.

“While literacy activities have been associated with higher test scores, additional studies show these activities also provide students with tools for lifetime success,” Dr. Jennifer Ward-DeJoseph, principal at Fremont Elementary School, said. “One in particular states that 10 minutes of sustained silent reading does not subtract from instructional time; instead, this time offers significant opportunities for students’ language and literacy development. Another cited by reading 20 minutes a day, a student will read over 1,800,000 words per year.”

Children who are good students tend to become good employees by being on time and putting forward their best work, she continued. All of the things that make a child a good student also make them a good employee.

“Encouraging and helping develop a competent and contributing member of society is just ‘stellar,’ ” Ward-DeJoseph said.

The weeklong reading focus at Fremont Elementary included four special dress-up days including the following.

• Dr. Seuss Day – Tuesday
• Fairy Tale Day – Wednesday
• Pajama Day – Thursday
• Wearing Words – Friday
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Students at Fremont Elementary also were given an opportunity to show off their own dedication to reading. Each night, they recorded the reading they did at home, and for each night of reading, they were entered into a raffle where they earned the best prize of all: new books. In addition, teachers counted and tallied up the total reading minutes that their students completed outside of school and recorded it on a large chart in the cafeteria for all to see. Publicly displaying their reading efforts not only boosted their confidence and pride, but it also came with a reward: sliming Dr. Ward-DeJoseph at lunchtime.