Read Across America! My favorite holiday!

Dr. Seuss birthday celebration is right around the corner, and some schools are looking for volunteers to read to students and celebrate the joys of books.

That's the case at Ord Terrace Elementary School, where organizers are looking for volunteers. In honor of the world famous author administrators dedicate the entire day to celebrate reading in as many classrooms as possible.

The community read-in is scheduled from 8:30-11:30am. Community members are provided with books to read with students and are scheduled to read in classrooms for 25 minute increments. Readers are also encouraged to bring their favorite books from childhood and share your own experiences as readers.

Contact fifth grade teacher Jenifer Alexander, at 392-3922 or via email jalexander@mpusd.k12.ca.us, if you're interested in participating in this exciting day!

See you there!

Read Across America's coming up!

Read Across America has become one of my favorite celebrations. Teachers all over the country open the doors to their classrooms and welcome community members who want to read to their students.

I love reading out loud. I love being read to out loud. I think that's how my love for reading was born. And if you have the time, energy and resources, maybe you can do the same for our local children?

Jenifer Alexander, a second grade teacher at Ord Terrace Elementary in Seaside, is still looking for volunteers to come and read to the students on March 3. Time slots are available from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Community members are provided with books to read with students and are scheduled to read in classrooms for 25 minute increments. They also encourage readers to bring their own favorite books from childhood and share their own experiences as readers.

If you're interested, contact Jenifer Alexander, at 392-3922 or jalexander@mpusd.k12.ca.us.

Many schools Read Across America takes part in this important event -- yes, it's so important to read to kids! So, if you can't come to Ord Terrace, maybe there's a school near you that's taking part of the event? Maybe I can list it in my blog? Shoot me an email and let me know.

Read Across America is coming up

Are you planning any events at your school/classroom? I know teachers at Ord Terrace in Seaside will have community members come and read to the students, and if your looking for more people to come read to your students, let me know and I"ll reach out to my readers.

For those of you who don't know, Read Across America celebrates the birthday of Dr. Seuss and encourages community members to rally around reading on March 3. You can find more information here. 

Read Across America is one of my favorite school-related events. It's an opportunity for the community to come see what our classrooms are doing, and it's also an opportunity for students to see people in the community care about them.

So let me know! Let's inspire our kids to read!

It's Read Across America tomorrow!

It's becoming one of my favorite holidays! Tomorrow, thousands of people nationwide will read out loud to thousands of students in celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday.

I'll be reading at Ord Terrace Elementary along with other community members. The children will eat green eggs and ham too!

 If I wake up early enough :( I'll pay a visit to El Sausal Middle school, where they'll fight the good fight against illiteracy with warrior chants and war drums.

What is your school doing? How are you celebrating Dr. Seuss's Birthday?

You may find good tips here on how to inspire your young ones to be readers. And here, you can share with the rest of the United States how you're planning to celebrate Read Across America.

Anybody have a red hat I can borrow?

El Sausal battles illiteracy on Read Across America day

There was much happening in Monterey County schools on Read Across America day, but I only made it to two schools.

In the morning, I witnessed the ceremonial painting of teachers and students warriors at El Sausal Middle School in Salinas: English teacher David Wirth organized a group of his peers to pound the drums as they marched across campus early in the morning. The painted ones -- including yours truly -- pledged to battle illiteracy and read a lot. A lot!

For seventh grader Carlos Rodriguez, it was a good way to start the school day.

"I like that lots of us got together," he said.



Later on, I read at Ord Terrace in Seaside. That was lots of fun too.

Read Across America is March 2, Steinbeck day of Writing March 12

and it would be a good opportunity to volunteer.

So contact your local school and find out of they're "Reading Across America" and sign up! -- I know some schools are going to celebrate it, and if you want me to list you, drop me a line.

The green movie "The Lorax" will open also in movie theaters March 2, so expect the environmentally concerned mustachioed creature to be ubiquitous. And maybe read from its story.

You may also want to volunteer for a day of writing! The Steinbeck Young Authors program hosts a Day of Writing for young authors to enhance their writing skills, and discover the works of John Steinbeck. A good book and strong teachers inspired himself—a combination Steinbeck organizers hope will motivate students to discover the power of the written word.

On March 12, dozens of students gather at the National Steinbeck Center to receive one-on-one writing mentorship from a coach. The students then have time to re-write their essay. A panel of experts judges the final products, and the selected winners are invited to an award ceremony.

So, if you have some time to spare on March 12, sign up! I've done it several times and it's very rewarding to help our young students. For information, contact Sandra Silva at 831-775-4729 or email at Sandra@steinbeck.org.