Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved to read. Being an introvert makes it easy to become completely absorbed and joyfully immersed in the pages of a good book. My Saturday trips to Barnes & Noble reflect a deep personal appreciation for literacy, which is why I value Read Across America for its dedication to promoting the essential role of reading in our lives.
Read Across America was launched in 1997 by the National Education Association, and it was first celebrated in March 1998. The initiative was created to address concerns about declining reading engagement among children, promote literacy nationwide and to encourage families and communities to read with children.
For many years, the initiative was centered around Dr. Seuss’ books and characters. In recent years, the NEA expanded its focus beyond Dr. Seuss, and the program now promotes diverse authors, cultures, and inclusive books.
This year, Read Across America week is now, March 2 to March 6, and the theme is “Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Learners.” Schools and libraries will host themed reading days and events throughout this week. Cumberland County Schools will mark the week with a collaborative Read Across America and Social Emotional Learning Spirit Week celebration.
“We are really excited about this week, and the schools do a lot of the heavy lifting,” said Dr. Julia Pabst, K-5 ELA Curriculum Specialist for Cumberland County Schools. “Every school usually plans something from spirit days, mystery readers, having students sit and read with one another and really just enjoy and build that love of reading.”
She added, “We really want to empower schools to make that week their own and to celebrate reading in the way that their school culture already celebrates reading. This just makes it a lot more engaging for their students for the specific group of people that they serve.”
On Monday, the spotlight was on books featuring characters who face challenges and grow through adversity. Tuesday highlighted #OwnVoices titles, including memoirs and stories centered on identity.
Wednesday focuses on books that showcase acts of kindness, allyship and compassion. Thursday celebrates stories about young leaders, activists, inventors and changemakers. Friday wraps up the week with stories that emphasize friendship, teamwork and community.
Literacy is the foundation of formal education. It equips individuals with critical thinking and problem-solving skills that empower them to make informed decisions. Strong literacy skills are essential for personal growth and lifelong success.
“Literacy is a fundamental right, and it is one of the most important things that we can do for our children and our society,” said Pabst. “Reading not only helps us learn and grow, but it also helps us escape into different worlds and see things from different perspectives.”
Pabst added, “It gives us opportunities to come alongside people that we may not know their walk and see what it might be like to be like them or to experience things like them just through books. There’s so much that we can do because we read. It’s just one of those really exciting things.”
Learning starts at home, where parents serve as their child’s first and most important teacher. Children who grow up in literacy-rich homes recognize sounds and letters earlier, have larger vocabularies, develop better listening skills and understand how books work.
“One of the most important things that parents can do is just sit and read with their child, and it does not have to stop at reading; it can be just by sitting and having a conversation,” said Pabst.
“Not only is the literacy piece important, but listening comprehension and just sitting and having dialogue with one another builds vocabulary and builds all of those things that feed into that reading.”
Pabst added, “Just talking at the dinner table about their day using really high-level vocabulary with their children is a great way to help build great reading skills without ever picking up a book.”
A literacy-rich environment does not require expensive materials or elaborate resources. It can be created through simple, everyday activities that expose children to reading and language. This may include storytelling, singing songs, reading aloud each day, bedtime stories, access to books and magazines and more.
For parents looking to create a literacy-rich environment at home, Pabst offers a few helpful suggestions.
“Our public libraries are a great place to start,” said Pabst. “There is also the Dolly Parton Imagination Library from birth to age 5, and they will send books for free in both English and Spanish.”
She added, “There are so many online options of places to get books, so it doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. You can always reach out to your child’s school to see if they have any books that they are discarding to help build that literacy-rich home environment.”
It is essential to ignite a love of reading in our future leaders.
“One of the biggest things is to find what they are interested in, what are students curious about and that is the jumping off point,” said Pabst. “So, if I am curious about a science concept like weather, or I really love my dog and I want to learn more about the breed, what is that interest and how can I bring in different types of genres?”
She added, “Let the child take their curiosity and build different ways to build that literacy because it is not just about picking up a book, it is about combining all of the different skills that we need, and that all starts with being curious.”
Pabst’s concluding reflections about literacy directed toward parents are both profound and insightful.
“I want to encourage parents that even if they are not readers, keep asking what makes me curious and find one article or book that brings that curiosity and answers just one question that they have,” said Pabst. “Reading is so much more than just sitting and trying to get through the words.”
For more information about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, visit www.https://imaginationlibrary.com.