The National Education Association (NEA) has deemed March 2 Read Across America Day since 1997. This big day has strategically been planned to fall on Dr. Seuss' birthday. What a great way for elementary schools to take a day and run with it! The NEA suggests that schools celebrate this day by making and wearing hats just like the Cat in the Hat's, eating birthday cake, reading to one another, and having people come in and read to them. How wonderful! I wish I had gotten to take part in Read Across American when I was little. (I at least got to participate in Book It and got to earn my own personal sized pizza from Pizza Hut after reading so many books.)
After reading this, I called my niece (she's in 1st grade) and asked her if her teacher has anything fun planned for March 2nd. I was happy to hear that she gets to have an afternoon filled with Dr. Seuss fun. She gets a day free from the usual full uniform and gets to wear something with stripes--she's wearing red and white striped tights. After recess a guest reader is coming into the classroom to read 2 Dr. Seuss books. Ellie's hoping for Horton Hears a Who.
I'm not sure who's more excited about this big event, me or Ellie. My nephew, who's 10, isn't anywhere near as excited as I am. His class is going to the kindergarten classroom and is reading to them. He told me he's "too old" for Dr. Seuss, but he can understand why "little kids" like it so much. I think he's secretly still a fan of some Dr. Seuss books.
I really hope that more schools are taking advantage of Read Across America Day. It's such a wonderful opportunity to get an entire school to read. At least I know of one school who is just as excited about Dr. Seuss as I am.
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