By Martha K. Mayes [email protected]
ORANGE PARK – Dr. Seuss Day, also known as National Read Across America Day, is for kids to appreciate the joy of reading and have fun doing lots of it.
Dr. Seuss is a well-known and beloved children’s author. He wrote many funny and funny stories and he made all his illustrations which made the stories even more humorous and funny. His illustrations are so unique that almost anyone in America can immediately identify who made them. So it was a natural choice that his iconic books were chosen to represent Read Across America, a nationwide initiative to encourage reading in children. It was celebrated on March 2nd, Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
In Clay County, Read Across America Day was celebrated at the oldest elementary school, Orange Park Elementary.
Media Specialist Karen Walker created a children’s reading event by inviting some special readers to the library/media center, like Superintendent David Brosky. It also included school board chairwoman Mary Bola and Linda Stapleton, a retired physical education teacher. Others also gave readings to the children, including a policeman, a nurse and others.
Not only did they read stories to the children, but they also shared their own stories about reading and sometimes the struggles they had with it. Some teachers celebrated individually in their classrooms with reading-related activities. In organizing this event, Walker was assisted by her two faithful assistants, Media Tech Abby Castillo and Volunteer Extraordinaire Shannon Bray. Castillo was recently recognized as the district’s School Related Employee of the Year.
In 1997, an organization known as the National Education Association pushed for a special day to celebrate reading across the United States. The idea was so popular that it wasn’t long before the first Read Across America Day took place on March 2, 1998. This nationwide observance coincides with the March 2 birthday of Dr. Seuss, whose beloved stories and books had titles like “Green “Egg and skin,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “The Cat in the Hat.”
Seuss’ stories have brought joy to American children and children around the world.
NEA represents approximately 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired teachers and students preparing to become teachers. It provides resources and activities for teachers, parents and children.
